Pubdate: Thu, 07 Apr 2016
Source: Daily Courier, The (CN BC)
Copyright: 2016 The Okanagan Valley Group of Newspapers
Contact:  http://www.kelownadailycourier.ca
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/531
Author: Ron Seymour
Page: A3

Drug Policy

POT SEED GIVEAWAY ATTRACTS OVER 300

The free cannabis seed distribution didn't go exactly as planned, but 
a pro-pot rally otherwise went off without a hitch in Kelowna.

More than 300 people packed into a hotel meeting room to hear pot 
crusader Dana Larsen give a history lesson on why marijuana was made 
illegal in Canada.

The real attraction for many, however, was the chance to receive a 
few of the one million free cannabis seeds Larsen plans to distribute 
on his cross-country Free Marijuana Tour.

"The turnout was huge, a real success, with tremendous excitement and 
energy in the room," Larsen said Wednesday as he drove toward the 
second stop on his tour, Calgary.

"But the hotel management got a little nervous and didn't like the 
idea of me giving away the cannabis seeds right inside the hotel," 
Larsen said. "So we went outside and handed them out to people in the 
parking lot."

Selling cannabis seeds is illegal in Canada, but Kelowna RCMP had no 
visible presence at Tuesday night's meeting.

"People are almost never charged for selling seeds, but if they are, 
they usually wind up getting a small fine," Larsen said. "Since I'm 
just giving away seeds, the punishment if I were to be charged would 
probably be even smaller.

"I really think the police have better things to do, and they 
probably know that dragging me away in front of a crowd of 350 people 
would just get more attention for our campaign," Larsen said.

Larsen encourages those who receive his cannabis seeds to plant them 
in a visible location on their own property, or on public property, 
as a way of showing their support for the legalization of marijuana.

Justin Trudeau's Liberal party promised to legalize pot during last 
fall's election campaign, but the new government has not yet set any 
sort of timetable for delivering on that pledge.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom