Pubdate: Mon, 08 Aug 2016
Source: Winnipeg Sun (CN MB)
Copyright: 2016 Canoe Limited Partnership
Contact: http://www.winnipegsun.com/letter-to-editor
Website: http://www.winnipegsun.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/503
Author: Joyanne Pursaga
Page: 7

'JUST LIKE ALCOHOL'

Pot activist aims to make 4/20 family friendly

"As pot's becoming legal, why wouldn't it be like any other festival?"
Steven Stairs, president of the Winnipeg 4/20 organizing committee

Should the same festival offer both a "bud garden" and a bouncy
castle?.

A local medical marijuana advocate is proposing just that for a
pro-cannabis event next spring.

Steven Stairs, president of the Winnipeg 4/20 organizing committee,
said he's met with city and provincial officials to discuss ways to
add a kid-friendly element to festivities a day after the main event
on April 20, 2017.

Otherwise known as 4/20, that's the day cities around the world host
pot-smoking demonstrations.

Stairs stressed the public pot smoke-in at the Manitoba legislature is
still meant just for adults. But a bouncy castle or other child
activity could be welcomed to one edge of a pro-cannabis festival the
following day, while a clearly distinct "bud garden" is proposed for
adults to smoke or vape pot.

"We really do want to keep it separate," Stairs said. "I know it will
be contentious to some people."

Stairs is still seeking government approval of the idea but says early
meetings have been positive and he doesn't believe the concept would
break the law. Whether adults could smoke or just vape the drug would
likely depend on the status of federal legislation to legalize pot at
that time, he added.

The federal government has promised to legalize recreational marijuana
sometime next spring. And Stairs believes it's now time to move on
from the stigma pot suffers as an illegal drug.

"Society has to realize it's just like alcohol or cigarettes," Stairs
said. "Some (other) events have rides for kids and a beer garden.
What's the problem with it?"

"As pot's becoming legal, why wouldn't it be like any other festival?"
he added.

Restrict sales to adults

Marijuana-related products would likely be sold at the same festival,
but Stairs said he's willing to ensure vendors blur views of those
products and restrict sales to adults, if required.

He also stressed he doesn't encourage kids to attend 4/20 festivals
but believes his group should be inclusive for families who bring them
along.

Winnipeg police could not immediately be reached for comment on Sunday
as to whether a pot-smoking or vaping festival area would pose legal
issues.

Coun. Brian Mayes (St. Vital) said it's not clear how current city
rules and bylaws might apply to the proposal, especially if federal
laws change prior to April 20.

Mayes believes the proposed event could trigger public concern,
however, as some head shops did back in 2014 over allegations they
promoted marijuana use to minors. Those complaints led to a police
crackdown on Winnipeg head shops.

There have been few complaints since, likely because the businesses
have worked to keep minors out of their stores, darken windows to
obscure products from public view and remove messages referring to
4/20 itself.

Mayes said adding a family friendly element to a cannabis-promoting
festival, even with distinct areas for children and adults, would
likely raise similar concerns.

"We shouldn't be promoting this to kids," Mayes said. "I still think
there's a line and this crosses it."

Mayes agreed with Stairs that public opinion tends to reflect a
growing acceptance of legal pot use by adults. But he believes an
event with activities for both pot-smoking and kids remains
problematic.

"A pot garden seems to me pretty clearly an adult thing ... And we do
a lot to dissuade kids from smoking, so to mix this seems really not
appropriate," Mayes said.
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MAP posted-by: Matt