Freedom Festival
2013
Yesterday (May 11) was the day many in Toronto
look forward to all year, the annual Marijuana March, a protest that has been
taking place every year for almost as long as I can remember. In recent years
it has turned into not only a march but an all day festival.
As a young man I remember the Prime Minister
of this country telling the people that if they just elected him one more time
he would decriminalize marijuana in Canada. Well lucky Pierre Trudeau was
yanking our chain then as others have since and I'm sure his kid Justin will in
the next election. I can remember marching with my three year old daughter on
my shoulders, yesterday at seventeen she was there with her friends and about
12 to 14 thousand other mostly young people. Young people and adults who should
not have to worry about a criminal record or going to jail because they eat or
smoke a plant that GOD saw fit to put on this earth. Add yesterday’s numbers to
every other city and town across this country who also march year after year and
it quickly becomes clear that that the government of Canada is not interested
in what the majority of Canadians want or need.
It’s been perfectly clear to almost all
Canadians, police chief’s and politicians that the prohibition against marijuana
has failed miserably and yet these public official’s continue to make criminals
out of not only the sick and disabled who depend on it to live a normal life
but pray on many hard working Canadians who enjoy using it recreationally.
I could talk about the many benefits this humble
little plant could bring to our society and how much better off we could be
taking advantage of the many uses this plant has. All of that means nothing
though because our government serves the industry and people who wanted it made
illegal in the first place and not the people of Canada. Your vote means
nothing compared to big money and oil who give the government of Canada their
marching orders. I can’t help but wonder how long it would stay illegal if the
thousands who come out to the festival were to close down the court house in
old city hall every day where they dish out the fines and incarcerations?
For the second or third year in a row now
the government has refused to issue permits for this event and yet people turn
out for it anyway and it still goes on. The people sell and trade the baked
goods and people commit the same crimes of smoking the weed that you arrest us
for every other day when we are not in the same overwhelming numbers. We the
people have nothing but contempt for the politicians who will not decriminalize
it and the police who enforce this stupid law.
The people have spoken Mr. Harper, Shame on all
you fools on the hill. One day we will not need to gather in numbers to keep
from getting busted for smoking a joint in the park. But until that day we will
meet in your park once a year and hold up a big middle finger to all you fools
on the hill. I will come out every year as I have done for the last forty, and
my child will continue to do so for me after I'm gone and one day we will have
justice.
Lawrence McCurry
May 12, 2013
