Pubdate: Fri, 21 Apr 2017
Source: Windsor Star (CN ON)
Copyright: 2017 The Windsor Star
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/windsorstar/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/501
Author: Mugoli Samba
Page: A3

RAIN PUTS A DAMPER ON MARIJUANA FESTIVAL

A handful of marijuana users gathered under clouds of rain and smoke
Thursday to hear cannabis advocates speak at Charles Clark Square in
Windsor's first 4/20 Festival.

But despite the Facebook event's call that "thousands of patients"
would be in attendance, the event attracted less than 40 people at any
one time in the opening hours.

"They're coming, they're going, they're coming back," said event
organizer Leo Lucier.

By 4:30 p.m., around 80 people were in attendance, and Lucier said he
hoped more might come after work. He said that about 500 people have
been "in and out of the event" throughout the day.

The 4/20 Festival rallied Windsor marijuana consumers to collect money
and food donations for the local food bank. Guest speakers included
medical marijuana advocates Sam Mellace and John Trumel, who spoke
under drizzle to a thinning crowd.

The event was staged just a week after the federal government
introduced legislation to legalize recreational marijuana in Canada.

Lucier felt that lingering stigma around marijuana might have impacted
the event's overall attendance, but that the inclement weather played
a big factor.

"When you've got weather like this, it's tough to compete with it,"
said Lucier. "There's gonna be more to come and better days."

Keven Sharpe of the Cannabis Rights Coalition said Wednesday's police
warning might have kept people away, but thinks that the public had no
reason to be scared.

"We're legal, I'm 100-per-cent legal, and we're not doing any harm. So
why not?," Sharpe asked.

At indoor medical marijuana lounge Higher Limits, just a few blocks
from Charles Clark Square, owner Jon Liedtke said nearly 250 people
rolled through the lounge throughout the day. Liedtke said 4/20 is a
day when pot lovers all over the world stand shoulder to shoulder to
protest unjust laws, and fight for legalization.

As of 5 p.m., Windsor police spokesman Sgt. Steve Betteridge said the
event was peaceful and no arrests had been made.
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MAP posted-by: Matt