Pubdate: Thu, 02 Jul 2015
Source: Globe and Mail (Canada)
Copyright: 2015 The Globe and Mail Company
Contact:  http://www.theglobeandmail.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/168
Author: Kat Sieniuc
Page: S1

SCUFFLE MARS ANNUAL POT PROTEST

Organizer Cries Foul Over 'Violent' Treatment by Police, Who Say They 
Acted After Observing a Marijuana Sale

An event that's been held for 19 years without incident - Vancouver's 
annual Canada Day marijuana protest - erupted in an ugly 
confrontation between protesters and police, leaving many up in arms 
over the city's policing of pot smokers.

Witnesses say they saw at least two dozen officers descend with 
physical force and pepper spray a modest group of peaceful gatherers 
at Cannabis Day in the downtown around noon on Wednesday. Four people 
were arrested, police said.

"I've never seen the cops act so violent," said Jeremiah Vandermeer, 
a Cannabis Day organizer and editor-in-chief of Cannabis Culture magazine.

Marijuana activists hold an annual protest on the grounds of the 
Vancouver Art Gallery on July 1. This year's protest comes in the 
wake of a council vote last week that made Vancouver the first 
jurisdiction in Canada to regulate storefront pot sales, and a 
Supreme Court of Canada ruling in June that all medical-marijuana 
users have a right to edibles.

In response to Vancouver's new dispensary bylaw, federal Health 
Minister Rona Ambrose said in a statement that she expected "the 
police to enforce the law" against storefronts selling pot in 
Vancouver, a practice she called illegal.

Several witnesses said they saw police take three protesters away in 
a van after a scuffle that left some with scratches and bruises, and 
others with the taste of pepper spray in their mouths. As of 
Wednesday afternoon, two men were in custody, according to police. 
One faces potential trafficking charges, the other faces a charge of 
obstruction.

"I'm shocked and appalled. This is horrifying behaviour from the 
police, I've never seen anything like this," Mr. Vandermeer said.

In a letter last month, the city requested that organizers move the 
protest from the art gallery to an area below the Cambie Street 
Bridge near the Vancouver Police Department headquarters.

Organizers were puzzled by the last-minute demand and refused to relocate.

"We work with [the city and] the Vancouver Police Department every 
year," Mr. Vandermeer said. "We're peaceful protesters, we have a 
right to be here, we're not selling cannabis, we're giving out 
information [because] an election is coming up."

Bureaucrats and public health officials previously have raised cost 
and safety concerns over supervising the much larger 4/20 cannabis 
event in April.

Police say they warned organizers Wednesday morning that people would 
be arrested for the open selling or giving away of pot to young people.

"Police urged organizers to keep public safety in mind and that it 
will be the top priority for police," Constable Brian Montague said 
in a statement.

Const. Montague said police made an arrest when they observed someone 
overtly selling marijuana and he refused to stop.

"The man was arrested and officers were immediately confronted and 
swarmed. Police were required to pepper spray at least one person to 
complete the arrest," he said.

Shortly after, angry crowds followed police down the street. People 
blocked off downtown's Howe Street for a short time in protest of the arrests.

Organizers and long-time attendees of the event said this was the 
first time the protest has been so heavily policed.

"There's [usually] two or three [cops] smiling, just keeping the 
peace, and everyone's just walking around," said Shirley Simpson, a 
resident of the area who has been coming to both the Canada Day and 
4/20 events for 20 years.

In past years, police mainly served as crowd control, shutting down 
traffic or making sure an ambulance can get through if needed.

Eric Einarson has been coming to Cannabis Day for 15 years. He said 
he believes Wednesday's incident will be a turning point for the city 
to realize it hasn't gone far enough with its new pot regulations.

"People still protest and ... there's a lot of ground to cover," he said.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom