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Fill The Hill Rally-June 5, 2004

by Suetaz

MY REPORT ON ‘FILL THE HILL’

I had no idea what to expect when I attended my first marijuana legalization rally. The wide variety of people was impressive. The ages of people varied, as did the attire. From business suits to pot related clothing to a dominatrix wearing only Latex hot pants and nipple rings with a big black floppy hat and high black boots. I have since learned that she is a dominatrix and a Marijuana Party candidate in Ottawa. One guy wore a very large snake around his neck and there were lots of Rastafarians. The visual sights also included banners, signs, flags and cards promoting the legalization of marijuana. I think my favorite sign was, “Don’t Fear The Reefer!”

The visual treats couldn’t compare to the delectable scent, however. From the beginning of the rally to the end, the strong smell of burning marijuana could be smelled by anyone inhaling in the front lawn vicinity. What a rush it was to smoke up in the Capitol City of my country on the front lawn of Parliament Hill, right in front of the RCMP! At the peak of the rally, there were about 3000 people in attendance and maybe a dozen RCMP. I only saw 7 officers together at once, the others would patrol the perimeter or elsewhere and return. Even though they are called the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the only officer I saw mounted was on a bicycle, not a horse. The RCMP was gathered near an SUV parked at the top of the drive to the Parliament building, overlooking the event. There was a camera set up on top of the SUV, in the event that the crowd got unruly, but I only saw an officer up there once – and the camera wasn’t aimed in my direction.


Canabian flag flying 'high' on a beautiful day!

The speeches started a little late, because as we all know potheads can be a little slow and forgetful. Prior to the show, a ghetto-blaster had been hooked up to the main speakers, but they forgot CD’s, so they were appealing to the crowd to help them out. The show got started about 15 minutes late.

The Master of Ceremonies was Dominic Cramer, owner of the Toronto Hemp Company. Dom wore a green and white Toronto Maple Leaf style jersey with the #420 on it and ‘THC’ inside the maple leaf crest. He introduced Marc-Boris St. Maurice who read a bilingual letter from Senator Pierre Claude Nolin who couldn’t be in attendance due to a busy campaign schedule.

The next speaker was Philippe Lucas, Founder and Director of the Vancouver Island Compassion Society (VICS), a Canadian non-profit therapeutic cannabis research and distribution center. He is also a member of Canadians for Safe Access. Philippe reported that VICS tested marijuana grown by the Canadian government for medical patients and it tested at 5% THC. The government had claimed it had a much higher content than it did. VICS returned the marijuana to the government and told them to re-test it. They finally admitted to Philippe, it was in fact 5% THC. The RCMP recently raided VICS and all the plants that were the sole source of medicine for hundreds of members were destroyed. Philippe reported that the wasted plants that were grown at VICS had 19% THC content.

Libby Davies, from Vancouver, British Columbia, is the NDP House Leader and federal NDP Spokesperson for Social Policy, Housing and Homelessness; Human Resources Development Canada; and Post Secondary Education. Libby is busy on the campaign trail as well and could not be in attendance, but Crystal Le Blanc, NDP candidate for Ottawa-Orleans filled in on behalf of Libby Davies and read a letter written by Libby for the event.

Eugene Oscapella, an Ottawa lawyer and one of the founding members of the Canadian Foundation for Drug Policy spoke of the need to reform Canada’s drug laws and policies. Jason Gratl spoke in place of Kirk Tousaw. Jason is a criminal defence lawyer and is executive secretary of the British Columbia Civil Liberties Union.

Next up was Jack Cole, the Executive Director of Law Enforcement Against Prohibition. Jack reported that he retired as a Detective Lieutenant after 26 years with the New Jersey State Police. He said that for 14 years he was an undercover narcotics officer. He ended his undercover career after living nearly 2 years in Boston and New York City, posing as a fugitive drug dealer wanted for murder, while tracking members of a terrorist organization that robbed banks, planted bombs in corporate headquarters, court houses, police stations, airplanes and ultimately murdered a New Jersey State Trooper. Jack saw first-hand how unjust the war on drugs is and since retiring, he has been working to reform current drug policy as a way to redeem himself from his own participation in the war on drugs. Jack’s main message to Canada that he drilled into the audience was, “Don’t follow the U.S. down the path to prohibition!” He was wearing a black T-shirt that had a badge on the front and on the back it said, “COPS SAY LEGALIZE DRUGS-ASK ME WHY.”

Jian Ghomeshi, the TV host of CBC’s series called “Play”, was a surprise speaker. Jian and his team at Play are working on an hour-long cannabis special to be aired on June 25th. Jian called for everyone to move in closer to the stage so that he could use the crowd as background for the opening segments of the cannabis special. The Play crew wore black T-shirts with a green pot leaf and ‘play’ in white lettering that looked sharp. Jian told the crowd that he had recently interviewed Pierre Burton, a well-known Canadian author. During the interview, Pierre Burton admitted to 40 years of marijuana use and when Jian asked him where he got his pot, he said he got it from his kids. Be sure to watch Play TV on CBC for Canadians, Americans can try looking for it on PBS, on June 25!

Jude Renaud, a schoolteacher, gave a speech titled; “Prohibition is Anti Child and Anti Family.” Jude is the Executive Director of Educators for Sensible Drug Policy, as well as a member of the Canadian Cannabis Coalition and a member of the Alliance of Reform Organizations. After being an administrator in the northern parts of British Columbia, Jude faced teen suicides, drug and alcohol abuse and violence. She became concerned about the counter-productive law enforcement and realized that many of the RCMP officers were as discontented as administrators and teachers with the lack of drug education in schools and disapproved of the much-criticized American D.A.R.E. program. Now Jude is also helping to create an organization made up of teachers openly committed to Drug Policy Reform called TAP, Teachers Against Prohibition. Jude was an exceptionally articulate speaker and spoke with a lot of wisdom. This is my favorite quote of hers, "The value of working in drug education is to see educational policy and reform come from a place of progressive change where students, parents and teachers work together to provide a quality of schooling that reflects a place where what is learned is lived, based on solid scientific evidence and where truth matters."

All the way from Alabama, Loretta Nall, President of the US Marijuana Party and news anchor for Pot TV, came to speak of her arrest and trial for possessing .087 grams of marijuana. Loretta was well spoken and her southern twang was a delight to listen to. Loretta was a surprise guest speaker. She was originally scheduled to speak at the Ohio Hempfest, but it was canceled and she was flown in and added to the list of speakers. Loretta had the crowd roaring when she called the leaders of the U.S. “Imperialistic Bastards”! I introduced myself to Loretta before the show and a little later went back and gave her a joint in appreciation for what she is doing. I was truly glad to meet her.


Loretta Nall- President of the US Marijuana Party

Alison Myrden, a federal medical marijuana exemptee, member of LEAP and NDP candidate for the Oakville riding, gave a resonating, passionate speech about the need for quality medical marijuana. Disgusted with the marijuana provided to her by the government, she said, “the government gave me a prescription that I have to go to the streets to fill!” Alison suffers from Multiple Sclerosis and has chronic pain in her face from Tic Douloureux.

The speaker that followed Alison was John Akpata, a candidate for the Marijuana Party of Canada in the Ottawa South riding. He is also a Poetry Champion and he gave a poetic speech after explaining that he went to Carleton University only to become a pothead. He also said he heard a rumor that Margaret Atwood, another well-known Canadian author, grows her own marijuana near Point Pelee, Ontario. He said it’s just a rumor, but you never know.

Chris Lawson, wearing a Cat-In-The-Hat style hat in green and white with pot leaves on it, described himself as a Pot Poet, activist, ex-minister, school principal and NDP Party member and supporter. He actively writes and campaigns for a greener planet. Once he remembered his first line, he recited one of his poems for us.

Criminal defense lawyer and Associate Professor of Law at Osgoode Hall Law School, Alan Young successfully challenged the constitutionality of our drug literature prohibition in 1995. He has represented exemptees and has provided, usually free of charge, counsel and advice to medical users and people charged with simple possession. He has also represented about 25 cultivators; preventing every one of them from jail time and establishing the precedent that the smell of marijuana by itself is not just cause to search a vehicle or home. Alan Young encouraged people to “Light Up!” He said “lighting up is an act of disrespect for laws that are corrupt and it is an honorable act of civil disobedience.”

In my opinion, David Malmo-Levine was the most entertaining speaker. He added a lot of humor to a fairly serious program of speakers. This is how Dominic Cramer introduced David:

“And now, it’s Malmo time! David Malmo-Levine describes himself as a Cannabis researcher/activist and cop rodeo clown. Yeeha! David became a cannabis activist in 1993 in Edmonton, Alberta, where he began organizing smoke-ins and producing Potshot magazine. He moved to Vancouver in 1995, working with Hemp BC and Cannabis Culture. He got busted in 1996 and 97 for dealing cannabis openly in his "Harm Reduction Club". Since then, David's worked with the BC Compassion Club, Brian Taylor of Cannabis Health Journal, and Pot TV (where he hosts the show "High Society"). With John Conroy's help, David represented himself at the Supreme Court of Canada for the right to sell pot. With his new company: "We're the ****", David has begun to sell and promote organic fertilizers. His latest project - the "Ounces of Prevention Open-Air Marijuana Market Protest" - promises more fun and dignity at future Vancouver rallies.

Here’s Malmo! “

David had everyone laughing when he started off by saying he had smuggled 20 joints on his flight from B.C. on West Jet and would be selling them on the lawn later. While the RCMP pretended not to hear that, he went on to extol the virtues of Amsterdam. He compared Holland to Heaven and said, “everyone should have a little piece of Heaven before they die! How many people have seen Holland? How many people have seen a little piece of Heaven? I know that we can have the same dignity here that they have in Holland!” As is with a lot of potheads, the attention span can be a little short and the minds tend to wander, but everyone was captivated while David spoke. I think they probably heard him in south Ottawa with his powerful voice and comfortable use of the microphone. David ended his speech with “We’re Here! We’re High! Get Used To It!” and then called for a big smoke-out.


Healthy cannabis plant

At 4:20 p.m. a moment of silence was held for all the medical users and potheads alike that have passed before us and then everyone sparked up “memorial candles”.

During the 4:20 celebration smoke-out with David Malmo-Levine, Marco Renda started his speech and I was distracted by the nearby smoke-out, so I didn’t catch much of his speech, unfortunately. I did hear his introduction by Dominic before I got distracted, however. Dominic said, “Marco Renda is a Medical User and Patient Advocate. He operates a compassionate organization known as Treating Yourself, and was one of the meduser applicants in the Hitzig v. Canada civil court case. Marco is known to go out of his way to help out fellow medusers, by running seed auctions and other acts of kindness.”

By this time of the day, I was sunburned, hot, tired and I’d been stoned since 7am and I was looking forward to getting out of the sun. I have to admit that I didn’t take as many notes for the last speakers due to a serious lack of energy. I’m sure Marc-Boris St. Maurice, leader of the Marijuana Party of Canada, was a wonderful speaker, but at least half of what he said was in French and I’m not bilingual, so I have no idea what he said.

Marc Emery, the Prince of Pot, was the final speaker of the day. Marc is the BC Marijuana Party President and the publisher of Cannabis Culture magazine, the producer of Pot-TV and founder of Hemp BC and the Cannabis Cafe. Prior to the event, I picked up some of the controversial 3x5 NDP cards to distribute from Marc. Chris Watson, the NDP federal secretary threatened to sue Marc for circulating these cards across Canada. Some of the ‘old-guard’ in the NDP would prefer to go with decriminalization, but Jack Layton, federal leader of the NDP Party spoke on camera in an interview in Marc’s home for Pot TV and said he was for full legalization of marijuana.

As soon as Marc’s speech ended, it was time to get out of the sun and hit the road. We only got as far as the street that runs past Parliament Hill and we got to witness a long parade of Ferraris going past. It started right at 5pm and I wonder if it was timed and a planned part of the ‘finale’ to the days events, but I don’t know for sure. There must have been over 30 Ferraris in red, black, yellow and white. Unfortunately, I filled my floppy disc up in the middle of the parade and was busy digging out another one, so I only got a few pictures of Ferraris. The show of Ferraris was an awesome finale, whether planned or a coincidence. On the way home, the friend that I went with said, “I got stoned on Parliament Hill! Something to tell the grandkids about someday.” I heartily agreed. All in all, it was an absolutely beautiful day. Perfect weather, traffic was light, no cops seen on the 6 hour trip each way and the speeches, sights, sounds, aromas and atmosphere created a wonderful memory that I will never forget. By the time I made it home and got to bed, I had been stoned for 21 hours straight. Do you think I felt like doing the ‘wake n bake’ thing on Sunday? Ooooh Ya Baby!

For the rest of the accompanying pictures to the event- Click Here and keep scrolling.

Toronto Hemp Company- click here to read Dominic Cramer's MC notes.

For more on Alison Myrden- see CBC-Web One- MS, Marijuana and Me

Check out CBC's Play

Search PBS for Play's Cannabis special

To see the back of the NDP cards- click here

Logosnote: That was totally awesome Suetaz, thanks for being Marijuana.com's presence on "The Hill". It sounds as if you set a fine example.

__________________
Brother Logos
The more I learn, the less I know.
THC Ministry | The Aquarian Gospel of Jesus the Christ | The Reluctant Messenger of Science and Religion
True religion is real living, living with all one's soul, with all ones goodness and righteousness. --Albert Einstein

 

xxdr_zombiexx

This is awesome, Suetaz!

And to all readers - This is an excellent example of what Logo and I would like to see A LOT MORE OFTEN. Original content - writing and pictures - about cannabis issues and events.

If you go to a workshop, or rally and take pix, let us know - we'll find a way to post them/ If you have wanted to venture into writing, this is an opportunity.

