A very busy Cannabis New Year
Wendal Grant TY Columnist
This spring was a very busy one for the folks of Medicinal Awareness (MA), especially from April 18 to May 21, as we embarked upon the new year. The new year? Yes, like most cultures that have their own new year, we in the cannabis community also have our own new year, but you may never have really noticed. So, how does this new year for the cannabis culture work? Just like our regular Christmas New Year celebrations that most of the world celebrates, but our Twelve Days of Cannabis are a bit different. You see, ours starts on April 20 and runs to the first Saturday in May. Depending on which date that Saturday falls on it, runs for approximately 12 days — just like Christmas!
This would start things off with the 420 celebrations and conclude on the same day as the Global Marijuana March. Both events draw large crowds all over the world. The days in between could be filled with medicinal and educational movies, documentaries and celebrations. Once that is over, it’s time to get to back to work. Read on and see how the folks at MA have done just that.
Niagara 420 Our cannabis season started off with a trip to the Niagara 420 rally. The group members made their own way to Niagara before meeting up at the Victoria Park Ave Hwy 420 junction. Things started off slow, but as the time got closer to march, things started to build. Marco Ivancicevic got things rolling as he addressed the crowd with his portable microphone and amplifier. As more people gathered, the crowd stood along the edge of the sidewalk and the side of the road way. They did this to make sure that everyone could read the signs being held out for all to see. Probably one of the largest signs present was the one that spelt out “legalize.” It took many people to hold this sign, as each individual letter in the word had its own board. When someone got tired of holding a letter, another volunteer would step in and take over. It was large enough that it couldn’t be missed as people drove by. When the time came to march, the crowd took their marching orders. With the police right beside us, to make sure the crowd stayed out of harm’s way, we all started to make our way along Victoria Ave towards Clifton Hill. The police were so polite that they even blocked off the main roads — not once, but a few times — as we made our way to the falls. Many of the tourists along the way watched and took pictures as we passed by. Our signs told them what we were there for.
Once everyone had gathered near the falls, the music was plugged in and the sounds of today could be heard within our area. The police watched over us for a little while and then they were on their way to fight serious crime.
One by one, the three speakers took their turns talking about marijuana. Alison Myrden talked to people about the effect of Bill C-15 and compared it to the American system. She told everyone how full the prison system is in the U.S. and that many law abiding citizens would become criminals after spending time for growing marijuana plants. I followed Alison and I spoke how I got my part on Rock 107 to do my reefer radio reports before talking about the effects Bill C-15 would have on the medicinal marijuana community. I told people about a lady in the North West Territories would could possible face two years of mandatory time if this law was passed. This fine lady works for the territorial government and suffers from a severe back injury. She asked her doctor about signing the Canadian Government papers, but, like so many, she was turned down by him. With a legal reason to use marijuana but still unable to do so legally, she opted to grow her own without permission. Sometime afterwards, the police showed up and ripped her house apart, removing her two kids from her care. They then had the fire department condemn her home because of the small closet grow. If Bill C-15 was passed before she got raided, she would get six months plus extra time for having children in the house, plus extra time for many other “aggravated factors” that they have written into the bill. When I was done, Marc-Boris St-Maurice of NORML Canada took over. Marc-Boris touched on many aspects of his Resolving Marijuana Prohibition Tour, as well as the many negative effects of Bill C-15. It was great to see him there as he is one very busy guy as he tours across the country, talking to everyone about legalization Of course, this trip would not be complete without a visit to the Treating Yourself hospitality suite. While there, we were able to meet many of the people we would only know by name on the forums. It was great to meet all of you that attended and we look forward to seeing you in the future.
Global Marijuana March
Up next for the group was a visit to the largest Global Marijuana March held in the world in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. This all takes place on the grounds at Queens Park in the heart of the city, and has been happening for 11 years now. Something tells me that by year 15, the organizers may need to find a new location, as this one may be too small. This year’s event was set up like last year’s. The vendors were placed around the outside, with the big sound stage set up at one end. This stage pounded out live reggae music that everyone could enjoy. There were three other, smaller stages set up as well, which allowed for a speaker section where you could hear many activists speak. As well, other music would be played from these locations.
When we arrived at the site, we quickly found Mamahawk, as she had set up at the usual TY location. The lawn chairs were set up and the Treating Yourself banner was put into place. Throughout the day, many of the online members made their way to our area. Hashimotto, Pothead Pete, Pipes, Mz Nice and others stopped in for a visit, or spent the day with us. When the march was getting set up, we all gathered near the front. As more people joined in, the front of the parade would have to move forward. This allowed others to gather in behind as the line got longer every second. When it was time, we were ready and away we went, as the march made its way around the downtown core of the city. Many people would blast their horns in approval while many others watched us from the sidewalks and waved in appreciation to what we were doing. The march to some can seem long and I’m sure to others it could be thought of as being short. No matter how you look at it, I do know when the front of the marchers came around its final corner, you could spot the end of the parade still leaving the park.
