Pubdate: Fri, 21 Apr 2017
Source: Lethbridge Herald (CN AB)
Copyright: 2017 The Lethbridge Herald
Contact:  http://www.lethbridgeherald.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/239
Author: Tijana Martin
Page: A1

LEGALIZATION GETS SPIRITS HIGH AT CITY RALLY

There was a cloud of smoke at Galt Gardens Thursday as hundreds
gathered to smoke marijuana during the annual 4/20
celebration.

Every year on April 20, Canadians gather for pro-pot events, but it
seems that cannabis activists may soon be getting what they want as
the Government of Canada has proposed the Cannabis Act, which would
legalize and regulate cannabis use.

Despite cannabis use still being illegal for most, unless prescribed
for medical purposes, Lethbridge Police Services simply observed the
rally and no arrests were made on drug charges.

However, users may not have to worry for much longer as the federal
government has set a target date for legalization for no later than
July 2018, if it's approved by Parliament.

"It's been illegal for 94 years," said Mike Pyne, former federal
Liberal Party candidate. "All that has to be done to get to that point
is tremendous. We're dealing with three or four levels of government.
it's going to take a lot of co-ordination and time and hopefully we
can have it done in a year."

The 420 at the Park event ran from 2 to 8 p.m., and was a much larger
event than in the past as the day was filled with live music, vendors,
speakers and food trucks.

"Last year, we were on City Hall for I think, the fourth year in a row
and we had outgrown the space there," said organizer Fiona Doherty.
"There were too many of us to be protesting out on the front lawn of
City Hall any further."

After speaking with the City of Lethbridge, it was suggested that the
event take place at a larger venue and permits were approved for the
event to be held at Galt Gardens.

"Rallies like this have been very, very, important. They've been a key
in moving legalization forward," said Doherty. "We just want to stress
that cannabis crosses all boundaries. Cannabis use is something most
people participate in and if you don't use cannabis, someone you love
does, someone you know does, or someone you're related to does."

Doherty is ecstatic that cannabis may soon be legal.

"I believe all forward motion is good. Any forward motion towards
legalization is positive movement," she said. "Anything that gets us
closer to full access to cannabis is a positive step."

The Cannabis Act aims to keep marijuana out of the hands of youth and
will be illegal to sell or give anyone under the age of 18.

While Ottawa has proposed a minimum legal age for cannabis use as 18,
provinces will have the opportunity to increase that.

The act allows adults to possess up to 30 grams of dried cannabis, or
the equivalent in non-dried form and grow up to four cannabis plants
per resident for personal use.

If a provincially-licensed retailer is not available, individuals
could purchase online from a federally-licensed producer.

There are currently no medical marijuana dispensaries in Lethbridge
and time will tell if any licensed retailer will open up in the
community if legalization moves forward.

"The federal government has laid down their framework and now it's up
to the provinces and municipalities to flush it in," said Doherty.
"It's up to us now as cannabis consumers to lobby the city and lobby
our provincial government to get the laws in that we would like to see
in place."
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MAP posted-by: Matt