Pubdate: Sun, 21 Apr 2013
Source: Edmonton Sun (CN AB)
Copyright: 2013 Canoe Limited Partnership.
Contact:  http://www.edmontonsun.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/135
Author: Dave Lazzarino
Page: 2

HUNDREDS TAKE PART IN NATIONAL DAY OF SUPPORT FOR THE 
DECRIMINALIZATION OF MARIJUANA

At 4:20 p.m. Saturday, after a countdown reminiscent of New Year's 
Eve, a plume of smoke rose from the grounds of the Alberta 
legislature as a sea of people gathered in a national day of support 
for the decriminalization of marijuana.

Dave Mallett, one of the organizers of the event said they had 
planned to have guest speakers and bands to entertain the supporters.

However, those plans cancelled earlier in the day when officials 
ordered them not to.

Despite the lack of amplification, the message being passed along 
managed to linger longer than the smoke.

"We believe the harm that's done to society by the prohibition of 
marijuana does a lot more harm to people, to families, to individuals 
and to our society at large than keeping it legal does," said Mallett.

"We just want to see it under the control of law-abiding citizens who 
want to do good for society and not under the control of the criminal element."

Mallett said he believes there is too much money put into what he 
calls "an industry built on prohibition" and it isn't doing any good.

"We hear about busts all the time and it never stems the tide. As 
long as our government in Canada is putting people in prison for 
marijuana arrests it's not going to improve here," he said.

He said states like Colorado that have passed decriminalization 
legislation in the past year are further ahead than Canada and a lot 
can be learned from their example.

Some hope talks about a future of legalized weed aren't just nice 
dreams. One of them is a woman named Leela, who didn't want her last 
name published.

Leela was diagnosed with endometriosis when she was 16, a condition 
that affects the reproductive organs of some women and can cause 
severe pain and discomfort during menstruation.

For years, Leela said she was prescribed a mix of opium and a 
plant-based drug called Belladonna to deal with the pain. She said it 
left her dopey and unable to care for her four children.

"I didn't realize that cannabis helped until about six years ago. 
Ever since then it was an uphill battle," she said.

"The doctor that prescribed me opium refused to acknowledge the fact 
that I even used cannabis as any sort of pain killer. His response to 
me was, 'I'm going to pretend you didn't say that.'"

She went through the grueling process to get a license to grow and 
use marijuana and says, contrary to popular belief, it helps her 
function normally.

"I can play with my kids instead of lie on the couch and drool on 
myself," she said, adding the message to others like her is to have hope.
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