Once we got back to the park, it appeared like the crowd had swollen. The park seemed to be full. I found as I walked around it was getting hard not to bump into someone or have to move around people, as the grounds were packed. It was so busy and loud that I had to take my reefer report off of the grounds to avoid the noise and the music. There was no way that I could have done it while in there.
The Wholistic Day
With the parades and the public speaking over, our group then focused on educating the grassroots people. These are the people who don’t participate in the rallies or parades, never mind even understanding the medicinal value of cannabis and marijuana. The group found out about the Wholestic Day event being held in Alderville, Ontario. This event is held by a magazine called The Link (www.the-link.ca), which features many articles on alternative methods of healing. When we saw the poster for the show, it stated “all things 100% natural,” so we couldn’t resist. We wrote the people hosting the show and talked to them about participating in it. Once we were done going over things, our booth was approved.
The day came for the event and we got set up quickly. The table was draped in a big fuzzy black blanket with a huge green marijuana leaf emblazoned in the middle of it. On one side of the table we had a display set up with alternative methods of consuming cannabis. On the other side, we had Treating Yourself magazines and our group’s medicinal marijuana brochure, providing people with medicinal links for them to review. With no walls around us, we had no real spot to hang the Treating Yourself banner high in the air, but we were near the stage and we were able to hang it from there. It was a low but it was hung, and could be seen as people made their way towards our booth.
The most common question we received throughout the day was “how does cannabis/marijuana help with ADHD?” and the most-heard comment was “I don’t know why they don’t just legalize it.” With the ADHD question, we were able to point the people to an article that was within the magazine, which we would then offer to them and they would gladly take.
The many that did stop by told us they were involved in the health field and had heard of the medicinal value of the herb through their patients. One lady told us that she was against people smoking marijuana but was interested in knowing what her young adult children were getting into. When she left, she gave us a big smile, shook our hands and thanked us for everything. We thanked her back for reaching out and researching the truth, unlike the many who just believe those in authority.
When the day wrapped up, we were very happy how this had all unfolded. With this being our first time doing it outside of Toronto and the first time ever at this fair, I’m sure that both sides would agree that it was good for every one. We can hardly wait until next year.
Resolving Marijuana Prohibition
With the fair completed, we had to quickly turn our sights towards the next event in our very busy first month of the new cannabis year. If you’re unaware of this tour, it has Marc-Boris St-Maurice, founder of the Marijuana Party of Canada, touring our country and talking to people about resolving marijuana prohibition. He does this through video interviews with many experts in economics, health and medicine, policy implementation and social justice relating to cannabis. Along with these videos, each stop provides a panel of people to assist him in discussing these four pillars of policy with the audience. You can read more about Marc-Boris and his tour at http://www.norml.ca
Our members attending the tours stopped at the Organic Underground on Front Street in Belleville Ontario. The place serves speciality coffees, organic foods and organic meals, to a wide range of organic health care products. The building is very old, with much of its original brick exposed to those on the inside. In other spots, you could see old timber ends and full beams that were used to build the place. Out front, as we walked in, there was a gentleman sitting on a stool busking to those who walked by and a chalkboard sign telling people what is happening on the inside. On this night, it told everyone that legalizing cannabis/marijuana was being discussed inside. Just before and just after the show got going, the place started to get crowded. From up front it appeared there was little room left for people to sit. The place was not filled with a young, youthful crowd as some would imagine. Instead, it was filled with many that were over 40 and many that were over 65. A quick show of hands told us that there wasn’t really as many smokers in the crowd as one would think. When it was asked who in attendance was a federal medical marijuana exemptee, it looked like at least 10 to 12 hands remained high in the air.
The panel for this night featured Dr. Craig Jones, the National Director of the John Howard Society, Lynne Belle-Isle, a Programs Consultant with the Canadian Aids Society, Al Graham of MA and a contributing writer for Treating Yourself, as well as Gary Magwood, the coordinator of public and media relations for the Green Party of Canada PE-H federal riding. All of the panelists had different ideas and thoughts on the four pillars. Dr. Jones and Ms. Belle-Isle are two very well-respected people in their fields. Dr. Jones has done many research studies on cannabis and its effects. Ms. Belle-Isle researches in the medicinal field with regards to cannabis’ effects with HIV and AIDS patients, and is instrumental in helping those people towards an improved quality of life, something all sick people reach for. A special thank you goes out to Mike, a friend of MA and the man behind the scenes getting this thing organized. The night was educational to many.
For others, it may have been preaching to the choir, but all and any information that can get out to a large gathering is great to see. Now that the seeds have been planted, let’s hope that they bear the fruit of knowledge so that those who receive can spread it onto others. MA can be reached at ma@treatingyourself.com
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It really is such a shame that such a wonderful natural plant is illegal. I applaud your efforts to make marijuana otherwise!
thank you mary. i will pass along your post to the group. remember – educate not incarcerate