Photos in moscow
Album comment:  http://grani.ru/Society/Health/m.69123.html
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Photos in moscow
Album comment:  http://grani.ru/Society/Health/m.69123.html
«  1  2  »
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-----end of photo archive page-------

-----------------------------

MMM reports, media articles, archives, and links to more:
http://www.corporatism.netfirms.com/mmm2004rep.htm 2004 reports compilation.
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/mmmreports/messages/45 2004 reports archive.
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/mmmreports Archive. Several years.
http://www.corporatism.netfirms.com/mmmreports.htm Search shortcuts for reports.
http://news.google.com/news?q=marijuana+OR+cannabis Google News shortcuts.
http://news.google.com/news?q=marijuana+OR+cannabis+rally+OR+protest+OR+festival+OR+march+OR+day
http://www.geocities.com/tents444/mmm2004.htm 2004 city list. Links lead to reports.
http://www.cannabisculture.com/forums/postlist.php?Cat=&Board=current Global forum.
http://www.geocities.com/tents444/mmmimages.htm Image archive and links.

350+ MMM cities worldwide since 1999! City list:
http://www.corporatism.netfirms.com/mmmall.htm

----------------

Need someone to upgrade the rough translations!

http://www.cannabisculture.com/forums/showflat.php?&Number=853018

6000 at Rosario, Argentina MMM, May 8, 2004.       #853018 - Mon May 10 2004 09:59 AM

I corrected some spelling errors below. ----Forwarded message begins--- From: "SILVIA" <sinchaur@...> To: "eco man" <tents444@...>, psmith@..., "Dana Beal" <dana@...> Subject: MMM in Rosario Argentina Date: Sun, 9 May 2004 15:16:57 -0300 ARGENTINA - FESTIVAL AGAINST INTOLERANCE - MMM More than 6,000 at Rosario MMM Festival against Intolerance. The Festival was organized by the Argentinean Harm Reduction Association ARDA in the framework of its National Depenalization Campaign of Possession of Drugs for Personal Use. 11 groups played music in a big concert from 3 P.M to midnight, representatives of ARDA as well as the National Deputy Eduardo Garcia -author of the Project of Law for Depenalization presented on last november- and a representative of the network of drug users RADDUD spoke at the event. A booth of ARDA disseminated the "Marihuana Harm Reduction Handbook", other information materials and condoms. The slogans of the Campaign were around the Municipal Theatre Humberto de Nito at Urquiza Park: "Just say No to the War against Drug users", "Cure, not war", "In Argentina the drug law is more harmful than the drugs". This has been the only manifestation this year that the mayor of Buenos Aires city forbade the Buenos Aires Festival. ----end of English part of forwarded message----- ----------------- --------------------

Photo of stage.



--------------------

Press article roughly translated by Google.
http://www.google.com/language_tools

I dont' speak Spanish. If anybody can translate this article below better, please do so, and paste it into a message in this thread. I will keep your version, and delete this rough translation below. But please do it today, because the forum software only allows me to edit or delete this message for about a day.

----------------

El Ciudadano article of May 9, 2004. Link is for original
Spanish version.
http://elciudadano.net/09-05-2004/ciudad/rock.php

"AGAINST THE INTOLERANCIA". One maratón of local and
national groups in the Municipal Amphitheatre

To pure rock with the slogan to legalize the marijuana

About 4 thousand young people participated in a festival
that supports the derogation of the law that penalizes the
personal use


[Photo caption] The bands and the public under a same motto:
"Endurance the legalization". Photo: Juan Jose Garcia

Around 4 thousand young people they participated yesterday
in a maratónica day of rock in the Amphitheatre Humberto de
Nito, under slogans "Against the intolerancia" and "Cures,
not war", in direct reference to the proposal on the
legalization of the drug possession for personal use and the
investigation on the marijuana in the scientific scope for
therapeutic use. The festival started to 15,30 and the night
extended until entrance, with the participation of but a
dozen of local and national bands. In addition, Eduardo
counted on the presence of the national deputy Diaz, who
promotes the modification of the effective law on the
narcotic possession, "that has made a damage greater than
the same drug in the scope of the social thing", according
to expressed the legislator. On the other hand, the
Association of Reduction of Damages of Argentina (ARDA) gave
to the assistants a manual on the effects, contraindications
and precautions that must take those that consumes marijuana
and also made a gratuitous distribution of prophylactics.

With the popular green symbol of the plant of cannabis in
the scene, multiplied in thousands of flags, rowers, pins
and until in corporal tattoos, a multitude - composed in its
majority by twentyish it danced to the rate of reggae and
the rock & roll, from the beginning of afternoon of sun
until the cold night fell on the Urquiza park. In spite of
the superiority of the symbol of the marijuana, the effluvia
of the porros were less evident that the boxes of tetrabriks
of wine and that the ingestions of beers. But also there
were some who only were punished with powerful ones you kill
with churros, but of that they are not smoked.

"I come because I like music, not even I smoke tobacco",
said young carefree one, that admitted that it does not like
"drugged people" although it limited that "each one is owner
to do what wants while not joda to the others". "Endurance
the legalization", shouted a boy who took a stamp of Bob
Marley in his rower, the icon of rastafaris jamaiquinos
which they sang loas mystical "to the smoke that cheers".
The festive and calm climate lowered by an overwhelmed
amphitheatre and won the environs of the park.

The deputy Diaz, a Cordovan of 49 years and who has been
occupying a bank in the national Congress for two years by
the socialism, very satisfied with the call, emphasized that
its proposal is not based on being in favor of the drug
consumption, but in the statistics on which it has caused a
legislation "it lasts" that it has been prevailing for 14
years in Argentina.

"About 323 thousand young people who did not commit any
crime were stopped and process in these years. The 95
percent of them never had entered a police station and a 50
percent who worked, lost their positions ", emphasized and I
add ': "the law is punishing the victims of the business of
the drug".

Like proposal, it maintained that "the way is to take ahead
an active policy to discourage the consumption but of a
different form and in addition, to respect the
noninterference of the State in the private acts".

The project of modification of the law is in parliamentary
state and the legislator of the socialist party confio ': "I
have the hope of which in June it is discussed in
commission". In spite of its optimism, it recognized that
"it is not a easy subject, because today the drug also
comprises of the delinquency, just like the alcohol. A very
important pending debate for the society exists, since
esteem that are three million consumers in the country ",
was indicated.

On the other hand, Silvia Inchaurraga, director of the
Training center Advanced in Drogadependencia and Sida,
explained that the initiative is framed in a campaign at
international level that includes/understands to 400 cities
of 44 countries, that although are focused to the marijuana
and the investigation of its therapeutic uses aims at the
legalization of all drugs. "It is necessary to install the
debate also within the framework of the health system to
resist from the State the damages of the consumption",
considered Inchaurraga.

The plantita, "leit motiv" that sells

The recital counted on the presence of bands like the Hands
of Fillipi, Karamelo Santo and the premises Rosary Smowing,
Divinos and Abrepuertas, among others, although the most
hoped they were the Vandals. In this frame they did not lack
the article salesmen that take like leit motiv famous yuyo
green, that with a fine stem unfolds hojitas with hand saw
edges, and whose figure was printed in rowers, table cloths,
articles as toallones or carpets of bath and until in the
form of the slippers. "Mirá, a diver marijuana user", said a
surprised young person that it approached one of the
positions. But at the same time it watched towards the
flanks like persecuted. It faces parked a moving body of the
police. It lowered the Vista with certain pudor and soon
express in the multitude was lost.

-------end of article------


---------------------------

Another press article roughly translated by Google.
http://www.google.com/language_tools

I dont' speak Spanish. If anybody can translate this article below better, please do so, and paste it into a message in this thread. I will keep your version, and delete this rough translation below. But please do it today, because the forum software only allows me to edit or delete this message for about a day.

-------------

La Capital article of May 9, 2004. Link is for original
Spanish version.
http://www.lacapital.com.ar/2004/05/09/ciudad/noticia_98530.shtml

A ten of rock bands marched past by the scene of the Urquiza
park

A full amphitheatre by the legalization of the marijuana
consumption

Rosario was added to the Festival against the Intolerancia


[Photo caption] The public, in his great young majority, used the excuse music to raise his reclamation.

"Cures, not war". The slogan settled yesterday until
entrance the night in the Amphitheatre Humberto de Nito,
where hundreds of young people were added to the Festival
against the Intolerancia. The event is simultaneously
carried out in 348 cities of 48 countries with the slogan to
legalize the possession of marijuana for the personal
consumption, to stop the arrests by the consumption of the
cannabis and to defend the scientific research of its
therapeutic uses. The rosarino act was the unique one that
was celebrated in the country after the past 2 of May the
one of Federal Capital was suspended and reunited to a ten
of rock bands that pronounced against the "persecution" the
drug users.

The accomplishment of the festival changed the appearance
that habitually offers the Urquiza park late of Saturday
with sun. Entered the 15, groups of pibes with rowers of
Attack 77, Network Hot Chili Peppers and other bands of
rock, rastas, rare aritos and hairdos they approached the
amphitheatre to participate in the act organized by the
Association of Reduction of Damages of Argentina (It burns).

This is the third time that in Rosario is made the Festival
against the Intolerancia, that in the world is celebrated
from 1998 all the first weeks of May. In their local
version, by the scene of the amphitheatre the bands Nitro
220, Smowing Rosary, the Vandals, Scraps, Abrepuertas and
the ones in charge to close the event marched past among
others: Karamelo Santo and the Hands of Filippi.

The election of the place - the Amphitheatre Humberto de
Nito- was not accidental. "What we want is to contribute to
the debate on the drug policy, for that reason we looked for
a recreational space and a concurred day and schedule",
explained the president of Burns, Silvia Inchaurraga. And
music was an excuse.

Juan Pablo (22) arrived there until happening afternoon,
being with friends and to say "well hard" that "we lived in
a society mask". So that '? "Because one represses to those
who consume drugs and he admires himself to those who sell
them because they are rich and famous".


More effective, right and human The entrance to the festival
was flanked by stand of Burns where the petitionary one
could be signed to support the project of law for the
legalization of the possession for personal consumption
presented/displayed by the national deputy Eduardo Garci'a.
"By more effective, righter and more human drug a policy",
it at heart said a great hung black poster of stand.

"We considered that the official policy on the subject has
been a failure - also explained Inchaurraga -, since in all
this time it has not only increased the consumption, but its
problems associate: the death by overdose, the social
exclusion and AIDS ".

A single data serves to illustrate this position and it
already became a battle pony of those who fights by the
legalization of the consumption. "In all the country, the 90
percent of the causes by drugs begins in the possession of
substances for the personal consumption", indicated the
president of Burns. The conclusion is almost obvious: "one
persecutes the consumer, not to the dealer".

