Who we are / Becoming a Member / News / Links / Location / Contact us / Home / Hemp Info

POTHEADS CELEBRATE LEGAL DOPE BY BLOWING SMOKE AT THE COPS

By: Ivan Gowch. 06/23/03

TORONTO (GNS, 6-19-03) -- A small group of marijuana aficionados and medical-marijuana supporters gathered in front of police headquarters in downtown Toronto on Thursday to smoke a little dope.

This they did, as B.C. cannabis activist Marc Emery handed out joints and worked the crowd. The cops, for their part, did what they had to do: nothing. When breath wasn't being held, discussion centred on the remarkable series of recent court decisions that have left Ontario perhaps the only jurisdiction on the planet with no law prohibiting personal possession of boo.

This happy circumstance will probably not obtain permanently. The federal government is preparing legislation designed to ease up on penalties for personal possession which will, ironically, recriminalize an activity that is, at time of writing, completely legal.

Perhaps enough Canadians will exploit this fortuitous lull in the war against some drugs and tell the federal government, loudly, that the onus is on it to demonstrate why there should be any law restricting the use of cannabis whatsoever and if it can't do so, to leave things as they are.

Unfortunately, those most disposed to take up the challenge are also the ones most likely to be too stoned to do so.

Meanwhile, it's probable that at this very moment, the word is spreading far and near among lovers of marijuana's gentle confusion . . . Ontario is the place this summer . . . the weather is at its best, the people are decent, if not overly friendly, and the dope is legal. That's right. Legal.

Yep, folks. The Summer of Love, 2003, is in Toronto this year (but just to be safe, better not try to bring your bong across the border). And don't worry about a thing. Almost nobody gets SARS anyway. . . .