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Cannabis Campaigners' Guide News Database result:
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Canada: 'Legalize' theme for city's 420 rally Michelle Ruby, Brantford Expositor Monday 20 Apr 2015 Rain that had been falling much of the afternoon stopped in time for participants to light up en masse at 4:20 p.m. "Legalize," rally organizer Mike Dinsmore yelled into a megaphone. Earlier in the afternoon, several local political candidates spoke in support of the Brantford Cannabis Club's push to decriminalize marijuana. "We are exercising our right to protest," said Dinsmore. "Cannabis shouldn't be called a drug. It is a natural substance." Thousands of Canadians assembled at similar events across the country. The term "420," said to be a code word used by a group of California teens in the early 1970s as their after-school time to light up, has now become the internationally recognized date (fourth month, 20th day) for pro-pot rallies. A crowd of about 200 people gathered in the downtown park in front of Brantford city hall. Police cars could be seen in the area but they didn't interfere with the rally, which ran from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. and included entertainment, T-shirt and poster giveaways and plenty of smoking. "We are definitely not promoting minors smoking," said Brittni Mitchell, a member of the Brantford Cannabis Club. "But adults should have the right to make their own decisions." Dinsmore said the gathering was also a way to dispel the stigma that all marijuana users are "lazy stoners." He said group members organize several community projects, including garbage pickup and food and clothing drives. "I have three jobs," said Mitchell. "It is the complete opposite to what people think." Growing, possessing or consuming any amount of marijuana in Canada is illegal. However, it can be prescribed by doctors for medicinal use and the federal government allows some companies to grow it for those with licences. Rob Farrington of Brantford, who was at Monday's rally, is a licensed medicinal user of marijuana to help relieve back pain resulting from an injury. "It is a natural medicine," he said. "We need to take it out of the criminal code." Susan Majsztrik of Brantford agreed. She isn't a pot smoker but supports other's rights to use it. Holding a sign that read, "Cannabis Saves Lives, Hemp Can Save the World," Majsztrik said she was at the rally to educate people about the thousands of products that can be made from hemp and the medications that can be made from cannabis. "I'm not here to light up a big fat joint on 420," she said. Marc Laferriere, Brantford-Brant federal NDP candidate, told rally participants Canada's policy on marijuana needs to be modernized, with "immediate decriminalization of possession on the road to legalization" with a "regulatory system that focuses on small businesses development." Libertarian candidate Rob Ferguson said he supports the legalization of marijuana, claiming that his party has been the most active in 420 events across the country. The Liberal Party, with Danielle Takacs as the local candidate, also supports the legalization and regulation of marijuana. michelle.ruby@sunmedia.ca twitter.com/expmichelle http://www.brantfordexpositor.ca/2015/04/20/legalize-theme-for-citys-420-rally
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