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| Marijuana Activists Push for Legalization |
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Posted by CN Staff on May 05, 2002 at 08:51:25 PT By Kirsten Buys Source: Lansing State Journal 
Renee Emry Wolfe stood on the Capitol steps Saturday and spoke to about 100 people rallying for the legalization of marijuana. Wolfe, who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis 23 years ago, said smoking marijuana is the only reason she can stand at all. "I can only get out of this wheelchair because I smoke the herb," said Wolfe, an Ann Arbor resident. "It's my medicine." Lansing was one of five cities in Michigan and 190 around the world that participated in the Million Marijuana March, held each year on the first Saturday in May. Supporters from across the state, from toddlers to grandparents, marched from Oldsmobile Park to the Capitol holding signs that read "Cannabis reform" and "Legalize freedom" while chanting "Free the weed" and "Prohibition has got to go." The main focus of the march and rally was to educate people on the good marijuana can do and myths against it, said Kathy Kennedy, a member of march organizer Cures Not Wars. Pro-marijuana lobbyists say the herb can stop the progress of glaucoma and improve quality of life for people with various diseases, including AIDS, cancer and epilepsy. They say it can even help alcohol, cigarette and narcotics users get over their addictions. Kennedy said as soon as the mainstream public realizes those positives, legalization will be within reach. "I really do feel like it will happen in the next 10 years," said Kennedy, an Onondaga resident. "I never thought it would happen. But now people are entering the job stream who grew up with marijuana and they know the laws aren't working." George Sherfield, state coordinator for Michigan Marijuana Movement, said hemp products and the medical use of marijuana has been legalized in Canada, and that possession laws in England also have been relaxed. He's hoping American lawmakers will follow their lead. "We love this country more than anybody," Sherfield said. "We're not criminal - we're just pot smokers." Sherfield's organization has drafted an amendment it hopes to get on the Michigan ballot in 2004. Two previous attempts to get the proposal on the ballot have failed. The proposal includes medical use of marijuana under a doctor's care; the right to establish farms to produce nonintoxicating hemp used for paint, clothing and food; and to legalize marijuana use for people 21 and older, in their own homes and away from kids. Donna Paridee of New Baltimore attended the rally with her husband and two young sons. She said marijuana being illegal is no different than the prohibition of alcohol in the 1920s. "I support freedom in America,'' she said. "I just like to smoke pot." On the Web: For more information about organizations represented at the rally, visit their Web sites: Cures Not Wars: http://www.cures-not-wars.org Rainbow Farm: http://www.rainbowfarmcamp.com Michigan Marijuana Movement: http://www.mmm420.org National Organization for the Reform for Marijuana Laws (NORML), Michigan Chapter: http://www.mi4norml.org Note: March, rally aim to educate people on herb's benefits. Source: Lansing State Journal (MI) Related Articles & Web Site: Million Marijuana March 2002 CannabisNews - Cannabis Archives Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help |
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Comment #1 posted by thesnax on September 12, 2004 at 09:09:44 PT:
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| It seems so simple. Marijuana is a weed through and through. It can grow pretty much everywhere. So for all the U.S. and any other country where it is illegal, next time your driving or taking a stroll, just toss your seeds out into some bushes. Spread them around the hood/plaza/county. The government is not more powerful than nature. If herb is growing all over the place there will be nothing they can do. Instead of tossing your seeds into the garbage toss them next to it in the grass, or the side of the creek. . Spread the word. The more that helps the faster we will succeed. Whos to say this wont work. Theres only one way to find out and were gonna have to work together to do it. Please, help spread the word. We are not winning in lawsuits, doing promotions and conventions isnt working, we have to try something else, something that EVERYONE can do. We are only making a little progress at a time. This way seems so much faster. Besides its not like were littering or destroying nature, actually we are contributing to it, and also making the world a better place! You can start anytime, but the goal is for a massive overgrow on 4-20-05. If we start all at once we will have the best chance of success. Please tell everyone and spread the word. SPREAD THE SEED TO LEGALIZE WEED! [ Post Comment ] |
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