Pubdate: Mon, 04 May 2009 Source: Medicine Hat News (CN AB) Copyright: 2009 Alberta Newspaper Group, Inc. Contact: http://www.medicinehatnews.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1833 Author: Zoe Szuch Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization) HATTERS MARCH IN SUPPORT OF MARIJUANA DECRIMINALIZATION In an effort to support the decriminalization of marijuana, dozens of people participated in the 2009 World Wide Marijuana March in Medicine Hat on Saturday afternoon. The second annual event started at 2 p.m. when approximately 50 people walked from B.O.B. Headquarters (on 2nd Street) to City Hall for a peaceful sit-in which lasted well past 4:20 in the afternoon. "There's non-smokers here, there's smokers and there's medical marijuana smokers, so we've got a little bit of everybody supporting each other," said event organizer, Sarah Bergeron. According to Bergeron, the purpose of the event was to help end the prohibition of marijuana in Canada. "It's really important because there's so many different therapeutic herbal compounds in marijuana," Bergeron said loudly over the sound of supportive car honks. Bergeron said almost everyone has been very supportive of the event and the cause. "People are usually just happy that we are fighting for our right to choose what we want to do. We're not hurting anybody." Participant Jesse Evans said he came to the peaceful sit-in because he wants to put a stop to people getting arrested in Canada for the possession of marijuana. "I just want to come out and say 'I smoke pot and I'm not a criminal.' I'm not afraid to admit it." Bergeron was impressed with this year's turn out and said she hopes the event gets larger year after year. - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D