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The Woodstock of Grass Protests Intends To Fill the Hill
by Matthew Mernagh | OfficialWire | 06/04/04


OTTAWA, CANADA -- (OfficialWire) --Attention Potheads: Put down the bong, gather up the posse and make the trek to Ottawa this weekend (Saturday, June 5) for Fill the Hill.

The protest is the biggest planned act of civil disobedience on the Canadian Pothead calendar.

A who's who of the marijuana movement are coming from all across this great big green nation (and America!) to speak, distribute pro-grass lit, and fire one up in the name of freedom.

Months-upon-months of planning have resulted in a perfectly timed event, right smack dab in the middle of an election. A massive gathering at 'Fill the Hill' will put marijuana prohibition back on the election map.

Twenty thousand kind souls are expected to kick up the jams at Parliament Hill, but lets double that to 40,000. Our American brothers are encouraged to experience freedom too. So get in the van, hop on the bus, strap into a plane seat, borrow from units and grand units, but whatever you do, plan to be there.

The losing Liberals have just discovered, hopefully too late, that the June 28 electoral showdown will be all about the issues. Their middle of the road majority has been smashed by the horrid warmongering Conservatives flanking hard right. While the ballooning NDP are snatching the disgruntled left who have had enough of electoral elitism of sitting MPs. Political pundits are guran-damn-teeing a Liberal minority, which means, thankfully PM Martin won't last too long.

"I'm pretty excited about this election. There's genuine suspense of what is going to happen. A very non-predictable election so far," the Prince of Pot, Marc Emery told me from his Vancouver home. The publisher of Cannabis Culture, marijuana seed merchant and all around swell guy loves the political scene and is a major contributor to the NDP.

The animated speaker's message for the last five months has been not only to go to the ballot box and mark an X for the NDP, but become involved with party. A massive number of people (about three million) admit to using the green at least once a month, but there is significant voter apathy amongst this group. Needing to improve the 1 in 10 voter turn-out, Emery, at his own expense, has been vigorously campaigning. His fall university lecture tour earned him a few arrests, but most importantly he drummed home the strength of uniting behind federal candidates.

The Prince of Pot's team of activists has created a leaflet with NDP leader Jack Layton's positive grass message. Before the writ dropped Layton appeared on Emery's Pot-TV.net program proudly proclaiming his pro grass views. Fifty thousand Layton pro grass leaflets have been printed up with volunteers intending to drop them heavily on this crowd along with a take home campaign.

Hearing the call to arms, marijuana activist, Marijuana Medical Access Regulations cardholder, Law Enforcement Against Prohibition member and uber grass cheerleader Alison Myrden is an NDP candidate in Oakville. The amazing women, who suffers from Tic Douloureux and chronic progressive MS, brings plenty of talent, enthusiasm and is not just a marijuana issue candidate, she has personalized all the issues. Myrden will be addressing the crowd at Fill the Hill. The brilliant activist is scheduled to speak in both Dublin and Boston later this year as a member of LEAP.


Taking a day out from stumping in her Vancouver-East riding, NDP MP Libby Davis, who sat on the House Committee on the Non-Medicinal Use of Drugs plans to attend. The impressive list of speakers also includes;

* Osgoode Hall Law Professor and author of Potheads, Serial Killers & Lawyers Alan Young,

* Senator Pierre Claude Nolin Chair of the Senate Special Committee on Illegal Drugs,

* Philipe Lucas director Canadians for Safe Access,

* Eugene Oscapella Lawyer, professor, and Director of Canadian Foundation for Drug Policy,

* Marc Boris-St. Maurice leader of the Marijuana Party,

* Cannabis activist David Malmo-Levine,

* Policy Director B.C. Civil Liberties Association Kirk Tousaw,

* LEAP executive director Jack Cole,

* Jude Renaud of Educators for A Sensible Drug Policy, and

* Marco Renda founder of Treating Yourself.

[zombienote: What? No John Walters?]

This is a Woodstock line-up of grass activists. Potentially the most important event in political pot history could take place this weekend. Fill the Hill has to be more than just burning bowls, toking blunts and inhaling the marijuana cannon that the newspaper photogs love to splay out on the front page.

It's time to Tune In (to the speakers), Turn On (to getting politically active) and Turn Out (to vote).

__________________
Alien Space Signal

There's no money for your issue so long as we're squandering $50 billion a year on the DrugWar. Ben Masel

Fear became the ultimate tool of this government - V.

