Pubdate: Mon, 08 Sep 2014
Source: Toronto Star (CN ON)
Copyright: 2014 The Toronto Star
Contact:  http://www.thestar.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/456
Author: Alex Ballingall

WHIFF OF ADVENTURE AT HIGH PARK POT HUNT

Coupons tucked away for free paraphernalia - and cheaper weed with
valid prescription

There's weed in them thar hills, you might say, and at high noon the
hunt was on.

Seekers of hidden treasure fanned out across High Park on Sunday - an
assortment of marijuana enthusiasts and medicinal users who scuttled
through bushes and checked under garbage bins in search of their
promised bounty.

To keep things legal, there weren't actually bundles of drugs hidden
in the west-end green space. Instead, hundreds of coupons were tucked
away, redeemable for $25,000 worth of free bongs, pipes, rolling
papers, vaporizers and discounted weed, the latter available only for
people with valid prescriptions, according to organizers from the
Marijuana Info Bureau.

It was almost too good to be true for Barry Bellows. The 37-year-old
raced down to the park on his bike after hearing about the second
annual Marijuana Treasure Hunt on the morning news. He found 30 prize
vouchers within an hour.

"This one's for 10 lollipops, $50 off, free delivery," said Bellows,
grinning as he flipped through his findings. An envious and
empty-handed fellow hunter looked on from a nearby bench.

"I'm not really sure if there's any truth to it, but you never know,"
Bellows said, and glanced toward the nearby foliage. "That's where my
next adventure is, into the woods."

A short distance away, a guy was huffing up one of the park paths with
a skateboard under his arm.

"Got here a bit late, so!" he exclaimed, dropping to his knees to
check under wooden benches before he jogged away into the heart of the
park.

The marijuana scavenger hunt was announced weeks ago via Twitter and
on flyers in the surrounding neighbourhood.

It attracted dozens of treasure hunters to the park on Sunday, where
participants mingled mostly unnoticed amongst the usual crowds of
families, joggers and dog-walkers, while police on bikes patrolled the
park.

Some who took part were hostile to queries from the media, muttering
expletives or responding with narrow-eyed suspicion. Most though, were
friendly, laid-back and happy to be out in the sun.

"I think it's a great idea to have it in the park . . . as long as
people are respectful and don't smoke in front of kids," said Ryan
Carter, 23, a licensed medicinal marijuana user.

Maps and a list of rules were available online through the Marijuana
Info Bureau Twitter feed. These stipulated that you must be 18 to
participate, and have a medical pot prescription to claim marijuana
prizes.

Calls from the Star to the phone number provided on the bureau's
advertisements went unanswered Sunday, while organizers of the event
were conspicuously absent from High Park.

Carter, who has participated in Marijuana Info Bureau events before,
explained that the chief organizer runs a medical weed compassion club
and is media shy. "He does exist. I've met him in person," Carter laughed.

Sitting near a hotdog stand beneath a shady tree, Jake Parsonson took
a nonchalant drag from a cigarette (tobacco only). He said he came to
the park to take part in the scavenger hunt, expressing his approval
for providing less expensive weed to people that need it for medical
reasons.

"Lots of people can't afford their medication, so this is a great lift
for them," said Parsonson.

As for himself, he didn't have high hopes for bagging much
loot.

"I'm certainly going to leave here with less weed than I came with,"
he vowed, "no matter how much I find."
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MAP posted-by: Matt