------end of article-----


--------------------

MMM reports, media articles, archives, and links to more:
http://www.corporatism.netfirms.com/mmm2004rep.htm 2004 reports compilation.
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/mmmreports/messages/45 2004 reports archive.
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/mmmreports Archive. Several years.
http://www.corporatism.netfirms.com/mmmreports.htm Search shortcuts for reports.
http://news.google.com/news?q=marijuana+OR+cannabis Google News shortcuts.
http://news.google.com/news?q=marijuana+OR+cannabis+rally+OR+protest+OR+festival+OR+march+OR+day
http://www.geocities.com/tents444/mmm2004.htm 2004 city list. Links lead to reports.
http://www.cannabisculture.com/forums/postlist.php?Cat=&Board=current Global forum.
http://www.geocities.com/tents444/mmmimages.htm Image archive and links.

350+ MMM cities worldwide since 1999! City list:
http://www.corporatism.netfirms.com/mmmall.htm

---------------------------

Drug War Chronicle article. May 7, 2004.
http://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/336/mmm.shtml

Million Marijuana Marches: Tranquility in New York, Thousands in Toronto, First Time in Sweden, Troubles in South America 5/7/04

This year's Million Marijuana Marches got underway last weekend in towns and cities around the world. Though because of scheduling issues, this year many marches will not take place until this weekend, the first round of marches and demonstrations suggest that the movement continues to expand. But that expansion is uneven. In some places, notably Rio de Janeiro and Buenos Aires, the pot culture ran up against ugly social realities or intransigent local officials, while in other places, especially staunchly prohibitionist Sweden, the movement emerged publicly for the first time.

Now in their fourth decade, the Million Marijuana Marches are coordinated by long-time marijuana (and ibogaine) activist Dana Beal and his group Cures Not Wars (http://www.cures-not-wars.org), who not only take responsibility for organizing the New York City march but also act as a clearinghouse for activists from around the world planning events in their own communities.

As always, initial reports this year indicate a mixed bag of results. In some cities, especially the smaller ones, turnout was only in the dozens, while other cities saw thousands of demonstrators. In New York City, attendance was on the rise compared to last year's ill-organized march, with an estimated 1-3,000 people participating. And in marked contrast to the term of former Mayor Rudolf Giuliani, police seemed markedly disinclined to arrest anyone.

	Million Marijuana March, Battery Park, NYC (courtesy DrugWar.com)

"And there were no arrests. This is a complete sea change from the Giuliani era," said Beal. "It took about 18 months for the police to change their attitude. Of course, I went on the radio to tell people it was a protest, not a pot fest, but the cops could have arrested people this year and chose not to do it. The police attitude in earlier years came right from the mayor's office, and Giuliani is just an evil, malicious, sadistic man. Now he's gone, and the attitude has changed."

While Million Marijuana Marches took place in dozens of cities across the US, perhaps the highest per capita participation was in Canada, with marches scheduled in dozens of towns across the country. Thousands of people marched in Toronto, hundreds more in Vancouver, and even out of the way places like Lethbridge, Alberta, held events drawing small crowds.

Things were a little different in Latin America. While marches in Mexico City (6,000 attendees, according to organizers) and Santiago, Chile, came off with little police interference, Million Marijuana March organizers in Argentina ran into unexpected problems with local authorities, even though they had worked uneventfully with them in earlier years.

At the last minute, the mayor of Buenos Aires refused to issue the permit and police came to the scene with orders to seize our equipment if we insisted on putting on the concert and the speeches," said Silvia Inchaurraga of the Argentine Harm Reduction Association (ARDA), the lead organizer of the event. "But thousands of people were already there or on their way, and even though we announced in the media that the festival had been cancelled, we still ended up with about 10,000 people at the site. Even in the face of official intolerance, the Festival Against Intolerance went on," she told DRCNet.

And there is another set for Rosario, Argentina's second largest city, this weekend, Inchaurraga said. "Now the biggest Million Marijuana March activity in Argentina will be in Rosario," she told DRCNet. "We have 11 musical groups and we have the authorization of the local government, which is even letting us use an auditorium free of charge." Inchaurraga expects larger crowds than in Buenos Aires, she said.

As in New York City, the idea in Argentina is not a pot fest but a protest. For Inchaurraga and ARDA, the May mobilizations are part of a broader effort. "We are seeking to advance the consensus in favor of modifying our drug laws, which penalize the possession of drug for personal use, and to reduce the harm caused by this law," she said.

In Brazil, it was not official intolerance but a very ugly social atmosphere that put on a damper on the Rio de Janeiro Million Marijuana March. Violent clashes in the Rio slum of Rocinha two weekends ago that saw drug trafficking gangs fighting each other and the police left a toll of nearly 20 dead and created an atmosphere of intolerance for drug users of any stripe. While the drug legalization group Psicotropicus had organized the previous march and was organizing this year's event, it pulled out in the wake of the Rocinha violence, citing requests from friendly politicians such as Congressman Fernando Gabeira, as well as concerns that the group's reputation could be damaged either by open conflict or by a march that was not successful.

But although Psicotropicus pulled out, Rio's pot-smokers were not to be denied. According to reports in the Brazilian press, the demonstration, which took place at Ipanema, was small -- the crowd was estimated at 60 people -- but peaceful.

"The march took place even though Psicotropicus withdrew as organizers at the behest of allies like Congressman Gabeira," said Psicotropicus director Luiz Paulo Guanabara. "We wanted to postpone the march, but there is a big marijuana movement in Rio and other cities like Sao Paulo, and the pot-smokers were already looking forward to demonstrating, so they went ahead and did it anyway. It was a spontaneous demonstration, like a carnival," he told DRCNet.

"We withdrew because the violence in Rocinha has created a very hostile atmosphere against drug users. And the government is running TV ads that basically say if you use drugs you are supporting the drug terrorists, so the drug users are being accused of being responsible for the drug trafficking-related violence," he explained.

Ironically, Brazil is in the midst of a move to substantively reform its drug laws. That is not the case in Sweden, arguably the most prohibitionist of any European country, but while friendly authorities in Brazil urged organizers to cool it, unfriendly authorities in Sweden turned a blind eye to that country's first public pro-marijuana demonstration.

Million Marijuana March, Stockholm, Sweden (courtesy SWECAN)

At this date, reports are still coming in from around the world, with the size of demonstrations reflecting not only popular attitudes toward marijuana law reform but also the organizing groundwork that did or did not take place. For instance, small-town Burlington, Vermont, drew more than 1,000 people, while big city Philadelphia could muster only 60 marchers along South Street. Al-Jazeera reported that more than 600 people marched in Capetown, South Africa.

Events were scheduled for more than 200 cities worldwide, but with demos stretching across two weekends, there is much, much more to come. Many European capitals will be holding their marches this weekend, Beal said.

While the Million Marijuana Marches all have local angles, said Beal, their ultimate goal is global marijuana legalization. "We are working on getting a new international treaty," he said. "If somewhere between 80 and 90 of the countries that are signatories to the UN conventions renounce them, they are no longer in effect. Our ultimate goal is to replace the existing treaty with one that not only recognizes the legality of marijuana but defines marijuana prohibition as genocide. The current UN scheme seeks to wipe out distinct groups who are engaging only in a harmless cultural practice. And by maintaining the prohibition against marijuana, the UN is effectively maintaining the monopoly of alcohol and tobacco -- killer drugs -- over cannabis. Millions will die of disease related to alcohol and tobacco because they cannot switch to marijuana. If that's not genocide, what is?"

To: mayday@yahoogroups.com
From: "D. Paul Stanford"
Date: Sun, 09 May 2004 11:59:16 -0700
Subject: [mayday] Portland Marijuana March video is on the net

http://www.crrh.org/hemptv/mmm2004.html


----end of forwarded email----

--------------

For press reports on Tel Aviv, Israel MMM:
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/mmmworld/message/279 and
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/cannabisaction/message/1022 

------------------

MMM reports, media articles, archives, and links to more:
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/mmmreports Archive. Several years.
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/mmmreports/messages/45 2004 reports archive.
http://www.corporatism.netfirms.com/mmmreports.htm Links to other archives.
http://news.google.com/news?q=marijuana+OR+cannabis Google News shortcuts.
http://news.google.com/news?q=marijuana+OR+cannabis+rally+OR+protest+OR+festival+OR+march+OR+day
http://www.geocities.com/tents444/mmm2004.htm 2004 city list. Links lead to reports.
http://www.cannabisculture.com/forums/postlist.php?Cat=&Board=current Reports forum.
http://www.geocities.com/tents444/mmmimages.htm Images archive and links.

350+ MMM cities worldwide since 1999! City list:
http://www.corporatism.netfirms.com/mmmall.htm

-----------------

3 press articles below.

Photo from the Jerusalem Post article:

An undercover policeman dons a uniform cap to remonstrate a
Marijuana Day celebrant.
Photo: Harry Rubinstein

Photo from the Haaretz article:

Minister of Public Security, Tzachi Hanegbi, called on by a
drug abuse prevention organization to ban 'Marijuana Day'
festivities in a Tel Aviv park. (Archive)

-----------

Maariv International. (2004-05-08 22:01:20.0) 
http://www.maarivintl.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=article&articleID=7070

Police move in on "Marijuana Day" event

About 30 participants arrested. Event organizer: we won't
stop fight for legalization of soft drugs. Gil Horev

The Police disrupted the mass picnic held at the Yarkon Park
on the occasion of International Marijuana Day today
(Saturday). This is the first time the police interrupt the
event in its seven-year history. The police confiscated the
sound equipment and delayed one of the event's organizers,
Boaz Wachtel, for questioning.

The police reported that about 30 participants were caught
in possession of drugs. Large quantities of drugs were
reportedly seized, including a chocolate cake filled with
Marijuana. "Following the seizure of drugs, it was decided
to shift from covert to overt activity and put a stop to
criminal offences at the scene", said the police.

MK Roman Bronfman who arrived at the scene attempted to
convince police officers to let the event continue. "It is a
mistake to end the entire event because of a few smokers",
he said.

Bronfman also said he believed the event was disrupted in
order to prevent him from talking in favor of the
legalization of soft drugs. "The police is attempting to
prevent an MK from expressing his opinion in a legitimate
manner", he told reporters

Following his arrest, Boaz Wachtel said: "I am not sure what
I'm being arrested for. We will not stop the fight for the
legalization of soft drugs and a clear distinction between
them and hard drugs". 

Archive photo. 
 
   Reader Feedback
 
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Reader Talkback Comments
4.   WITH NO REASON
    at the picnic, israel(2004-05-09 01:48:40.467 EST)
As a person living in Israel and all the problems we have, I
was at the picnic and everyone was doing their own thing,
not causing any problems, when the police arrested people
and then took away the sound equipment. If you would have
been there you would have seen the biggest waste of Israeli
manpower. It looked as if the entire bomb squad and police
department were there. It was completely uncalled for and I
am ashamed to be an Israeli when things like this happen!!!!
 
3.   sad day in israel
    heyzuez, toronto(2004-05-09 01:44:40.903 EST)
it's too bad Israel has fallen to the fear of pot use . come
on ,Isreal had some great hash back in 70's and 80's and
just when people needed to chill and get high, they are
clamping down on a harmless plant . anyways, as far as i
remember, the last and only time i was in isreal,i seem to
recall that a lot of people smoked dope in some form or and
other. 

2.   Shameful
    Herb Finegold, Singapore(2004-05-08 23:37:00.857 EST)
It is disgusting and shameful that in a society where
organised crime is rampant and white slavery is pandemic,
police have nothing better to do than busting people who
want to get high on a natural herb used throughout human
history and with less toxicity than nicotine, alcohol or
even caffeine. Come on, Israel! Chill out and get a life!
 
1.   mary jane day
    pot head, israel(2004-05-08 17:01:04.153 EST)
you'd think the police would have better things to do than
bust up that picnic.too bad mabey next year they will have
more sechel.

 -----end of article and comments so far.------

---------------------

Haaretz - Israel News. Last Update: 08/05/2004 18:41.
http://www.haaretzdaily.com/hasen/spages/425020.html

30 people detained for questioning at TA 'Marijuana Day'
event  

By Yuval Yoaz, Tsahar Rotem, and Roni Singer, Haaretz
Correspondents

Undercover police officers detained for questioning thirty
individuals, three of them minors, who attended the
"Marijuana Day" event in Tel Aviv on Saturday.

According to police, the individuals were detained for
alleged drug use in Park Hayarkon, where the event was
taking place. Among those detained for questioning was Boaz
Verchtel, founder of Ale Yarok (Green Leaf Party).

Police officers arrived at the event, where some 2,000
people in attendance marked International Marijuana Day,
turned off the music, confiscated equipment, and ordered
that the event be halted.

Health Minister Danny Naveh (Likud) and MK Roman Bronfman
(Yahad), who were to have addressed those in attendance will
not speak, as police shut down the stage.

Event organizers plan to convene a press conference during
which they will respond to the actions of the police.

Yarkon District commander Aharon Ezra, who was present at
the event, said that the event was brought to a halt
because, "The party had become a drug party." According to
Ezra, some eighty police officers had been present at the
part since the morning hours.

Bronfman said that the High Court had rejected a petition by
Al-Sam, a drug abuse prevention organization, seeking to
cancel the program, and that shutting down the stage at the
event equated to speech restriction, and was done so as to
prevent him from addressing those in attendance.

Bronfman noted that he had planned to discuss the adverse
affects of drug use and his opposition to the use of druge,
although he also intended to criticize the state for its
policy that does not differentiate between soft and hard
druge. Bronfman also said that this is the seventh year in
which "Marijuana Day" event has been held, and the first
time it has been halted.

Naveh planned to speak against the use of any type of drug,
and explain the dangers entailed in drug usage.

Al-Sam had demanded that police prevent the celebrations of
"Marijuana Day," claiming the event will disrupt public
order and will lead to drug abuse, while legitimizing the
abuse of dangerous, illegal drugs."

Al-Sam demanded that the Minister of Public Security, Tzachi
Hanegbi, order the police to limit entry to the event for
people over the age of 18. In the petition they also asked
that the event be fenced in order to enable police to track
the identity of all who enter, and for sniff dogs to be used
to prevent anyone from introducing narcotics onto the event
grounds. The group demanded that police shut down the event
in case any drug offenses are sighted by police.

Justices Yaacov Turkel, Eliahu Mazza and Asher Gronis said
in their decision that Al-Sam knew of the event in advance
and had sufficient time to petition the court, yet did so
only 48 hours prior to the event. The justices added that
they assume that the police will operate in a manner which
will uphold law and order. 

---end of article---

----------------

Jerusalem Post. Updated May. 9, 2004 0:22
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1083813019607

Police snuff out "Marijuana Day" in Tel Aviv

By HARRY RUBENSTEIN

[photo caption]
An undercover policeman dons a uniform cap to remonstrate a
Marijuana Day celebrant.
Photo: Harry Rubinstein

Uniformed and undercover police officers on Saturday shut
down the International Marijuana Day event at HaYarkon Park
in Tel Aviv after detaining 30 participants, including three
minors, for suspected use and possession of marijuana.

Boaz Wachtel, an organizer of the event and head of the
"Green Leaf" political party was among those detained for
questioning.

At approximately 3:45 p.m., about four hours after the event
began, police swarmed upon the sound system and shut it off
as partygoers were dancing to Peter Tosh's reggae classic
"Legalize It." A large crowd gathered around the police,
with many shouting "Police state" and "Fascists."

Although tensions were high, except for a few shoves,
violence was averted. A police photographer and videographer
were on hand keeping their cameras focused on the more vocal
protesters.

"I came to the conclusion that this was a drug party and
violation of the law won't be tolerated. After thirty people
were arrested for using drugs, it was decided to close down
the event," said Brigadier General Aaron Ezra of the Tel
Aviv police.

The event, which has been held without disruption for the
past six years, had a substantial higher profile this year
due to the first time participation of a member of the
Knesset. But police shut down the event just 15 minutes
before MK Roman Bronfman (Meretz) was scheduled to deliver a
speech.

"From my standpoint, today's event is legal, after the high
court rejected a petition (to ban the event) and after the
city of Tel Aviv gave authorization for the event to be
held," Bronfman told reporters at the event. "I think the
police were the ones who disturbed the peace.

The police knew I was supposed to speak at 4:00 p.m., and I
interpret what happened here now as a suppression of free
speech and not allowing a Knesset member to express his
opinion." Bronfman said that the police told him the event
was shut down due to instances of drug use, but the MK
emphasized that rather than ending the event the police
should have arrested only those who were using drugs.

According to a copy of the Bronfman's undelivered speech
received by the Jerusalem Post, the MK intended to say that
although he does not support drug use, he believes the
current "scare campaign" is a total failure. Bronfman was to
announce his intention to introduce two related laws in the
Knesset.

One would allow persons with various illnesses whose
symptoms can be alleviated by marijuana to obtain a
prescription for medicinal marijuana directly from a doctor,
whereas currently they must go to the director general of
the health ministry or via a special panel.

The second law would decriminalize use of marijuana and
hashish.

Approximately an hour before the event was shut down, one
speaker issued a warning to attendees that undercover police
forces were looking to arrest people for smoking cannabis
and urged the crowd to drink beer instead, even though he
claimed alcohol causes poses a greater health risk.

"This happens at every party," said a 24-year-old Ramat Gan
resident who identified himself as Dekel.

"The police see people enjoying themselves and think this
represents all the problems in the state, so they try to
stop the enjoyment of all the people here who are trying to
show that this is a progressive country and not a country
like Iran."

Eran Vered, an organizer of the event said, "We tried to
organize a protest event . as is allowed in a democratic
state. The police apparently decided that this wasn't to
their liking, so in a cruel and brutal manner they closed
the picnic.

The police arrested maybe one, two, or ten people smoking an
illegal substance - grass - and apparently they decided that
this picnic had the potential for drug use and closed it
down completely. Apparently they felt that the participation
of a member of Knesset was not good for them."

Rehavia Berman, from Legalize it - Israel and a former
spokesman of the Green Leaf party, said, "Health Minister
Danny Naveh was supposed to speak, but instead speaking like
a man and receiving boos or silence from the crowd, he
arranged in advance for there to be no reason for him to
come." But maybe Naveh wasn't the one responsible, he added.

"Every Saturday at every soccer stadium police find flares
and weapons that can kill people, and they don't shut down
the game. They take the people who have these banned items
and arrest them. That's the law! To shut down the event,
isn't the law. There are legal decisions on this. Police are
simply ignoring these rulings and doing what's convenient
for them.

Because of tomorrow if we win a legal ruling that says what
they did isn't right, it doesn't matter because they already
shut down the event," Berman said.

Although some participants at the event expressing political
agendas and circulating petitions, the vast majority of the
crowd appeared to be basking in the afternoon sun, playing
Frisbee and dancing to the music. It was only when the
police shut down the event that it became overtly
politicized.

----end of article----

---------------

MMM reports, media articles, archives, and links to more:
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/mmmreports Archive. Several years.
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/mmmreports/messages/45 2004 reports archive.
http://www.corporatism.netfirms.com/mmmreports.htm Links to other archives.
http://news.google.com/news?q=marijuana+OR+cannabis Google News shortcuts.
http://news.google.com/news?q=marijuana+OR+cannabis+rally+OR+protest+OR+festival+OR+march+OR+day
http://www.geocities.com/tents444/mmm2004.htm 2004 city list. Links lead to reports.
http://www.cannabisculture.com/forums/postlist.php?Cat=&Board=current Reports forum.
http://www.geocities.com/tents444/mmmimages.htm Images archive and links.

350+ MMM cities worldwide since 1999! City list:
http://www.corporatism.netfirms.com/mmmall.htm

---Missoula Independent, Montana. Article begins--- http://www.everyweek.com/News/News.asp?no=4028 Pot to the people by Keila Szpaller Photo by Keila Szpaller [Photo caption] Angela Goodhope and Dug Murray walk along Higgins Ave. during the Jay Day march. A few days earlier, petitions arrived in Missoula to add a measure to the November ballot to protect patients and physicians from respectively using and prescribing marijuana. The Jay Day march proved ripe for signature collection. Selling a medical marijuana initiative Paul Befumo is a punctual estate planner who sports a beige corduroy suit and wears his hair closely cropped. To him, 4/20 is a date. Until recently, he hadn’t heard of Jay Day, an international May Day legalization demonstration billed as “The million marijuana march.” But Befumo, who has a science background, learned that the drug can alleviate the nausea and lack of appetite experienced by many people with cancer. He believes it should have been prescribed to his father and friends who suffered from cancer. So after initial reluctance because of the credibility his day-job requires, Befumo agreed to spearhead a citizen initiative for the November ballot, a measure that would allow the production, possession and use of marijuana by patients with debilitating medical conditions. The attorney general’s office approved the petition on April 20. Befumo says his colleagues were smugly asking whether the decision to approve on 4/20 was coincidental. “I’m going 4/20? I don’t get it,” says a bemused Befumo. “I’ve come across some things like that. It just makes me feel kind of square.” Time and again, though, he’s encountered similarly prim and proper folks who believe in legalizing the medical use of marijuana, because they’ve seen it work. “When something is effective,” says Befumo, “it’s really hard to keep it under wraps.” If passed, the initiative—I-148, the Montana Medical Marijuana Act—would affect both patients and physicians. It would provide protection for physicians who recommend the use of marijuana if the potential benefits outweigh the health risks. It would protect patients who suffer from debilitating conditions, such as chronic pain, nausea or seizures. It would prohibit the use of marijuana on school grounds, in public places and in correctional facilities. Petitions arrived in Missoula last week. Befumo and a crew of petitioners have until June 18 to collect 20,510 signatures. Befumo hopes to collect 30,000. Saturday’s Jay Day march was ripe turf for signature collection. A string of musicians, who had played for the International Wildlife Film Festival’s Wild Walk parade, moseyed down Fourth Street and ambled to Jacob’s Island for their second show. Around noon, the scene was set: drums, a tambourine, a thermos and bb shaker, a lavender Electra cruiser, toasted and salted hemp seeds, and a handful of folk ready to volunteer the valuable uses of hemp—it cleans the earth and Henry Ford once built a car, in part, with cellulosic hemp, for instance. An advertisement for Jay Day calls for a million to march. “I don’t see one million people here,” says a man who identifies himself only as Farmer John. About two dozen people sat under the pine trees at Jacob’s Island. For the most part, they are musicians, a group of friends who drum together on full moons. It was hard to find anyone militantly in favor of legalization. Enforcing the ban against cyanide heap leach mining is probably more urgent, says Farmer John. Leslie Hannay, who wears a buffalo mask, doesn’t smoke at all. “It makes me unable to socialize,” she says. She approves of decriminalization, though. “It’s pretty arbitrary considering the pharmaceutical industry and tobacco and alcohol,” she says. A 19-year-old Missoula business owner was one of the few people present solely for the cause. Her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer about two years ago, and is still undergoing radiation treatment. The daughter is her mother’s supplier. “I believe that it should be legalized for medical uses,” she says. At 12:28 p.m., Angela Goodhope, carrying a hemp backpack and the parasol of a tourist guide, decided it was time to march. The group made its way west along the river trail without finding many fellow travelers. The only person moving quickly was a petition-collector, a woman who wants to be identified as Tess. “I’m going to drop back and ask these two if they’re registered to vote,” she says. The two signed. “Two of my best friends’ mothers have gone through breast cancer,” she says, explaining her involvement. “We’re not the types to use illegal substances.” Collecting petitions makes her nervous. “I’m actually really fearful of this,” she says, though she isn’t doing anything illegal. “I know that I’m not. But that doesn’t mean that it’s not dangerous.” On Higgins Ave., the group’s energy intensified. The drumming echoed off glass windows. Goodhope propped her parasol so that it covered two. Is she happy with the turnout? She smiles. “Sure.” On Broadway, two petitioners run into each other. “How you doing on signatures?” “Pretty good, pretty well.” At the courthouse gazebo, the parade’s destination, a joint quickly made its way through a handful of participants. “Civil disobedience,” smiled one man. The turnout is sparse—30 max. It feels like activists’ day off. “It was pretty meager,” says Dug Murray, a self-described “young buck” wearing two horns leftover from the Wild Walk. For Tess, Saturday was a success. “I had nobody say ‘no’ to me today,” says Tess. In an hour and a half, she collected 87 signatures for Missoula County, three for Ravalli and two for Lake. The initiative requires signatures from 5 percent of the voters in half the counties in the state in order to make the ballot. “I think there are a lot of people out there who support this,” says Befumo, “but are afraid to say so because they think they’re the only one.” The voter initiative is based on a 2003 legislative one, HB 506, which failed in the Montana House on a 60–40 vote. Ron Erickson (D-Missoula) sponsored that bill. He won’t make a prediction for I-148, but says he saw committee members vote in favor of HB 506 who then changed their votes once the bill hit the House floor. He has more faith in people who are not politicians: “Politicians are much more chicken than the voters they represent.” kszpaller@... ----end of article---- ----------- MMM reports, media articles, archives, and links to more: http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/mmmreports Archive. Several years. http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/mmmreports/messages/45 2004 reports archive. http://www.corporatism.netfirms.com/mmmreports.htm Links to other archives. http://news.google.com/news?q=marijuana+OR+cannabis Google News shortcuts. http://news.google.com/news?q=marijuana+OR+cannabis+rally+OR+protest+OR+festival+OR+march+OR+day http://www.geocities.com/tents444/mmm2004.htm 2004 city list. Links lead to reports. http://www.cannabisculture.com/forums/postlist.php?Cat=&Board=current Reports forum. http://www.geocities.com/tents444/mmmimages.htm Images archive and links.

350+ MMM cities worldwide since 1999! City list:
http://www.corporatism.netfirms.com/mmmall.htm

---------------

Last Update: 08/05/2004 06:50
Court rejects petition seeking to ban 'Marijuana Day' events
By Yuval Yoaz, Haaretz Correspondent
Marijuana Day, an event scheduled for Saturday in Tel Aviv will be celebrated as planned after the High Court rejected a petition by Al-Sam, a drug abuse prevention organization, seeking to cancel the event.
Al-Sam demanded that police prevent the celebrations of "Marijuana Day," claiming the event will disrupt public order and will lead to drug abuse, while legitimizing the abuse of dangerous, illegal drugs." Al-Sam demanded that the Minister of Public Security, Tzachi Hanegbi, order the police to limit entry to the event for people over the age of 18. In the petition they also asked that the event be fenced in order to enable police to track the identity of all who enter, and for sniff dogs to be used to prevent anyone from introducing narcotics onto the event grounds. The group demanded that police shut down the event in case any drug offenses are sighted by police. Justices Yaacov Turkel, Eliahu Mazza and Asher Gronis said in their decision that Al-Sam knew of the event in advance and had sufficient time to petition the court, yet did so only 48 hours prior to the event. The justices added that they assume that the police will operate in a manner which will uphold law and order. MK Roman Bronfman (Yahad) who is supposed to speak at the event welcomed the decision and said that the event is legitimate and legal. "The court upheld the right of every adult citizen to make up his own mind on the matter," he said.

-----end of article----

--------------

----Haaretz article begins.----
http://www.haaretzdaily.com/hasen/spages/424925.html

Last Update: 07/05/2004 11:52
Yahad MK Bronfman to attend Marijuana Day events
By Yuval Yoaz, Haaretz Correspondent and Haaretz Service
The High Court of Justice rejected Friday a petition against Public Security Minister Tzachi Hanegbi, demanding that the police prevent Marijuana Day events in Tel Aviv's Yarkon Park on Saturday.
The petition, filed by the Al-Sam anti-drug association, was rejected by a panel of three justices, who wrote that they assume "police will use their judgment to ensure that the law is upheld and order maintained." Al-Sam, whose attorney, Ofer Tsur, filed the petition Thursday, argued that the event is likely "to disrupt public order, constitute a risk to public safety and realize the concern for the committing of drug offenses." As an alternative to canceling the event entirely, Al-Sam demanded that the police impose restrictions: banning entry to minors under the age of 18, fencing off the area of the park set aside for the event so as to facilitate monitoring the visitors, deploying trained sniffer dogs to ensure that visitors are not carrying drugs or drug paraphernalia, deploying both uniformed and undercover police forces to prevent drug offenses. The association also demanded that the 10-hour event be immediately called off if incidents of drug use are encountered. Yahad MK Roman Bronfman will attend Marijuana Day events, scheduled to take place Saturday in Hayarkon Park in Tel Aviv. In an interview Friday to Israel Radio, Bronfman said that the event does not encourage drug abuse and that his participating is intended to "change the establishment's drug policy."

----end of article----

---------------

MMM reports, media articles, archives, and links to more:
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/mmmreports Archive. Several years.
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/mmmreports/messages/45 2004 reports archive.
http://www.corporatism.netfirms.com/mmmreports.htm Links to other archives.
http://news.google.com/news?q=marijuana+OR+cannabis Google News shortcuts.
http://news.google.com/news?q=marijuana+OR+cannabis+rally+OR+protest+OR+festival+OR+march+OR+day
http://www.geocities.com/tents444/mmm2004.htm 2004 city list. Links lead to reports.
http://www.cannabisculture.com/forums/postlist.php?Cat=&Board=current Reports forum.
http://www.geocities.com/tents444/mmmimages.htm Images archive and links.

350+ MMM cities worldwide since 1999! City list:
http://www.corporatism.netfirms.com/mmmall.htm

-----------------

There is also a forum thread with this article:
http://www.cannabisculture.com/forums/showflat.php?&Number=850712

---------------

-----May 6, 2004 Jerusalem Post article begins----
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1083813019607

JPost.com » News » National » TA celebrates Marijuana Day

May. 6, 2004 22:00 TA celebrates Marijuana Day By MARION FISCHEL

The seventh annual International Marijuana Day, a protest
against laws restricting marijuana that is being held in
more than 150 countries on May 8, will be marked in Tel Aviv
by a picnic and trance party.

The event at Hayarkon Park will feature nine top DJs
specializing in reggae, hiphop, trance, dance hall, roots,
and ragamuffin music.

Started by the New York organization Cures, Not Wars in
1998, and picked up by Nimrod Kerrett, head of the local
Legalize chapter, that same year, the Israeli version is now
hosted by a coalition of drug reform organizations.

Meretz MK Roman Bronfman is to speak at the event, which
will host short speeches at one hour intervals between
changes in DJs. Bronfman is an independent candidate for
Democratic Choice, and the issue of marijuana is one of many
on his civil agenda, says Dan Goldblatt, former leader of
Alei Yarok, the pro-legalization party, and now Bronfman's
political adviser. Goldblatt also plans to attend the event.

Legalization of cannabis is not possible because of a UN
convention that Israel has signed in aid of the ongoing
international war against drug trafficking. Nevertheless,
the fight is to recognize the right of hundreds of thousands
of Israeli cannabis users, say the event organizers. The
decriminalization of cannabis would wipe out the smuggling
of this drug, because users would be allowed to keep one or
two plants at home, says Goldblatt.

In addition to receation, marijuana is also used to relieve
certain illnesses, in particular the side effects caused by
radiation treatment of cancer patients and pain management.

"The most important and pressing issue at the moment," says
Goldblatt, "is that of medical marijuana. It is allowed, but
due to heavy bureaucracy, people in terrible pain with
nausea and vomiting often have a long wait before they are
legally entitled to relief."

Members of the public at the event wishing to light up will
probably not be disturbed by the police, who traditionally
appear to have a non-intervention policy.

While a trance picnic party on Shabbat may appeal to those
in their 20s and 30s, older members of the population may
find it hard to identify with such an event as an
opportunity to create change. Nevertheless, the picnic is
only a piece of the picture, and the issue of
decriminalization is not expected to go away.

----end of article----

------------------

MMM reports, media articles, archives, and links to more:
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/mmmreports Archive. Several years.
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/mmmreports/messages/45 2004 reports archive.
http://www.corporatism.netfirms.com/mmmreports.htm Links to other archives.
http://news.google.com/news?q=marijuana+OR+cannabis Google News shortcuts.
http://news.google.com/news?q=marijuana+OR+cannabis+rally+OR+protest+OR+festival+OR+march
http://www.geocities.com/tents444/mmm2004.htm 2004 city list. Links lead to reports.
http://www.cannabisculture.com/forums/postlist.php?Cat=&Board=current Reports forum.
http://www.geocities.com/tents444/mmmimages.htm Images archive and links.

350+ MMM cities worldwide since 1999! City list:
http://www.corporatism.netfirms.com/mmmall.htm

--------------

THE MAIN THING :: OF THE PRESS :: OF LEAFLET And STIKERY :: THE HISTORY OF MARSH :: THE SUMMARY OF NEWS :: IS GUEST

REQUIREMENTS To arrests are not! Hemp - medicine! Down lie it censored! Textile and paper! SUBSCRIPTION Consideration of meeting and last news -  in this distribution. After visiting according to the reference, you will introduce your post address. Podpishis' to the distribution of the news ARTICLES The Cannabis FAR Frequent Vop.posy and answers p.po pastenie Cannabis to the Russian language. Articles on cures.by.ru Good selection of articles about the war with the narcotics. Encyclopedia of the hemp Economic analysis of the legalization of kannabisa 10 questions and answers about marijuana Hemp - guarantee of health? 7 myths about the narcotics us-russia- Arabian coalition(.ENG) Program of the revision of the united conventions OF UNITED NATIONS "about the narcotic drugs"(ZIP) They will be opened in the new window. REFERENCES RUSSIAN RADICALS CURES NOT WARS Friends, good it granted to the site, dedicated to world hemp Marsh! The references about the hemp marches in Russia by the media, and also our press releases, are assembled in the division of "press". Descriptions and photographs of marches by their participants are presented in the division "history of march" Last news around the hemp nakhodyatsya in the division "summary of news". All information about preparation and conducting of marches it is located in the archive of the news of the organization committee All questions, proposal and commentary you can it left in the guest book. Also on all questions be turned: alena@..., vital@..., BolotinIO@... Vol. (095) 254-4836 DECLARATION Friends! All, who was delayed on the cancelled action I it toiled, invite into the office of new Narkopolitiki on Friday, on 7 May, to 16:00. Attorney Stanislav Markel prokonsul'tiruyet you on all lawful questions being concerned events 4 May. Most of all us as the organizers of hemp march, agitates the fate of the delayed students. If in someone begin problems in VUZ - Institute of Higher Education or on the work because of the participation in the march - immediately you ring into new Narkopolitiku: the bodies: 254-4836, and better you come on 7 May to 16:00, I will solve that necessarily it made. It is given below the article Of koAP RF, which, allegedly, destroyed all delayed. Article 20.2. Disturbance of the routine of the organization either of conducting meeting, meeting, demonstration, procession or picketting 1. Disturbance of the routine of the organization of meeting, meeting, demonstration, procession or picketting - will fly the imposition of administrative penalty on the organizers in the size from ten to twenty minimum wage units. 2. disturbance of the established procedure of meeting, meeting, demonstration, procession or picketting - will fly the imposition of administrative penalty on the organizers in the size from ten to twenty minimum wage units; to the participants - from five to ten minimum wage units. 3. organization either conducting the those not sanctioned of meeting, meeting, demonstration, procession or picketting in immediate proximity of the territory of nuclear installation, radiation source or point of storage of nuclear materials or radioactive materials, and equally active participation in such actions, if this complicated fulfillment by personnel of the objects of official duties indicated or created the threat of safety of population and environment, will fly the imposition of administrative penalty in the size from ten to twenty minimum wage units or administrative arrest on the period to fifteen days. On that as news itself on the law court and than this it is threatened 4 May - MEETING In MOSCOW. ..ZAPRESHCHEN! GOVERNMENT OF MOSCOW PREFECT THE CENTRAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION OF MOSCOW CITY ORDER 28 April 2004g. ¹ 2876 - r  On the repudiation of the information of the charitable foundation "well" In the prefecture of the central administrative region entered information from the representatives of the charitable foundation the "well" about the intention was conducted 4 May 2004 from 15.00 to 15.30 picket in the monument Of b.Okudzhavy, from 15.30 to 17.30 procession on marshru.ry: ul. Old Arbat - Nikitskiy b- r - Tver b- r - Novopushkinskiy square and from 18.00 to 19.00 meeting in The novopushkinskom square with a quantity of participants to 1000 people. Purpose of measure, indicated in the information: "it ended lie with respect to of hemp and its derivatives, ended it censored the truthful and nezavisimoy information of that connected with the hemp, it ended the arrests of the users of hemp". 1. After examining the obtained information and being guided by the President's Decree of Russian Federation N 765 from 24.05.93g. "about the assertion of the temporary situation about the order of the information of organs of the executive power of g.Moskvy about conducting of meetings, street processions, demonstrations and picketting on the streets, areas and in other open public places of city" p.ya (action is contradicted to the principles of the declaration of rights and freedoms of man and citizen, to the conventional standards of public morals and morals; organizers did not carry out obligation on the earlier provodimym actions), st. 230 UK RF (declination to the consumption of narcotic drugs or psychotropic substances), st.ya' of the law OF RF "about the narcotic drugs and the psychotropic substances" from 8.0y.98g. N 3 and st. 6.13 codes of the Russian Federation about the administrative offenses (propaganda of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances or their precursors) refused in the method of information, subject to the representatives of the charitable foundation "well" on 4 May 2004 2. Warned organizers (It ocheret D.A., Melnikov V.A., Rakin I.A., Asayeva A.V. of kont.tel.: 254-48-36) about the responsibility for conducting of the unsanctioned mass actions, in accordance with acting akonodatel'stvom. 3. Control of the fulfillment of present order laid on the deputy of the prefect OF TSAO - CENTRAL AEROLOGICAL OBSERVATORY Zaytseva S.I., the chief of circumferential UVD OF TSAO - CENTRAL AEROLOGICAL OBSERVATORY Melnikov A.V. the chapters of the settings of Tverskiy of the region Of boykova B.I., region Arbat Kochneva V.G.  01 1 21033 S.L. Baydakov It passed into the archive of the news of organization committee > > (C) 2004 ORGANIZATION COMMITTEES "4 May - WORLD HEMP MARSH"

-----end of roughly-translated homepage----

--------------------

Here are some roughly-translated introductory paragraphs to some articles. The intros are currently found here:
http://www.drugpolicy.ru

6 May 2004
"world hemp march" in Moscow - facts about the action from the alliance "new Narkopolitika"
In connection with the fact that in THE MEDIA for the latter several days appeared the contradictory information about the "world hemp march", we would want it would report to your attention the specific facts, connected with the march.
further > >

4 May 2004
"world hemp march" in Moscow: 65 demonstrators are delayed
On Tuesday in Moscow on by Star Arbat passed that forbidden by the prefecture of central region "world hemp march". As reports correspondent Graney.Ru from the place of events, to manifestantsiyu were assembled 100-200 people. The beginning of measure passed quietly; however, then the police, beginning to break to the demonstrators of hand, it delayed 65 people.
further > >

30 April 2004
Moscow authorities forbade the hemp march
Moscow authorities on Thursday forbade the world hemp march, whose conducting in the Russian capital was planned on 4 May. The organizers of action vystupayut for the legalization of marijuana. In the letter, which they received from the Moscow authorities, it was discussed the fact that a similar action it was contradicted to the article of Russian constitution about the propaganda and the declination to the use of narcotics. The organization committee of march is intended it turned into the law court.
further > >

29 April 2004
In The nezavisimeye press center (Tver avenue, d. 20, floor 2) took place press conference "4 May - WORLD HEMP MARCH"
Everything began in America in 1997. Specifically, then the first march passed. It predstavlyal by itself the trip of many people on the invalid carriages from Boston to Washington - into the office of the food and medicinal service of the Government OF THE USA (FDA) with the sole purpose - participants required assignment it entered to sick oncologic diseases to medical marijuana. After this, similar actions gave a ride around many cities of peace and developed into the present motion - into the civil initiative. On it died development, the number of demands of participants increased. In 2002 "hemp march" of dobralsya to Russia. In this and following 2003 it provodilsya with the group of enthusiasts and predstavlyal by itself the distribution of leaflets and the propagation of "alternative" information about the hemp.
further > >

----------------

-----April 29, 2004 press conference article begins----
http://www.drugpolicy.ru/?page=presscenter

29 April 2004 into 14:00 in The nezavisimeye press center (Tver avenue, d. 20, floor 2) took place press conference "4 May - WORLD HEMP MARCH"

Everything began in America in 1997. Specifically, then the first march passed. It was the trip of many people on the invalid carriages from Boston to Washington - into the office of the food and medicinal service of the Government OF THE USA (FDA) with the sole purpose - participants required assignment it entered to sick oncologic diseases to medical marijuana. After this, similar actions gave a ride around many cities of peace and developed into the present motion - into the civil initiative. On it died development, the number of demands of participants increased. In 2002 "hemp march" it was gathered Russia. In this and following 2003 it was conducted by the group of enthusiasts and it was the distribution of leaflets and the propagation of "alternative" information about the hemp.

During March 2004 was assembled the nezavisimaya initiative-taking group of people, which solved, what march - this not bad method called authority it ended lie about the hemp as about the most dangerous narcotic, allegedly standing in one row with heroin, it stopped criminal repressions of thousands of absolutely not dangerous for the societies people, which use hemp, it ended anticonstitutional practiced withdrawals from the free revolution of any truthful information, connected with this plant.

In the press conference they participated:

LEVINSON Leo semenovich, the leader of alliance "new narkopolitika", the expert of the institute of the rights of man;
MELNIKOV Vitalius anatol'evich, the chairman of organization committee "I toiled - world hemp march";
TEMPLES Nikolai yevgen'evich, the secretary of motion "Russian radicals";
RAFIYEV Aleksey rodionovich, Writer;
GAYDUK Dmitriy, writer;
TIKHONOV Mikhail Vladimirovich, psychiatrist, the expert of alliance "new narkopolitika"

The additional information:

+7 (095) 254-4836

-----end of article------

--------------------

MMM reports, media articles, archives, and links to more:
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/mmmreports Archive. Several years.
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/mmmreports/messages/45 2004 reports archive.
http://www.corporatism.netfirms.com/mmmreports.htm Links to other archives.
http://news.google.com/news?q=marijuana+OR+cannabis Google News shortcuts.
http://news.google.com/news?q=marijuana+OR+cannabis+rally+OR+protest+OR+festival+OR+march
http://www.geocities.com/tents444/mmm2004.htm 2004 city list. Links lead to reports.
http://www.cannabisculture.com/forums/postlist.php?Cat=&Board=current Reports forum.
http://www.geocities.com/tents444/mmmimages.htm Images archive and links.

350+ MMM cities worldwide since 1999! City list:
http://www.corporatism.netfirms.com/mmmall.htm

-----------------

Rough translations done online almost instantly here:
http://w3.systranlinks.com/systran/cgi and
http://www.freetranslation.com/web.htm

Moscow MMM photo compilation is awesome:
http://grani.ru/Events/m.69130.html and it is discussed at
this global forum thread:
http://www.cannabisculture.com/forums/showflat.php?&Number=849446

---------------------

----May 4, 2004 article begins----
http://grani.ru/Society/Health/m.69123.html

"world hemp march" in Moscow: 65 demonstrators are delayed

On Tuesday in Moscow on by Star Arbat passed that forbidden by the prefecture of central region "world hemp march". As reports correspondent Graney.Ru from the place of events, to manifestantsiyu were assembled 100-200 people.

The beginning of measure passed quietly; however, then the police, beginning to break to the demonstrators of hand, it delayed 65 people.

the article
	"world hemp march" in Moscow Photo report

"world hemp march" - the international action, which simultaneously passes in hundred is municipal 0 0N throughout the world.

The prefecture of the central administrative region forbade conducting "hemp march" on the basis, that this action "disrupts the declaration of rights and freedoms of citizen" and it is the "propaganda of narcotics". The representatives of the organization committee of march stated that not tyuey ponimayut, as conducting march it can it destroyed whose- that of right, they were intended it turned into the law court.

One of the organizers, Vitalius Melnikov, zayavil To granyam.Ru the day before, that about the action was opoveshcheny too many, and information about the prohibition after sending too late. It not isklyuchil, that people can it arrived to Arabat, and therefore organizers must them it met and it elucidated situation. Organizers hoped that it met it proydet without the excesses they stated that they were ready it bore responsibility for the actions of those, who there soberetsya. They also expressed hope that tyuey sumeyut it attained permission was conducted a similar action for following yr.

March must byl it began into 15.00 on with Star Arbat near the monument to Damascus steel To okudzhave it was completed by the picket on Puskinskaya of area. The organization committee of rasschityval, that the action soberet about thousand people. Procession must was it passed under the slogan "it ended lie with respect to of hemp and its derivatives, it ended it censored the truthful and nezavisimoy information of that connected with the hemp, it ended the arrests of the users of hemp, it approached the medical use of a hemp and the wide production of textile and paper from the hemp raw material".

In this year in Moscow hemp march they planned it conducted for the first time. In the world this action proydet already seventh time. First march of sostoyalsya in America. Then, 97- m, many people they left on the invalid carriages from Boston to Washington - into the office of administration for foodstuffs and medicines (FDA) of the U.S. Government. Participants required that the oncologic patients they would allow would be used marijuana for medical purposes. After this, similar actions gave a ride around many cities of peace and developed into motion. They were replaced it aimed in seven years and the tasks of motion, but requirement, in the essence, are reduced moreover - it legalized marijuana.

04.05.2004 16:09

version for the press

-----end of article----

------------------

There are more articles on the Moscow MMM 2004 here:
http://www.drugpolicy.ru

Rough translations can be done online almost instantly here:
http://w3.systranlinks.com/systran/cgi and
http://www.freetranslation.com/web.htm

------------------------------

MMM reports, media articles, archives, and links to more:
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/mmmreports Archive. Several years.
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/mmmreports/messages/45 2004 reports archive.
http://www.corporatism.netfirms.com/mmmreports.htm Links to other archives.
http://news.google.com/news?q=marijuana+OR+cannabis Google News shortcuts.
http://news.google.com/news?q=marijuana+OR+cannabis+rally+OR+protest+OR+festival+OR+march
http://www.geocities.com/tents444/mmm2004.htm 2004 city list. Links lead to reports.
http://www.cannabisculture.com/forums/postlist.php?Cat=&Board=current Reports forum.
http://www.geocities.com/tents444/mmmimages.htm Images archive and links.

350+ MMM cities worldwide since 1999! For city list:
http://www.corporatism.netfirms.com/mmmall.htm

----------------

Martin Steldinger tribble-mmm@... and all,

Here is Loretta Nall's message below offering to share
San Francisco MMM video. It will also be on
http://www.pot-tv.net by this weekend.

eco man

-----Forwarded message begins-----

From: "loretta@..." <loretta@...>
To: tents444@...
Subject: RE: Fwd. Re: Any good MMM 2004 Audio/Video files out there?
Date: Thu, 6 May 2004 05:20:19 -0400

Thanks,

My footage of SF should be on Pot TV by this weekend.
I'd be glad to share it with whoever wants copies.

Loretta

----------

Original Message:
-----------------
From: eco man tents444@...
Date: Wed, 5 May 2004 18:49:29 -0700 (PDT)
To: tribble-mmm@..., goathorn@...,
cannabisfreedomdaysf@..., potleaffilms@yahoogroups.com,
cannabisaction@yahoogroups.com, mmmworld@yahoogroups.com,
mmmreports@yahoogroups.com, mayday@yahoogroups.com,
mmmlist@yahoogroups.com, drugwarnews@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Fwd. Re: Any good MMM 2004 Audio/Video files out there?

San Francisco and Cape Town, South Africa video of MMM rallies.
2 replies pasted together farther down.
Both replying to Martin Steldinger tribble-mmm@...
and his email requesting audio and video footage of MMM rallies.
See also the audio and video info, requests, and links on this page:
http://www.geocities.com/tents444/mmmimages.htm
 
eco man
 
 
---------------------
 
Date: Wed, 5 May 2004 13:54:38 -0700 (PDT)
From:  "André du Plessis" <goathorn@...>
Subject: Re: MMM. Fwd: Any good MMM 2004 Audio/Video files out there?
To: cannabisaction-owner@yahoogroups.com
 
High Martin,
 
There was some footage shot of the march here in Cape
Town... unfortunatly like a stoner I lost the one guys
number... I will find him and try get these tapes or
cd too you...
 
Another correspondent working on behalf of CBC
(Canadian Broadcasting) shot quite a bit of footage
too, as soon as he has it available for me I can send
on.  This piece apparently is being done with 5 or 6
cities that had a rally, and will be shown in Canada
later in the year.
 
When I have the footage I will send on.
 
Andre.
 
-------------

CannabisFreedomDaySF 2004 <cannabisfreedomdaysf@...> wrote:
Date: Wed, 5 May 2004 11:07:06 -0700 (PDT)
From: CannabisFreedomDaySF 2004
Subject: Re: Fwd: Any good MMM 2004 Audio/Video files out there?
To: eco man
CC: cannabisfreedom@...

Hey Martin... we have some delicious footage...
Contact Mike Fox... mfprodukshun@...

It was a historical day in S.F. It was incredible...
The cheers and excitement was monumental for us...

Loretta Nall was out here... The President of the
USMJParty... She has some incredible footage too...

You should contact her and get acquainted... She's
powerful and an awesome young lady... Her future is
bright with the movement... loretta@......

Some day we'll maybe meet or something... Rikki

--- eco man wrote:
>
>
> Martin Steldinger tribble-mmm@... wrote:
>
> Date: Tue, 4 May 2004 16:44:08 +0200 (CEST)
> From: Martin Steldinger
>
> Subject: Any good MMM 2004 Audio/Video files out
> there?
>
> -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
> Hash: SHA1
>
> Hello Activists!
>
> I have seen some nice audio and video files. One
> italian mmm acitivst
> website used bittorrent to make a trailer available.
> Thats wonderfull,
> but it does not work anymore ( - why? ). It is a
> good begin of using
> shared broadcastmedia.
>
> So here is my question: Where is the rest?
> I'd like to get any taped or digitalized video and
> audio content in
> good quality. Analog content will be digitalized and
> send to you for
> archival. Please get in contact with me.
>
> thanx,
> martin
> --
> 0xfnord!
>
>
>
> -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE-----
> Version: GnuPG v1.2.4 (GNU/Linux)
>
>
iD8DBQFAl6w8r4gMxpElhBwRAkbPAKC+Wy3+SnE6CWQI7ADoAM+1t0DJowCgpkhM
> 6iuAMRioZnLg1yf4r20Bq7Y=
> =1LFb
> -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----
>
> ------end of forwarded email-----------
>
> --------------
>
>
> See also:
>
> MMM images, audio, video. Million Marijuana March.
> Global Cannabis Liberation Day. In May. Since 1999.
> First Saturday in May. Or that weekend, or some day
> close to it. Any march, rally, event, meeting,
> concert, rave, etc.. Flyers, posters, banners,
> photos, audio, video, streaming audio, streaming
> video, internet radio, simulcasts, etc..
> http://www.geocities.com/tents444/mmmimages.htm
>

-----------------

Date: Wed, 5 May 2004 11:07:06 -0700 (PDT)
From: CannabisFreedomDaySF 2004
Subject: Re: Fwd: Any good MMM 2004 Audio/Video files out there?
To: eco man
CC: cannabisfreedom@...

Hey Martin... we have some delicious footage...
Contact Mike Fox... mfprodukshun@...

It was a historical day in S.F. It was incredible...
The cheers and excitement was monumental for us...

Loretta Nall was out here... The President of the
USMJParty... She has some incredible footage too...

You should contact her and get acquainted... She's
powerful and an awesome young lady... Her future is
bright with the movement... loretta@....

Some day we'll maybe meet or something... Rikki


--- eco man wrote:
>
>
> Martin Steldinger tribble-mmm@... wrote:
>
> Date: Tue, 4 May 2004 16:44:08 +0200 (CEST)
> From: Martin Steldinger
>
> Subject: Any good MMM 2004 Audio/Video files out
> there?
>
> -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
> Hash: SHA1
>
> Hello Activists!
>
> I have seen some nice audio and video files. One
> italian mmm acitivst
> website used bittorrent to make a trailer available.
> Thats wonderfull,
> but it does not work anymore ( - why? ). It is a
> good begin of using
> shared broadcastmedia.
>
> So here is my question: Where is the rest?
> I'd like to get any taped or digitalized video and
> audio content in
> good quality. Analog content will be digitalized and
> send to you for
> archival. Please get in contact with me.
>
> thanx,
> martin
> --
> 0xfnord!
>
>
>
> -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE-----
> Version: GnuPG v1.2.4 (GNU/Linux)
>
>
iD8DBQFAl6w8r4gMxpElhBwRAkbPAKC+Wy3+SnE6CWQI7ADoAM+1t0DJowCgpkhM
> 6iuAMRioZnLg1yf4r20Bq7Y=
> =1LFb
> -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----
>
> ------end of forwarded email-----------
>
> --------------
>
>
> See also:
>
> MMM images, audio, video. Million Marijuana March.
> Global Cannabis Liberation Day. In May. Since 1999.
> First Saturday in May. Or that weekend, or some day
> close to it. Any march, rally, event, meeting,
> concert, rave, etc.. Flyers, posters, banners,
> photos, audio, video, streaming audio, streaming
> video, internet radio, simulcasts, etc..
> http://www.geocities.com/tents444/mmmimages.htm
>

-----------------

---------------

Google News search results for Cape Town, South Africa MMM:

------------------

MMM reports, media articles, archives, and links to more:
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/mmmreports Several years.
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/mmmreports/messages/45 2004 MMM.
http://www.corporatism.netfirms.com/mmmreports.htm All years.
http://news.google.com/news?q=marijuana+OR+cannabis Google News shortcuts.
http://news.google.com/news?q=marijuana+OR+cannabis+rally+OR+protest+OR+festival+OR+march
http://www.geocities.com/tents444/mmm2004.htm 2004 city list. Links lead to reports.
http://www.cannabisculture.com/forums/postlist.php?Cat=&Board=current Reports forum.

