Pubdate: Tue, 21 Apr 2015 Source: Record, The (Kitchener, CN ON) Copyright: 2015 Metroland Media Group Ltd. Contact: http://www.therecord.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/225 Author: Chris Herhalt Page: B1 DEMONSTRATORS HOPE SOFTENED STANCE ON MARIJUANA LEADS TO LEGALIZATION KITCHENER - It's getting harder to justify any law criminalizing marijuana use given successful legalization efforts in certain U.S. states and private medical growers operating in Canada, demonstrators at a Kitchener 4/20 demonstration said Monday. "It should be like any other healthcare product," organizer Jeff Morrison said. "Most people agree now that we do need steps (to legalize marijuana)." At about 4:20 p.m. on Monday afternoon, about 100 people could be seen sitting around a corner of Kitchener's Carl Zehr Square. Some smoked hand-rolled joints. Others carried flags and other items with marijuana leaves on them. Morrison said city bylaw enforcement and Waterloo Regional Police quickly lost interest in the actions of demonstrators. "I hope most people here will share this story with their friends and family. Nobody got hurt and there were no problems. The police came by when we first started but they didn't really give us any trouble." Morrison belongs to the Kitchener Cannabis Club, a group that meets once a month to organize events promoting the legalization of marijuana and to help their members secure a prescription for cannabis. Mike Horsepool said he can sense a change in how most people respond when they see marijuana being used, and police seem to be more concerned with other issues. "I think if a police officer saw me smoking (marijuana) and another person jaywalking, they'd go after the jaywalker." He said Canada is "no longer a hostile environment" to casual marijuana use. The U.S. states of Oregon, Alaska, Washington and Colorado have legalized the recreational use of small amounts of marijuana. Federal Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau has promised to legalize the recreational use of marijuana in Canada. "I'll vote for that," Horsepool said. Andrew Birtch of Cambridge remembers when he was prescribed opiates as a 19-year-old to manage pain caused by a serious back injury. "Pharmaceuticals ruined my life, but cannabis saved my life." He uses edible cannabis capsules or concentrate mixed in other food to manage his pain today, and encourages others to consider cannabis instead of other painkillers whenever possible. "It helps with pain, it helps with appetite, muscle spasms, mood. It puts you in the state of mind where you can deal with (pain)." Morrison said he's convinced legalization of the plant will happen in Canada. - --- MAP posted-by: Matt