Pubdate: Tue, 21 Apr 2009
Source: Winnipeg Free Press (CN MB)
Copyright: 2009 Winnipeg Free Press
Contact: http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/info/letters/index.html
Website: http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/502
Author: Geoff Kirbyson
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?420 (Cannabis - Popular)

POT PROPONENTS COME OUT IN FULL FORCE

Thousands Light Up For 4/20 Event

At first whiff, Bob Marley would have been pleased.

The late reggae singer and arguably the world's most famous smoker of 
marijuana would have felt right at home among the estimated 3,000 who 
congregated on the lawns of the Legislative Building on Monday 
afternoon to mark 4/20 -- a worldwide celebration of pot and a 
protest against anti-marijuana laws.

But the legendary Rastafarian, who regularly sang about the benefits 
of marijuana, would no doubt have been disheartened by the large 
number in the crowd who saw 4/20 as nothing more than a day to get 
stoned in public and not get in trouble rather than an opportunity to 
convince governments to legalize -- or at least decriminalize -- the 
popular drug.

Nathan Zahn, a local events promoter who was passing out flyers 
opposed to Bill C-15 -- proposed legislation that would increase 
minimum jail sentences for marijuana offenders -- admitted that as an 
activist, he was in a definite minority. He said the federal Tories 
were taking a much less enlightened view of pot than the Liberals had 
under Jean Chretien, who had openly mused about decriminalizing marijuana.

"I'm hopeful things will change but I'm not optimistic anything will 
happen soon," he said.

Mere metres away, talks on how lawmakers can better deal with drug 
users in the criminal justice system went up in smoke. The pungent 
smell of pot wafted through the open windows as Justice Minister Dave 
Chomiak fielded questions about what the province can do to handle 
the number of substance abusers in jail.

During the meeting Chomiak said 71 per cent of inmates in the 
provincial system have a substance abuse problem. He did not have 
information about how many seek treatment.

Kim Hall was arguably the most visible participant in Monday's 
proceedings. Standing on a large flower pot on the steps leading up 
to the legislature, the 18-year-old waved a large black flag with 
green marijuana leaves.

"They should be legalizing marijuana because it's not that bad. There 
are a lot of people who do it. It's not as bad as other drugs," she said.

Matt Kozak, 20, said he'd like to see marijuana available at the retail level.

"I don't know why liquor is legal and weed isn't," he said, lighting a joint.

Surveying the scene from the top of the Legislaive Building's steps 
was Winnipeg Police Inspector Dave Thorne. Despite the deliberate 
flaunting of the law before him, neither he nor any of his fellow 
officers had any intention of removing the handcuffs from their belts.

"Our view is this is a worldwide protest for the proponents of 
decriminalizing marijuana. From a police point of view, it's not 
about enforcement, it's more about providing a safe environment for 
people to express their views. It doesn't mean we promote the 
breaking of acts or statutes but we're trying to be realistic," he said.

On Broadway, ice cream and hot dog vendors reported business was brisk.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom