cannabisnews.com: Downtown Pot Rally Brings Whiff of The '60s Downtown Pot Rally Brings Whiff of The '60s Posted by CN Staff on May 08, 2005 at 12:00:06 PT By Tanya Talaga, Staff Reporter Source: Toronto Star Canada -- Unsuspecting tourists walking through Queen's Park yesterday might have wondered if they had passed through a time machine and wound up at a U.S. college peace rally in the 1960s.Tie-dyed T-shirts, laid-back people with bongs and the heady scent of pot hung in a haze just north of where the provincial government sits. Close to 3,000 people celebrated cannabis culture as part of the sixth "Global Million Marijuana March," marked in more than 200 cities worldwide. "We want to see it legalized and decriminalized," said organizer Franklin Skanks. He believes legalizing pot would bring in more revenue via "sin taxes," boost tourism and help shut down organized marijuana grow-ops. Supervised by Toronto police, the rally went off without a hitch. No one was charged.A 30-something couple from Manhattan and their infant son watched in awe as the parade passed. "We are blown away, this could never happen in New York City," said Debbie. "We are shocked by how friendly the police are."Scarborough resident Dan Hook, 44, said he's been smoking weed for 30 years. "I have come to realize the returns of the spiritual side of smoking. Bob Marley knew it and I'm learning it," he said.Peter Young of the London Compassion Society, a medical marijuana resource facility, said his society distributes medical marijuana to doctor-approved patients. Cancer and AIDS patients use it to help manage pain and reduce nausea, he said.High-quality marijuana is expensive and available only through illegal sources due to prohibition, he said. That often puts the medicinal benefits of marijuana out of the reach of people who need it, he added.Source: Toronto Star (CN ON)Author: Tanya Talaga, Staff ReporterPublished: May 08, 2005Copyright: 2005 The Toronto Star Contact: lettertoed thestar.com Website: http://www.thestar.com/ CannabisNews -- Canada Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/Canada.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #3 posted by global_warming on May 08, 2005 at 13:54:05 PT Hurry Up Canada Do your beautiful thing, before the spread of that disease from the South catches up to you. I am not talking about Killer Bees, I'm talking about the "prohibitionist" mindset, that has taken control of this USA.The how's and why's may never be truly understood, but the people that cannot get an education in this free USA because of a plant, their numbers are growing, along with our prison populations.Some may liken it to Puritinism, kinda like them fundamentalist Arabs that destroyed our twin towers, and some might catch a glimpse of the rot in places on this world.This blue speck in this universe is our only home, there is no place to go to, this is it, right on our front door step.I hope that the Cannabis Freedom movement brings along a greater understanding of our place in this only real world.I do not know of any life form,That would agree to anything lessthan a fair bargain.The sacrifice that Jesus took,Is to this day, still being sought,And largely being digested and deliberated You can add this to your reading list,You can look through all of the ancient literature,You will not find any sacrifice that is equal.This is just a reminder, how we are different,How we understand our capacity for Mercy,How the warm blanket of Hope,Embraces so many, whose life awaits.---Luk 22:15 Then He said to them, "I have fervently desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer.Luk 22:16 For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God."Luk 22:17 Then He took a cup, and after giving thanks, He said, "Take this and share it among yourselves.Luk 22:18 For I tell you, from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes."Luk 22:19 And He took bread, gave thanks, broke it, gave it to them, and said, "This is My body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of Me."Luk 22:20 In the same way He also took the cup after supper and said, "This cup is the new covenant established by My blood; it is shed for you.Luk 22:21 But look, the hand of the one betraying Me is at the table with Me!Luk 22:22 For the Son of Man will go away as it has been determined, but woe to that man by whom He is betrayed!"Luk 22:23 So they began to argue among themselves which of them it could be who was going to do this thing. Luk 22:24 Then a dispute also arose among them about who should be considered the greatest. Luk 22:25 But He said to them, "The kings of the Gentiles dominate them, and those who have authority over them are called 'Benefactors.'Luk 22:26 But it must not be like that among you. On the contrary, whoever is greatest among you must become like the youngest, and whoever leads, like the one serving.Luk 22:27 For who is greater, the one at the table or the one serving? Isn't it the one at the table? But I am among you as the One who serves.Luk 22:28 You are the ones who stood by Me in My trials.Luk 22:29 I bestow on you a kingdom, just as My Father bestowed one on Me,Luk 22:30 so that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom. And you will sit on thrones judging the 12 tribes of Israel.-------Peace-gw [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by eco-man on May 08, 2005 at 13:08:18 PT URL for Toronto Star article. While it lasts:http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&call_pageid=971358637177&c=Article&cid=1115502616419 [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by eco-man on May 08, 2005 at 12:41:08 PT 640 Toronto. "Your City, Your Station" Downtown Pot Rally Draws 3000May, 08 2005 - 9:00 AMhttp://www.640toronto.com/news/metro.cfm?cat=7428109912&rem=8945&red=80110923aPBIny&wids=410&gi=1&gm=metro.cfm About 3000 people gathered in the area of Queen's Park for the "Global Million Marijuana March" yesterday. Participants want to see pot legalized, believing it would boost tourism in Toronto and shut down grow-ops in the city. Toronto Police were supervising in force, and no charges were laid even though participants were openly smoking the drug. [ Post Comment ] Post Comment