Politician Fired Up Over Oshawa Pot Party

Pubdate: Wed, 17 Jun 2009
Source: Oshawa This Week (CN ON)
Copyright: 2009 Oshawa This Week
Contact:  http://www.newsdurhamregion.com/news/oshawa
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1767
Author: Jillian Follert
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?420 (Cannabis - Popular)

POLITICIAN FIRED UP OVER OSHAWA POT PARTY

Organizer Wants Oshawa Cannabis Day To Be An Annual Event

OSHAWA -- A local councillor is worried the City's plans for a 
family-friendly Canada Day party by the lake could go up in smoke -- literally.

In recent weeks, information has been posted on YouTube and Facebook 
announcing Oshawa Cannabis Day 2009, slated for 4:20 p.m. July 1 at 
Lakeview Park, the same area where the City hosts its annual Canada Day event.

The YouTube videos have been viewed more than 600 times, and local 
councillors are worried a crowd of pot proponents will light up as 
hundreds of families gather for live music and fireworks.

"I'm just appalled," said Councillor Brian Nicholson, who represents 
the south Oshawa ward that includes Lakeview Park. "First of all, 
it's illegal. Second of all, this is a family event where there will 
be lots of young children. We don't even allow alcohol at our Canada 
Day event."ā?Ø Coun. Nicholson said he has made the police and senior 
City staff aware of the online content. He is hoping that if 
potential participants know they're not welcome and that the 
authorities will be keeping an eye out for them, the event won't take place.

Oshawa resident B.C. Fudge is the event organizer.

He said participants don't want to crash the City's Canada Day 
festivities, or smoke pot near children. It's a big lakefront, and 
while he wouldn't say exactly where the pot party would be taking 
place, he assured that it won't be too close to the City event.

Mr. Fudge said the inspiration for Oshawa Cannabis Day comes from 
similar July 1 events held in Toronto, Halifax, Vancouver and Montreal.

"Therapeutically (pot) is used to treat the terminally ill or people 
suffering from extreme pain. In Canada, it is also used widely 
recreationally by many age groups. Many Canadians have tried it, and 
are not opposed to it, considering its effects are less harmful and 
intoxicating than alcohol," he said. "On July 1st, we plan to 
celebrate freedom. The freedom to associate, the freedom to 
peacefully assemble and the freedom to discuss a plant that rarely 
gets discussed because of the negative image it has been given by an 
unjust law."

While there is no way to know how many people will turn out for 
Oshawa Cannabis Day, the organizer said 800 people have RSVPed to the 
Facebook event listing. He is also expecting medical marijuana users 
to attend and light up with their proper documentation in hand.

If this year goes well, he'd like to see it become an annual tradition.

As for the concern it has caused, he said it's unfortunate, but 
probably a little unwarranted.

"On Canada Day, people are going to be smoking cigarettes at the park 
and I don't see politicians getting hyped up about that," he said. 
"Smoking is dangerous, second-hand smoke is dangerous, no one has 
proven cannabis is dangerous. There's no reason to get upset about it."
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