Since the success of pro-legalization sites like hightimes.com, marijuana.org, drcnet.org, norml.org, and cures-not-wars.org, not to mention hundreds of others all over the net, there is a whole new fever among activists to use this potent new tool to connect all the various points of view and groups throughout the world. While some of these sites are flashy, "Hey, we support Pot', and are full of cannabis graphics, others contain in depth info and links to a wealth of resources and contacts.

The MILLION MARIJUANA MARCH, an International Day of Protest that started on the first of May last year in New York City. It is the marijuana movement's most recent attempt to exert political muscle on the internet. Facing down Mayor Rudolph Guilliani, Cures Not Wars went to Federal court for the right to march in their traditional protest, the historical 29 year old, Fifth Avenue Marijuana March. Last year's march, the first Million Marijuana March, drew thousands to Washington Square, who then marched to Battery Park in lower Manhattan.

The march itself was not unique, as there have been hundreds of marches and rallies drawing tens of thousands of participants. What is different is the way the marijuana movement is beginning to coalesce this spring under the moniker 'THE MILLION MARIJUANA MARCH'. Internationally the banner has been picked up in an attempt to reform the marijuana laws of Great Britain on an excellent site put together by the ICC - International Cannabis Campaign. (www.schmoo.co.uk/mayday). Marches now are being held worldwide in over twenty cities, among them London, Auckland NZ, Melbourne Australia, Amsterdam, Johannesburg South Africa, just to mention a few.

What was an independent attempt by many groups to form an International Marijuana Day, has become a full throttle endeavor on the internet to assemble the largest pro-marijuana protest in history. Cures Not Wars (cures-not-wars.org) enlisted the help of its sister organization and long time direct action engine, CAMP, to promote the event worldwide. The Coalition for the Abolition of Marijuana Prohibition, CAMP, (worldcamp.org) was formed in 1978 to bring together divergent groups on platforms and forums acceptable to all viewpoints. Out of this coalition grew the NYC Fifth Avenue Pot Parade (1978 / YIP) and the 29 years of annual marijuana protest in the nation's capital every July 4th. It is now promoted as the 4th of July Coalition (4th of july.org). CAMP was also instrumental in supporting initiatives in the early 80's in California (CMI) and Oregon (OMI). CAMP participated in the 1980 International Cannabis Alliance for Reform convention (ICAR) with its sister group the Legalization of Cannabis Campaign (LCC) which has now become the ICC.

After visiting the site, www.millionmarijuanamarch.com, a person can see the progress of The Million Marijuana March as it proceeds. Listed are all the sponsors and endorsements. This one-of-a-kind portal has handy links to all the useful websites that promote marijuana reform. Concentrating on the MMM, Saturday May 1st, it features times and places for assembly, maps, lists of speakers, bands playing, resources like stickers, posters, dates of 420 benefits, products available to those wishing to promote the event, and individual contacts around the world. Cities participating across the United States include New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Atlanta, Washington D.C., Tampa, Austin TX, and many, many others.

You could sit on your butts and surf the revolution from a distance, you could sit at home and write your congressperson, but if you want to make a real difference you can join the one million marijuana co-conspirators in their quest to legalize cannabis by marching in the streets Saturday May 1st, 1999.

Paul Cornwell
National Coordinator / CAMP