Pubdate: Mon, 21 Apr 2014 Source: Metro (Calgary, CN AB) Page: 5 Copyright: 2014 Metro Canada Contact: http://www.metronews.ca/Calgary Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4471 Author: Lucy Haines Note: with files from Robson Fletcher PRO-POT CROWD CELEBRATES 420 Puffs of marijuana smoke floated above Calgary City Hall Sunday while clouds of it ascended above the Alberta Legislature in Edmonton, as part of 420 rallies held across the province and nationwide. While the pro-pot crowd in Calgary numbered in the dozens, the gathering in Edmonton was counted in the thousands. The peaceful assembly in the provincial capital - with blankets, bongo drums and spontaneous hacky sack games - looked more like a day at the folk festival instead of a protest rally, with police dotting the perimeter to make sure the communal pot-smoking event remained trouble-free. Alberta 420 director Keith Fagin said the primary goal of such events isn't to encourage public consumption of marijuana, but rather to educate the public about cannabis and advocate for legalization. Grant MacEwan student Nathan Scott, 23, said the "Happy Bus" that brings Calgarians to Edmonton for the annual marijuana demonstration highlights the northern city's more liberal nature. "Calgary isn't as quick to adapt to socially progressive stuff," he said. - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D