Pubdate: Tue, 01 Oct 2002
Source: Toronto Sun (CN ON)
Copyright: 2002, Canoe Limited Partnership.
Contact:  http://www.fyitoronto.com/torsun.shtml
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/457
Author: Ian Mcdougall

WEAPONS AT RALLY

Man Arrested At Pro-Pot Gathering

A peaceful pot protest at the Old City Hall courthouse got off to a rocky 
start yesterday as police arrested a man armed with swords and knives.

Just before a pro-marijuana demonstration began yesterday morning, Toronto 
Police officers -- some with guns drawn -- seized two swords and a knife 
from a man at the rally.

"I bought them as gifts," said the man, who identified himself to police as 
Brian Hayes.

"You pointed your gun at me," he said to one of the arresting officers 
before being taken away in handcuffs to face weapons charges.

The man had been standing on the steps of Old City Hall with two swords 
strapped on his back. Police also took a hunting knife in a sheath from him.

Pot demonstrators said Hayes was not part of the rally.

"He showed up before with a joint in his mouth and ninja knives on his 
back," said Steven Bacon, a federally exempt pot user.

Centre Closure

About 70 people gathered to support the Senate's recommendation to legalize 
marijuana and to protest the closure of the Toronto Compassion Centre on 
Aug. Warren Hitzig, 26, Zachary Naftolin, 24, Andrea Horning, 40, and 
Markos Koutoukis, 25, were charged with possession of marijuana for the 
purpose of trafficking after a raid on the centre.

Lawyer Alan Young, who acted as the centre's lawyer, submitted a letter to 
the federal prosecutor's office yesterday urging that the charges be dropped.

"People in power and authority have to understand the consequences of 
closing the centre," Young said.

Young was one of the lawyers who took part in a Superior Court application 
at the end of September that could force Ottawa to give users federal pot 
grown for research.

Smoker William Palmer, his head adorned with cannabis laurels, said 
yesterday he needs a steady supply of marijuana after the compassion centre 
closed.

"They seized my pharmacy," he said. "Quit closing our pharmacies; we don't 
close down your beer and liquor stores."
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MAP posted-by: Beth