Pubdate: Mon, 23 Apr 2012
Source: Metro (Winnipeg, CN MB)
Copyright: 2012 Free Daily News Group Inc.
Contact: http://www.metronews.ca/winnipeg/contactus
Website: http://www.metronews.ca/winnipeg
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/5322
Author: Alyssa McDonald

DIFFERENT KIND OF SMOKE TAKES OVER DOWNTOWN

Weed Day. 4/20 Draws Big Crowd Of Around 2,500, Some Reports
Say

Thousands of people crowded the front entrance of the Manitoba
Legislature Friday for the 4/20 protest.

The annual event, celebrated on April 20, is a time when people openly
smoke cannabis on the Legislature grounds in support of the
de-criminalization of marijuana - while police turn a blind eye.

"We realize this needs to be a secure and a very safe environment for
people to attend or for people to demonstrate, so that is our main
priority," said police spokesperson Const. Natalie Aitken, as police
surrounded the site.

Aitken also noted they were expecting a bigger crowd due to the
absence of classes for a number of schools in the area.

"Finally got it right, no one was showing up at school," said Grade 9
student Kennedy Reuthur, adding that she and a bunch others 'dipped'
out of class last year to attend.

"It's beautiful out, perfect weather for weed day," said Reuthur's
friend Jenna Ashley.

Reuthur and Ashley, both 16, said their parents knew they were at the
protest.

One of their friends, who chose to not be named, said her parents
would be very upset if they knew she was there. Although the protest
was quiet and mostly involved people sitting in circles and smoking
up, there were a few people with placards who handed out
information.

Joseph Fullmer was walking around with a double-sided sign and has
been trying for years to make cannabis legal.

"It's de-criminalize it, tax it, regulate it: clean, good marijuana
for everybody," said Fullmer.

Police were expecting more than 1,000 people to show, but according to
other reports, the crowd looked like it numbered around 2,500.
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D