May 1, 2004

Rallying for pot

By STEVE FAIRBAIRN
The Canadian Press

TORONTO (CP) - Marijuana users chanted "we love weed" as they marched through the streets of downtown Toronto on Saturday, smoking their hearts out and calling for Ottawa to legalize the drug.

About 1,000 demonstrators rallied at the Ontario legislature and later marched through some of Toronto's busiest streets with a police escort.

They were led by Alison Myrden, who suffers from multiple sclerosis and is wheelchair bound.

She has long fought for legalized marijuana to ease her pain.

Protest is important to raise public awareness about the medicinal benefits of marijuana, Myrden said.

"People don't understand that sick people still don't have an affordable quality source of medicine," she said as she manoeuvred her wheelchair along a tony stretch of Bloor Street. "Our government is not helping us."

Many Canadians with chronic illnesses have been granted exemptions under the law and can legally use marijuana to ease their pain.

But getting a reliable source of marijuana continues to be difficult for many medicinal users.

Ottawa has set up an underground grow operation in Manitoba, but many patients who have received the government pot have shunned it, citing poor quality.

The federal Liberal government has dodged efforts to legalize marijuana, instead proposing to decriminalize it.

Under a bill now before Parliament, possessing 15 grams or less of marijuana would no longer be a criminal matter, but would be dealt with by a fine.

The federal bill followed a decision by an Ontario Superior Court judge last year who ruled that possession of less than 30 grams if marijuana was no longer against the law.

Police forces in Ontario said they wouldn't lay charges for basic possession until the situation was clarified and that sentiment spread across the country.

At Saturday's protest, police were more concerned about protecting the marchers from Toronto drivers than they were about the plumes of smoke that wafted around the demonstrators.

One marcher holding a large joint stopped to have his picture taken with an officer helping to direct traffic, who only responded with an embarrassed smile.

Although marijuana advocates want no strings attached to using the drug, they'll settle for Ottawa's middle ground for now, said organizer Franklin Skanks.

"It's time to legalize it, time to change the laws," he said. "I'd prefer legalization but decriminalization would be the first step."

"I really believe that everyone should be free to enjoy it because it is such an amazing thing," said Katelyn Knight, a 19-year-old Toronto college student. "Unless you smoke it, you don't realize how amazing it is."

The demonstration was part of the Million Marijuana March, a worldwide event held annually in more than 200 cities to demand the full legalization of pot.

Canadian marches were also planned in Vancouver and Montreal.

canoe.ca/CNEWS/Law/Marijuana

Video Link available at CTVNews

I wish I could have made it. Hope people had the cameras goin, I want to see what I missed.


K

Had a great time! Awesome turnout! See you all June 5th!

would have tried to made it but I have to work 12 hours every saturday cause it's the busiest at work.

Broadcast News: soundbite of Alison Myrden (Oakville NDP) Alison Myrden (mp3 format)

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About 1,000 demonstrators rallied at the Ontario legislature and later marched through some of Toronto's busiest streets with a police escort.

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There were a hell of a lot more than 1000 demonstrators. I would have tried doing a head-count on the way back in to the park once the march was done, but there were too many people, 1000 you could've probably counted but it was more like 5000+

Really great event...can't wait till Fill the Hill though, that's going to be over the top. Hope to see a lot of you out there. If you are interested in attending, buses are being arranged. Visit www.FilltheHill.ca for more information

Melissa

I agree, Goodster's Wife. There were easy over 5000 people at the Toronto event. It's a tough number to gauge, because people came and went over the course of the whole day. The community created in the park was like an oasis, a little pot garden of eden in the heart of the city. Wandering into the mass of happy hipsters was like walking into another country, maybe a temporary marijuana embassy where Canada's laws do not apply.

Everywhere, people were playing hackysack or frisbee or tossing a football, or just sitting back with a big fatty enjoying the warm, spring weather and the various bands that took the stage. Food vendors did very brisk business.

