Pubdate: Tue, 21 Apr 2015
Source: Vancouver 24hours (CN BC)
Copyright: 2015 Vancouver 24 hrs.
Contact: http://vancouver.24hrs.ca/letters
Website: http://vancouver.24hrs.ca/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3837
Author: Jeremy McKay
Page: 3

420 EVENT HIGH ON FED LIBERAL VOTE

Justin Trudeau's face featured prominently at Vancouver event

Thousands of activists and enthusiasts gathered in front of the
Vancouver Art Gallery for the annual 420 rally to protest prohibition
against pot and celebrate their love for marijuana.

Over 300 registered vendors were at the event selling everything from
B.C. Bud to marijuana-infused ice cream - that number doesn't include
the vendors walking around the rally peddling their goods.

"We're now seeing double the amount of attention in vender booths,"
said event co-ordinator Jeremiah Vandermeer. This year's theme was
"Let's Grow the Vote" to encourage those attending the rally to vote
in October's federal elections.

"It's great to get out here and celebrate, but it's still political
and we still have to change the law. We have to get out and vote,"
said Jodie Emery.

She said this year's banner of the Zig-Zag package of Justin Trudeau's
face is encouragement to get those attending the rally to vote for the
Liberal party.

This is the first rally that so-called "Prince of Pot" Marc Emery has
attended since his release from U.S. prison in August after serving a
five-year sentence for selling marijuana seeds to U.S. citizens.

"It's different to have the city actually co-operate with us. Usually
it's civil disobedience, we now have an interesting grey zone," said
Jodie Emery.

Vancouver saw its first rally in 1995 at Victory Square with 200
people in attendance. Twenty years later saw an estimated 30,000 in
front of the Vancouver Art Gallery in 2014.
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MAP posted-by: Matt