Posters, images, audio, video. Million Marijuana March:
http://www.geocities.com/tents444/mmmimages.htm
350+ MMM cities worldwide since 1999! For list:
http://www.corporatism.netfirms.com/mmmall.htm

----------

Here is the photo and caption that was with the article: "Whether they bust us or not, people will still smoke," said Marc Boris St. Maurice, one of the organizers of the Montreal march. CREDIT: DAVE SIDAWAY, THE GAZETTE Montreal: Scent of protest wafts at pot march       #847727 - Sun May 02 2004 06:28 AM Edit   Reply   Quote   ----Montreal Gazette article begins----

May 2, 2004 Scent of protest wafts at pot march Lighthearted affair part of worldwide event held annually in more than 200 cities CATHERINE SOLYOM The Gazette Green balloons, green T-shirts, green flags and a whole lot of smiling people. You'd think it was St. Patrick's day all over again, but no - this was the 5th annual marijuana march, where about 300 people floated through central Montreal to show their allegiance to the ubiquitous green leaf. Their cause is the legalization of marijuana, said Marc Boris St. Maurice, one of the organizers and a member of the federal Bloc Pot marijuana party. The event was part of the Million Marijuana March, a worldwide event held annually in more than 200 cities, including Toronto and Vancouver, to demand the full legalization of pot. In Montreal, some were draped in Quebec flags, others in Canadian ones, but the fleur-de-lis and maple leafs had been replaced by sprigs of cannabis. As the crowd moved to the rhythm of live reggae along de Maisonneuve Blvd. and up St. Laurent Blvd., they were flanked by a dozen police officers, on foot or driving vans or motorbikes. The police didn't seem bothered by the fragrant yet illegal odour of marijuana wafting by. "They were demonstrating for their cause, whatever it may be," said Constable Robert Mansueto, a Montreal police spokesperson. "It was a question of tolerance, as it has been in the past for this march. But it doesn't mean people won't be charged later if there was possession or trafficking." But the march was also a "coming-out" event, St. Maurice said - "a chance for Montrealers to not be afraid to say they like pot" whether they choose to smoke it in public or not. "I don't even smoke anymore," said Andre Brunet, marching with his 4-year-old daughter. "But it's not because I've stopped that others shouldn't be able to. When you see kids sniffing glue or butane, you think they would be better off asking their parents for a joint." Another participant, identified only as Fleurette La Fleur, was selling everything but pot. Lighters, portable pot ashtrays, pipes. She said she was there because she likes to smoke and finds it hypocritical that she can be arrested for it, despite the fact such a large proportion of the population smokes marijuana. Consumption of illegal substances is, of course, hard to track. But studies have estimated that about one million Canadians smoke pot on a regular basis, and that 54 per cent of 15- to-19-year-olds said they had smoked it more than once. St. Maurice said the movement has done well recently. For instance, the Chez Marijane cafe on Rachel St. - where patrons can smoke pot at their tables - hasn't been busted in two weeks. But even the busts serve a purpose, he said. "They shed light on the absurdity of keeping it illegal. Whether they bust us or not, people will still smoke." St. Maurice said he is looking forward to the federal election, when the Bloc Pot will field 100 candidates. He wants to "smoke out Paul Martin" on the issue of of marijuana as he runs for office in the same riding of Ville Emard-LaSalle. His fear is that Martin will introduce automatic fines for simple possession - and fill his coffers with the profits. csolyom@... ----end of article----- Also contact: letters@... montrealgazette -------------------- Article originally at: http://www.canada.com/montreal/montrealgazette/news/story.html?id=e3f87dff-97e3-41e9-b854-30a0663d6aa1

--------------------

MMM reports, media articles, archives, and links to more:
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/mmmreports Several years.
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/mmmreports/messages/45 2004.
http://www.corporatism.netfirms.com/mmmreports.htm All years.
http://news.google.com/news?q=marijuana+OR+cannabis Google News shortcuts.
http://news.google.com/news?q=marijuana+OR+cannabis+rally+OR+protest+OR+festival+OR+march
http://www.geocities.com/tents444/mmm2004.htm 2004 city list. Links lead to reports.
http://www.cannabisculture.com/forums/postlist.php?Cat=&Board=current Reports forum.

Posters, images, audio, video. Million Marijuana March:
http://www.geocities.com/tents444/mmmimages.htm

-----------

Marijuana March in Mexico City (Photos) By Dan Feder, Posted on Tue May 4th, 2004 at 12:31:49 AM EST Hundreds of people marched through downtown Mexico City yesterday for marijuana legalization. There were similar marches all over the world this weekend, an annual global action often called the “Million Marijuana March.” While smaller than last year’s, it was a festive and positive demonstration, and got some coverage from local TV, as well as a write-up in El Universal, Mexico’s biggest daily, and other papers. I counted about 500 people, mostly typical young people from the city. The Mexican Association for Cannabis Studies (AMECA), Vivecondrogas.com and Multiforo Alicia – a punk/alternative rock club involved with a lot of local activism – organized the march. The logo they came up with for this year’s march is great – a pot-leaf Mexican wrestling mask. It is a play on an instantly recognizable cultural symbol here, which has appeal across a lot of different popular subcultures. It’s a very attention-grabbing image, and I one think could be used very effectively in the future. Media coverage of marches in other Latin American cities has been very scarce. According to organizers in Buenos Aires, where the movement for drug decriminalization and harm reduction is much more developed than here in Mexico, around 10,000 people turned out to march “against the intolerance” of the drug war. This despite the Buenos Aires city government revoking the permit for this year’s march at the last minute and telling organizers to cancel the march. Last year, more than 12,000 were reported turning out for a huge concert and demonstration in that city. You can read my report on last years marches and some background on the Mexican legalization movement on Narco News. If anyone has information about marches in other cities this weekend (there were hundreds announced… I read somewhere about a large turnout in San Francisco) please post comments, here. Click on these pictures for a full-sized version. Marijuana March in Mexico City (Photos) | 1 comment (1 topical, 0 hidden)   Clarifications on Argentina march (none / 0) (#1) by Dan Feder on Tue May 4th, 2004 at 10:03:05 AM EST (User Info) Well, crowd counts are tricky - a report from another organizer of the Argentina march said that the number was more like 3,000. However, the march had been officially cancelled by the organizers after legal problems and arrests in Buenos Aires. They decided to focus their efforts instead on a bigger rally and concert next weekend in the city of Rosario.

--------end of article and comments so far-------

------------------

MMM reports, media articles, archives, and links to more:
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/mmmreports Several years.
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/mmmreports/messages/45 2004.
http://www.corporatism.netfirms.com/mmmreports.htm All years.
http://news.google.com/news?q=marijuana+OR+cannabis Google News shortcuts.
http://news.google.com/news?q=marijuana+OR+cannabis+rally+OR+protest+OR+festival+OR+march
http://www.geocities.com/tents444/mmm2004.htm 2004 city list. Links lead to reports.
http://www.cannabisculture.com/forums/postlist.php?Cat=&Board=current Reports forum.

MMM 2004. Detailed, global, alphabetical city list:
http://www.geocities.com/tents444/mmm2004.htm and

-------------

See also:

MMM images, audio, video. Million Marijuana March. Global Cannabis Liberation Day. In May. Since 1999. First Saturday in May. Or that weekend, or some day close to it. Any march, rally, event, meeting, concert, rave, etc.. Flyers, posters, banners, photos, audio, video, streaming audio, streaming video, internet radio, simulcasts, etc..
http://www.geocities.com/tents444/mmmimages.htm

----Toronto, Ontario, Canada MMM 2004 report thread begins----
http://www.cannabisculture.com/forums/showflat.php?&Number=847418&fpart=1#847490

escapegoat 
old hand 
Reged: Apr 20 2002 
Posts: 962 
Loc: Toronto 

  Re: Toronto: Rallying for pot [Re: puff_tuff]
      #847490 - Sat May 01 2004 06:39 PM

Broadcast News: soundbite of Alison Myrden (Oakville NDP) Alison Myrden (mp3 format)
http://alisonmyrden.ca/20040401.mp3

-----------------------------------------

          
Goodsters Wife 
enthusiast 
Reged: Mar 01 2004 
Posts: 246 
Loc: Hamilton (Steel City) Ontario, Canada 
  Re: Toronto: Rallying for pot [Re: puff_tuff]
      #847924 - Sun May 02 2004 01:30 PM   

Quote [from press article]: "About 1,000 demonstrators rallied at the Ontario legislature and later marched through some of Toronto's busiest streets with a police escort."

There were a hell of a lot more than 1000 demonstrators. I would have tried doing a head-count on the way back in to the park once the march was done, but there were too many people, 1000 you could've probably counted but it was more like 5000+

Really great event...can't wait till Fill the Hill though, that's going to be over the top. Hope to see a lot of you out there. If you are interested in attending, buses are being arranged. Visit www.FilltheHill.ca for more information

Melissa

----------------------------------------------

         
Whirlwind 
member 
Reged: May 07 2002 
Posts: 100 
Loc: Canada (Ontario/Quebec) 
  Re: Toronto: Rallying for pot [Re: Goodsters Wife]
      #848121 - Sun May 02 2004 07:28 PM 

I agree, Goodster's Wife. There were easy over 5000 people at the Toronto event. It's a tough number to gauge, because people came and went over the course of the whole day. The community created in the park was like an oasis, a little pot garden of eden in the heart of the city. Wandering into the mass of happy hipsters was like walking into another country, maybe a temporary marijuana embassy where Canada's laws do not apply.

Everywhere, people were playing hackysack or frisbee or tossing a football, or just sitting back with a big fatty enjoying the warm, spring weather and the various bands that took the stage. Food vendors did very brisk business.