Note that an article does not have to be as excellent as Ms Suetaz's is - much simpler and basic articles can make a significant contribution to the effort as longer, more in-depth reporting.

Thanks a lot Suetaz!!

__________________
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.

solutions

Great work Suetaz. I haven't read it all yet, but the pictures are excellent. Looks like you had a very good time. The accompanying pictures in the link you posted are great too. I liked the "Dominatrix" picture best. After close examination I concluded it isn't a flesh colored top, right?
Thanks, I feel reassured

Peace

__________________
3 monkeys sitting under a coconut tree
discussing things as they are set to be
Said one to the other, now listen you two
there's a strange rumor that can't be true
they say man was descended from our noble race
but the very idea is a big disgrace
no monkey ever deserted his wife
or her baby to ruin their lives.
Damian Marley - Educated Fools

palmspringsbum

a dominatrix wearing only Latex hot pants and nipple rings with a big black floppy hat and high black boots. I have since learned that she is a dominatrix and a Marijuana Party candidate in Ottawa.

I guess you have no idea how disgusting this is to medical patients like myself, going heavily into debt while these carpetbaggers milk the movement.

Nor, evidently, do you give a damn.

Nor, evidently, does The Marijuana Party - what a travesty.

Kannibal

Awesome article! Thank you Suetaz for taking me to the Fill the Hill rally.Well written and the pics were devine.I could smell the freedom in the air!
A very enjoyable read.^5

__________________
Keep the wall of reality and fantasy high enough not to fall over but low enough to see the other side.

 

Suetaz

No, she definitely wasn't wearing a top. The pics I got of her didn't turn out that well, but in the sunlight, it was more obvious that she was naked. The shorts were totally see-through too, no need for imagination.

Thanks guys for all the kind words and encouragement. I would never have thought of writing that if it weren't for Logos encouraging me since I came to this site a few months ago. Thanks Logos! It has been a learning experience. It was a fair amount of work to put this report together and now that I've done it, I know how much more I will need to put into it next time. After experiencing this event, I definitely want there to be a next time. I'm hoping to make it to a Canabian Day event on August 21st and I hope to make it to Fill The Hill next year and maybe others in between. I also vow to not be such a chicken and introduce myself to more people.
Thanks Doc for all your help and advice for submitting this.

__________________

Kannibal

palmspringsbum,why don't you start a thread and elaborate a bit more.It would be interesting to hear what you have to say more in detail.

Suetaz

palmspringsbum, I would appreciate it of you wouldn't accuse me of not giving a damn. I went to this rally and put a lot of work into this report because I DO GIVE A DAMN! All I did was report that she was there. At the rally, I had no idea who she was. I thought she was just some kook that was using our rally to get herself some attention. I did not express my opinion of her in my article because I didn't think it was appropriate. Like I said in my article, I only learned after I returned from the rally that she is a Marijuana Party candidate. I do not think it is appropriate for the Marijuana Party to have a dominatrix for a candidate. There is a lot of bickering going on between the NDP supporters and the Marjiuana Party supporters because of her. I am an NDP supporter and I think the Marijuana Party has chosen a bad time to have a dominatrix for a candidate.

palmspringsbum

I thought she was just some kook that was using our rally to get herself some attention.

Thanks for making my point so succintly.

I'm new here, and I've been looking over some old threads and it seems to me this forum is dominated by uncritical Emery/Nall/Marijuana Party Supporters. Thus the tone of my comment.

I'm actually glad you mentioned it, and your subsequent comments.

I'm not familiar with this person (having made a conscious decision to avoid Cannabis Culture and that whole sorry mess some time ago), but she isn't the only controversial member of the Marijuana Party.

I did a search last night to see what you people had to say about Emery. Seems none of you thought it was inappropriate for him to be handing joints out at police stations while the legislation and supreme court decision were pending while featuring videos of Mrs. Viperwhore on their web site showing us just how low she could go for Emery...

...meanwhile Valerie Corral and Angel Raich and all the others doing the real work go begging.

Virgil1

I gave short recognition of your work at HempCity's forum that is run by Nol van Schaik- http://www.hempcity.net/forum/viewtopic.php?p=1494#1494

I wrote the following at http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread18962.shtml#26

The Victory Grows

One of the most awesome articles I have ever read is now up at http://www.marijuana.com/420/showthread.php?t=30364 The reason this link is under the Fill the Hill story is because it is independent reporting by Suetaz that attended the event. Everyone was welcome to watch the event and make their own account and what did the mass media give us? Something slightly better than ignore universally. Here we see the power of the Internet and a wonk writing for a wonk.

If you found this under Recent Comments, you probably belong to a strata that will be moved by this running of the informational blockade. Suetaz is Canadian and the significance of Fill the Hill still grows with the recording of her account.