 

GrooveGuardian

I wish i could have heard of this earlier maybe i would make my way up to ottawa.

Edwards

Just got back from Fill the Hill. Great time. Carried a HUGE sign, which was a bit of a pain due to the wind, but meh. The speakers were great, the hill was filled, and overall there was a good mood and smell in the air.

Suetaz

Which sign Edwards? I might have gotten a pic of it. I took pics of several signs.

This was way off, but for a first event, it was a great turn-out and will be bigger and better next year.

This is a pic of the RCMP that were in attendance, they pretended to keep an eye on us, while we pretended they weren't there. It was a peaceful event, of course, and no one was bothered by the police. The pic is of all the RCMP in attendance, there were the odd ones that drove by the place as well, but they didn't walk through the crowd at all.

http://cheaptalk.marijuana.com/420/a...tid=2706&stc=1

This is a pic of the crowd about half an hour before the show started. It continued to fill up throughout the day.

http://cheaptalk.marijuana.com/420/a...tid=2707&stc=1

__________________

Edwards

I was carrying the "No forced treatment..., Hedy" one for most of the time. I was wearing a cannabian flag shirt.

 

Suetaz

Doh! I think that was the only one I didn't get a pic of! I saw you and your sign, but every time I tried to get a pic, the wind turned it the wrong way. I learned from this event, next year I will take way more pictures and move through the crowd more.
Here are a couple of pics of signs and a flag...

http://www.marijuana.com/420/attachm...tid=2709&stc=1

http://www.marijuana.com/420/attachm...tid=2710&stc=1

http://www.marijuana.com/420/attachm...tid=2711&stc=1

Edwards

Yeah, that wind was a pain. I think I remember you trying to get one of it, but the wind kept gusting. It was fine most of the time, but the gusts were damn annoying. Probably would have been easier if the twine or whatever holding the bottom of the sign to the wooden post was still in place, wouldn't have to keep one hand there at all times.

Suetaz

This is an article in relation to the Fill The Hill event:


Legalize it! Ex-cop tells Hill pot rally

By LAURA CZEKAJ, Ottawa Sun

Jack Cole is not the type of person you would expect to see at a rally to legalize pot. During his 26-year career with the New Jersey state police, Cole spent 12 years as an undercover narcotics officer. His investigations ran the gamut from street drug dealers to international drug trafficking organizations.

Now retired, the Medford, Me., resident has taken a decidedly different stance on illegal drugs.

FORCE CRIMINALS OUT

Cole is a founding member and executive director of Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP), an international, drug-policy-reform organization consisting of current and former members of law enforcement.

"I believe in legalizing all drugs," he said, explaining that legalization would allow the government to regulate and control the distribution, consumption and production of these substances, forcing criminals out of the equation.

Cole said his views on the legalization of drugs are shared by many in law enforcement, but most don't speak out for fear of retribution within the ranks.

"When I speak to police officers on a one-to-one basis, they almost always agree with me that the war on drugs is a dismal failure," he said.

The retired cop found an attentive crowd in those who gathered on Parliament Hill yesterday to protest marijuana prohibition and advocate regulation.

The Fill the Hill rally drew an estimated crowd of 1,500 people.

Later, a man was arrested at nearby Nepean Point for having a hockey bag full of marijuana. The 1,330 grams of pot had been divided into 400 separate baggies and had a street value of about $20,000.

[Suetaznote: I read another report that said the estimated number of people was more like 3000, twice what this article says. I'd say about 3000 too. Jack's main stance was a message to the Canadian government, "Don't follow the US down the path to prohibition!!" Below is a pic I took of Jack Cole.]

http://www.marijuana.com/420/attachm...tid=2712&stc=1

Suetaz

We live and learn, right? We'll be better prepared next year. I just hope we get such beautiful weather next year. It would have felt a lot hotter without that wind. Next year I'll put sunblock on.


No offence Doc, but F you! We don't want him in this country!

As to the original article...Senator Pierre Claude Nolin Chair of the Senate Special Committee on Illegal Drugs, did not show. A letter from him was read by Marc-Boris St. Maurice. Policy Director B.C. Civil Liberties Association Kirk Tousaw wasn't there either, but Jason Gratl filled in for him. Jason is a criminal defense lawyer and is the secretary of the British Columbia Civil Liberties Union. The list in the article doesn't even include Libby Davies. She was supposed to be there, but she sent a letter that was read by Crystal LeBlanc.

Edwards

If I recall correctly both Sen. Pierre Claude Nolin and Libby Davies were absent because of campaigning.