Pubdate: Mon, 22 Apr 2013
Source: Kamloops Daily News (CN BC)
Copyright: 2013 Kamloops Daily News
Contact:  http://www.kamloopsnews.ca/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/679
Author: Jason Hewlett
Page: 3

4:20 CELEBRATES CANNABIS

Pot party shows it also has serious side

Music played, hula-hoops were twirled and yes, pot was smoked, but the
city's 4:20 event had a serious side for at least one among the crowd
of more than 100 that gathered Saturday.

Mike Casey said his life was ruined when he was 19 by what he
describes as draconian anti-marijuana laws.

"I was busted for having less than a gram of weed," Casey, 53, said
prior to festivities getting underway in Riverside Park.

Police pulled him over and searched his car. The weed was in his
pocket, he said. The incident left Casey with a criminal record that
prevents him from travelling to the U.S. or holding certain jobs.

"It's haunted my whole life. There are lots of people now who can get
away with smoking a little bit of weed, but it can still get you if
you get the wrong cop on the wrong day. Get the wrong judge in the
wrong town," said Casey.

Casey said he believes it's time Canada decriminalized marijuana, and
hopes the pro-legalization movement gets a boost from Washington and
Colorado. Those U.S. states legalized pot in November.

"Like Trudeau said, we sleep next to the elephant. A lot of our
influences come from there," he said.

Kamloops joined cities across Canada in celebration of the unofficial
holiday of cannabis culture.

The event was supposed to get underway at the Rotary Bandshell with
music and speeches at about 2 p.m., but the Sun Life Amazing Race was
underway. The group of marijuana enthusiasts moved to Pioneer Park
instead.

When the Sun Life race ended shortly before 4 p.m., the 4:20 crowd
moved in. It didn't take long for more than 100 people to gather and
they kept coming after the celebration began.

Lindsey Bryksaw and his blues-metal band, The Ruling Kings, were among
the performers. He said the party would continue until about 8 p.m.

He's smoked dope for years, and thinks its one of the best ways to
relax and relieve pain, he said.

"I like the idea of people coming together, enjoying themselves and
listening to some good music," said Bryksaw, adding he's never seen a
group of pot smokers get into a fight.

"It's more of a relaxed area."

Cindy Bardics said marijuana should be decriminalized. She suffers
from arthritis, osteoporosis and fibromyalgia, and finds pot is the
only way to deal with her chronic pain.

"It's the best painkiller out there. It's been put here by God," she
said. "It helps a lot of people."

A former cook, pain now keeps her from working in her chosen
profession, said Bardics.

This was the second sanctioned 4:20 event in Kamloops.
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MAP posted-by: Matt