I arrived just before 2PM, the scheduled start of the march. Alison Myrden rallied the troops, vigoursly announcing her recent nomination win to become the NDP candidate for Oakville, Ontario. She took her place at the head of the parade and everyone followed onto University avenue. The park that played headquarters to the event is the backyard of the Ontario Legislature and is right in the middle of the University of Toronto, a great place to start. Walking north, we passed the Royal Ontario Museum - a beautiful place that is a great tourist attraction and a great place to visit while high, especially the extensive dinosaur exhibits!

Lots of cops on bikes helped keep us marchers safe from Toronto traffic. They all seemed quite content to allow our protest - which was more like a party - to unfold without hassling anyone. I was happy to meet up with Frank Discussion, who brought along his portable bottle toker - great device, but a little tricky to use while in motion! FrankD had no trouble with engaging our police escort in conversation. One cop was giving him advice on how to make things better for next year's march!! I guess I just don't have the balls to be quite so forward, but watching folks like FrankD make those connections is inspirational.

After University Ave, we turned onto Bloor St., one of Toronto's most upscale shopping areas. We got lots of encouraging honking horns from cars passing on the other side of the street. The response from the parade was really amazing, because as each honking car passed by the crowd, the crowd cheered, and so the cheer moved down the line with each car like a wave of sound. I was near the end of the march, so I would hear a cheer start way in front, listen as it came closer and closer, cheer with it when it arrived and then hear it fade off behind me. What a great feeling of joy and unity!

From Bloor, we turned down Yonge street, Toronto's main North/South artery. From my vantage point near the parade's end, looking down the gentle slope, I could see nothing but marchers - just parade as far as I could see. The sights, sounds and smells of pot and pot lovers were everywhere. From Yonge, we turned onto Wellesley and returned to the park for the rest of the afternoon. Thankfully, the rain held off and we could all lounge out and enjoy the day.

It had been a long week and I was pretty tired, so I left before it was all over. Was it better or worse than last year? I'd say it was about the same. I think the poor weather forecasts probably kept the numbers lower than last year, but the vibe was positive and it looked to me like everyone was having a good time.

A BIG thanks to all the folks who put the Toronto march together. You obviously put a lot of hard work into making it happen and you deserve much appreciation!!

Great review Whirlwind!
I will add I was in the very front of the march and would cheer as every car honked as it drove by.
One car was honking constantly and when I peeked over I noticed the man driving had a joint going! Another van passed by not honking but driving slow, I noticed a couple who didn't look to pleased, then I noticed their daughter open the van door and shout "Smoke Pot, Yea!". Everyone cheered.
Also while marching we were walking by a very large apartment building about 15 floors high. Everyone in the apartment was waving and shouting as we walked by. One man from the apartment started chanting loudly and pulled out a 3 foot orange bong. I even noticed some of the officers giggling.

It was an awesome day overall and gave us all a taste of what legalization in Toronto would feel like.

Whirlwind and FrankD I like your account of the parade.

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Also while marching we were walking by a very large apartment building about 15 floors high. Everyone in the apartment was waving and shouting as we walked by. One man from the apartment started chanting loudly and pulled out a 3 foot orange bong. I even noticed some of the officers giggling.

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I remember that, it was great ...people were hanging out of their apartments taking photographs too!

And if I can remember correctly FrankD, was your portable bottle toker in a small red cooler jug?

Melissa

Hi Melissa,
Yes, you are right about what my gravity bong looked like...



I was disappointed that I didn't get a chance to meet you and Chris. Later in the day I went back to where I saw you guys earlier and couldn't find you. Hopefully I will get a chance to meet you two soon. Probably at Fill the Hill!

Here's a couple photos I took on Saturday.

During the march (does this look like only 1000 peple???) That's Toronto Hemp Company (THC) on the left.


This is a pic of the guy in the highrise that oshawa_grower mentioned in his post...


Upon returning back to Queen's Park...


What a great day it was. A huge crowd, a good vibe, and no problems!