Pubdate: Sat, 20 Apr 2013
Source: Ottawa Sun (CN ON)
Copyright: 2013 Canoe Limited Partnership
Contact:  http://www.ottawasun.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/329
Author: Darren Brown
Page 24

PROTESTERS ABIDE

With nearly 15,000 people expected converge on Parliament Hill 
Saturday for cannabis reform, Parliament Hill may look like it's 
going up in smoke - pot smoke.

With regulations surrounding marijuana usage appearing too lax, 
organizers of the Fill the Hill 2013 are hoping they're getting 
closer to realizing their dream to one day smoke legally in Canada.

Organizers say this year will be a much more organized event on 
cannabis reform than in years past.

The event will feature a cannabis debate where representatives from 
the young Liberal, Green and NDP parties will tell the crowd what 
they would do if elected on a marijuana policy.

This will be followed by a vote using SMS technology to pick a winner.

"We're trying to ensure that political parties start paying attention 
to these voters," says organizer Claude Gallipeau from his Gatineau home.

"This issue isn't black or white, is it prohibited or legal, there's 
a lot of grey areas and it's important to start talking about what that means."

Last year more than 5,000 pot advocates covered the front lawn to do just that.

Eugene Oscapella, an Ottawa lawyer who teaches drug policy at the 
University of Ottawa, says this year may be the start of something new.

The annual event draws thousands in peaceful demonstrations in cities 
around the world who hope to decriminalize what they say is too 
mainstream to ignore.

While the Ottawa Police Service will occupy a secondary enforcement 
role Saturday, they are advising the public to expect traffic 
disruptions in the afternoon.

The event Saturday starts at noon and runs until 5 p.m.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom