Marijuana is still illegal in both the United States and Canada, but people keep having events like the ones held recently, it may not be for long. A “4/20″ event at the University of Colorado saw about 3,000 people getting deliciously baked in public, with only half-a-dozen ticketed.
Students celebrated with a makeshift Slip N Slide, music by Bob Marley, Rockstar energy drinks and, of course, pot. At exactly 4:20 p.m., billows of smoke rose above the crowd, as revelers cheered and shouted.
And in Toronto yesterday, over ten thousand people got together for the “Toronto Freedom Festival and Global Marijuana March,” although many of the attendees apparently forget exactly why they were in Queen’s Park.
It was a spirited affair, but to call it a protest would be an overstatement. The event was so laid-back that most of those who jammed the park seemed unaware of the 2 p.m. march through the downtown core.
Everybody loves a good laugh at a hippie’s expense, but don’t forget there are still thousands of Americans in jail because of something as innocuous as smoking marijuana. (Sorry to be a downer, maaan, but I’d like to stop ruining people’s lives over a harmless drug that is more commonly a punchline than the cause of any real dangers to our society.)
Queen’s Park rally goes all to pot [TheStar.com]
(Photo: Moonwire’s Flickr Stream)
So we accidentaly stumbled upon the march on Saturday, and I have to say, these folks would go a lot farther if their public demonstrations were not led by a man in a wizard costume and an old man with a green beard in a dress. Thanks for perpetuating the stereotype, dudes!
I don’t know the details, but marijuana is somewhat legal in Toronto. I believe it’s a personal consumption thing, or a tolerable amount.
Regardless, keeping (or ever making) marijuana illegal is ridiculous. It’s less damaging than alcohol and much less addictive than cigarettes. I appreciate the efforts of the marchers and protesters but presenting a better image might go a lot further.