420 mob vote in Halifax
Posted Apr 20, 2011 04:53:31 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Several people braved the cold, wet weather for a 420 vote mob Wednesday afternoon organized by Michael Dewar, the Green Party Candidate in Halifax.
420 is a term the cannabis culture uses to refer to the consumption of marijuana.
Dewar tells News 95.7 the purpose of the rally was to raise awareness of what he calls a failed drug policy in Canada.
“In Canada, we see a complete prohibition on all narcotics,” he says. “Arguably, however, this is giving criminals to more access to funding because we’re driving money towards the black market instead of legalizing, taxing and regulation marijuana which could be a very lucrative industry.”
He adds we’re wasting tax dollars trying to crack down on grow ops and says current drug policies essentially hand blank cheques to criminals.
Victoria was one of the first to show up at the event.
She scoffed at the idea rallies like this are just an excuse to smoke pot in public.
“Unfortunately that’s the stereotype but if you actually come out and speak to us, I think you’ll find a lot of very philosophical, socially aware people.”
She says mob votes like this can be effective in sparking change because the more exposure issues like this get, the more research people will do on their own.
Michael was there for a very specific reason.
“I’m supporting all of the medicinal patients that A. have their card or B. need their card and are unable to get it,” he says. “It’s absolutely unfair and it’s not right for Canadians everywhere. It’s a wonderful healing medicine that is restricted for God knows what reasons.”
He adds he’s hoping for change but says when he takes a look at what’s happening in the country, he’s skeptical anything will happen.
