Tomorrow thousands of protestors will be signaling, in smoke, to Prime Minister Stephen Harper and the Conservative government that they don’t agree with Canada’s prohibition on marijuana.
Last year’s “Fill the Hill” rally drew upwards of 5,000 protestors and turned out to be one of the bigger protests of the year eclipsing demonstrations to free Tibet, and end global warming.
Marijuana activists and users have gathered each April 20th or 4/20 for the last several years. There is speculation about the origins, however the number 420 is iconic to most marijuana smokers.
Around 4:20 in the afternoon billowing clouds of marijuana smoke will obscure the Peace Tower and waft over the Ottawa River from Major’s Hill Park.
Wes Bartlett is Ottawa’s head organizer for the Global Marijuana March scheduled for May 1st says he isn’t surprised the “Fill the Hill” is so popular.
“It’s a big thing for Canadians these days, statistics indicate that one in four people smoke it at least once a month, and its medicinal uses are becoming a hot topic,” says Bartlett.
A recent Angus-Reid poll indicates that 53 per cent of Canadians would support the legalization of Marijuana.
Despite the event’s massive annual turnouts it hasn’t been effective in influencing public policy change and electoral support for the country’s Marijuana Party remains at less than 0.5 per cent.
Before prorogation, the Conservative government tabled Bill C-15 which would have sought to introduce minimum mandatory sentencing for marijuana related offences.
Ottawa Police Services says the event will not influence the way they enforce the law and that police officers have discretion in laying charges.
Last year police charged three people out of the thousands of participants off Parliament Hill with marijuana related charges.