I arrived just before 2PM, the scheduled start of the march. Alison Myrden rallied the troops, vigoursly announcing her recent nomination win to become the NDP candidate for Oakville, Ontario. She took her place at the head of the parade and everyone followed onto University avenue. The park that played headquarters to the event is the backyard of the Ontario Legislature and is right in the middle of the University of Toronto, a great place to start. Walking north, we passed the Royal Ontario Museum - a beautiful place that is a great tourist attraction and a great place to visit while high, especially the extensive dinosaur exhibits!

Lots of cops on bikes helped keep us marchers safe from Toronto traffic. They all seemed quite content to allow our protest - which was more like a party - to unfold without hassling anyone. I was happy to meet up with Frank Discussion, who brought along his portable bottle toker - great device, but a little tricky to use while in motion! FrankD had no trouble with engaging our police escort in conversation. One cop was giving him advice on how to make things better for next year's march!! I guess I just don't have the balls to be quite so forward, but watching folks like FrankD make those connections is inspirational.

After University Ave, we turned onto Bloor St., one of Toronto's most upscale shopping areas. We got lots of encouraging honking horns from cars passing on the other side of the street. The response from the parade was really amazing, because as each honking car passed by the crowd, the crowd cheered, and so the cheer moved down the line with each car like a wave of sound. I was near the end of the march, so I would hear a cheer start way in front, listen as it came closer and closer, cheer with it when it arrived and then hear it fade off behind me. What a great feeling of joy and unity!

From Bloor, we turned down Yonge street, Toronto's main North/South artery. From my vantage point near the parade's end, looking down the gentle slope, I could see nothing but marchers - just parade as far as I could see. The sights, sounds and smells of pot and pot lovers were everywhere. From Yonge, we turned onto Wellesley and returned to the park for the rest of the afternoon. Thankfully, the rain held off and we could all lounge out and enjoy the day.

It had been a long week and I was pretty tired, so I left before it was all over. Was it better or worse than last year? I'd say it was about the same. I think the poor weather forecasts probably kept the numbers lower than last year, but the vibe was positive and it looked to me like everyone was having a good time.

A BIG thanks to all the folks who put the Toronto march together. You obviously put a lot of hard work into making it happen and you deserve much appreciation!!

---------------- 

-----end of CannabisCulture.com forum thread------  

----------------------------------------------------

Google News results for Toronto MMM:

--------------------

----Toronto MMM 2004 pre-event info------
http://www.cannabisclub.ca/mmm04.html and
http://www.cannabisclub.ca/3M_04_Entertainment_Info.html

Million Marijuana March 2004
 
Download the .pdf Event Poster, print on legal size (8.5" x 14") paper and spread the word!

New Date: May 1, 2004
Toronto, North Park
University and Avenue
Behind the Legislature
Noon to 7pm

Million Marijuana March 2004 Entertainment Guide

---------------

New Date: May 1, 2004 Toronto, North Park

Sponsor This Event Volunteer Media Contact: Dani Stern / DS Publicity Group Ph: (416) 691-6333 Fax: (416) 691-4079 Email: dani@...

FriendlyStranger.com   Chersherbalclips.com   Hemp Users Medical Access Network Two Stone Throw Entertainment Schedule Million Marijuana March May 1 2004   12:00 to 12:45 Band - 2 Stone Throw   12:45 to 1:15 DJ - M7 DJ M7 1:15 to 2:00 Hemp Garment Show 2:00 to 2:45 DJ - M7 Parade Starts Geoff G. and The Four Heads 2:45 to 3:30 Band - Geoff G. 3:30to 4:15 DJ - Offbeat The Pylons 4:15 to 5:00 Band - The Pylons 4:20 Countdown 5:00 to 5:45 DJ - Offbeat 928   5:45 to 7:00 Band - Rhythmicru Puff Mama's Cookies   Happy Girl Hydroponics Kensington Market   Toronto Hemp Company FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE QuickGrowCanada.com Eclectic Music Mix Supports 2004 Million Marijuana March Thursday, April 22, 2004 (Toronto) - Along with the medical community, the Canadian music industry is one of the largest supporters of the legalization of marijuana. To endorse the legalization and celebrate cannabis and cannabis culture, several live bands and DJs will perform on stage at the 2004 Million Marijuana March. This year's celebrations will be taking place Saturday, May 1st, 2004 - 12:00 noon to 7:00 pm, at the North Park - University Avenue north of Wellesley Street. The entertainment will start at 12 noon with Two Stone Throw, a seven piece band with a lengthy history of jamming together in twos and threes, yet have only been a collective musical force for slightly over two years. Each member brings with them a colourful palette of influences and strengths, with a firm grounding in folk, rock, jazz, funk, and the classics. T.S.T.'s construction is somewhat unorthodox, beginning with one twelve string and two six string guitars, a bass guitar and drums. To complete the instrumental framework, the band incorporates the timeless warmth and versatility of a Hammond organ through a Leslie speaker. There is no single "lead" singer, most members of the band share in that capacity and also provide backing vocals. Operating as a kind of vocal democracy, they decide collectively on the most appropriate voices for each song. Band members include Kevin Bishop, Mike Collinson, Katie Newhook, Ross Notaro, Paul Stacey and Mark Whittaker. Jeff 'G' and the Four Heads are a classic rock-n-roll/blues band playing in the Greater Toronto area. Their infectious energy has consistently filled dance floors at every live performance, with high-energy show that blends an amalgam of rock & roll, Blues & British r 'n' b punched up with touches of reggae, funk, ska and country. The band began as Chicken Shakk, The Wits or as Live Poultry, and in one form or another have been playing Southern Ontario venues since 1989. The core has consisted of Jeff 'G' on vocals and Stan Humphries on guitar and vocals. Jeff 'G' and the Four Heads now includes Jeff 'G', Stan Humphries, Mark Bell, Vince Wiatrowski and Doug 'S', all with previous experience in the music industry. Hemptation.com A Pylons show is a thing to remember, just as a Pylons song is one that you'll be whistling days after hearing it. With just over two years under their belts, The Pylons are now finally coming into full effect. Unlike the new female fronted Pop/Punk that is appearing all over these days, The Pylons are a band. Each member plays an intricate role. Whether is be song writing, booking shows, recording or whatever, the band does it together, including a motion picture. The band could not get over the great feedback after lending some songs to the producers of "My Brother's Keeper". Included with those songs, is the bands newest treasure, "Here we are", one of the singles for the movie, Watch out for their music video, coming soon. Their sound lands somewhere between ska-pop and old rock. Members include Bekki Sarah Cait, Adam Morreira, Kevin Huang, Dave Mohacsi, Darryl Seigmund, and Sacha Noelle. Rhythmicru is a Hip-Hop band with a creative edge, consisting of seven visionaries from Toronto. Their first album was called "RhythmicWho?" and was released in 2001. The debut album sold out the initial run of 1,000 copies and received good feedback. The latest album by Rhythmicru is their second, and it was released on After Midnight Records, a label that was founded by the members of Rhythmicru. Their approach to music is honest and straight, with each member of the band individually multi-talented. The names of the crew-members are: A-Tom, Batho, Cale Sampson, D-Ray the Kid, Charlie Green, Craig Harper's Bizarre and TheSnowyOwl. Along with the bands, two DJs will be performing M7 and Offbeat. M7, also known as Michael Tremblay, grew up in Brantford, Ontario and began collecting vinyl in 1987. In 1996, while still DJ'ing, Michael began experimenting with music production and moved to Toronto to attend the Harris Institute for the Arts, a school dedicated to teaching the craft of music production. It was there he met Brian Parsons of the band "Raisanbag" and shortly thereafter, he became the bands manager. This provided him with the opportunity to DJ, while touring with the band throughout Ontario. The band recorded 2 CD's, then in 1999, decided to take a break in search of independent projects. M7 is now the Saturday Night resident/ host DJ at the College St Bar - 574 College St, Toronto, spinning a variety of genres including Rock, Hip Hop, Acid Jazz, Funk & Soul music. TreatingYourself.com Considered one of Toronto's up & coming DJs, worth checking out, (control freak) Offbeat, is 25 years old Rudy Darmasaputera, who has been DJing for the last 10 years, mostly at private parties and one-time events in Canada, Singapore and Indonesia. Offbeat's sound is heavily electronic with techno and electro, and sometimes brash with noise and punk-funk. The Million Marijuana March is a peaceful celebration of cannabis and cannabis culture. It is an event celebrated in over 200 cities worldwide with several Canadian cities participating in the festivities. Thousands attended last year's largest Canadian event in Toronto with no incidents. New to the festival this year is a hemp garment show put on by Hot-Box and more industry exhibitors than in any previous year of the event. Marc Emery, Canada's Prince of Pot will make an appearance at the celebrations. The parade starts at 2 pm. The Million Marijuana March's mandate is to urge politicians to endorse the recommendations as stated by the Senate Special Committee on Illegal Drugs, which calls for the decriminalization of possession of cannabis for medical and personal use. Beyond this endorsement, the event's ultimate goal is the complete legalization of cannabis. According to an Ipsos-Reid/CTV/Globe and Mail poll released May 16, 2003, a majority of those in the country believe that smoking marijuana should not be a criminal offence. Presented by the Green Directory, the event's exhibitors and sponsors include Cannabis Culture, Happy Girl Hydroponics, Roach-A-Rama, Hot-Box, Toronto Hemp Company, Puff Mama, TreatingYourself.com, Calm and more. The Million Marijuana March is open to anyone who wants to celebrate and enjoy cannabis culture and support the legalization in Canada. Beaches Gourmet Pizza 416-694-9777 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Media Contact: Dani Stern / DS Publicity Group Ph: (416) 691-6333 Fax: (416) 691-4079 Email: dani@...

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-----------------

Marc Scott Emery

Prince of Pot

Reged: Aug 19 1999

Posts: 2814

Loc: The Vancouver area of beautiful supernatural British Columbia, Canada

VANCOUVER - RESPLENDENT DAY [Re: hopefulcanadian]       #848008 - Sun May 02 2004 04:35 PM Edit   Reply   Quote

Vancouver's March & Rally was in for a little twist this year. The rally at the Art Gallery, where all pot rallies in Vancouver start, was in fact booked by the angry labour unions who are striking across the BC on Monday, on Saturday. They were there at 2.00 p.m., as we were massing. So I had 500 brochures with Jack Layton's comments on pot taken from a page article in Cannabis Culture. I went around to every labour person there from the unions and said "Jack Layton brochure, pleasse take one..." and most did! Brilliant job of cross marketing, if I say so myself. I gave out all 500 by rallies' end. Behind me, after a union person took a brochure, my hot buxom assistant would ask each one, offering a joint visibly, "would you like a joint?". One in 5 of the unionists offered would take one, raising eyebrows from their union brothers and sisters who declined a joint! We gave out over 100 joints to the unionists rallied there at the art gallery, along with hundreds of Jack Layton brochures (this is the political party - the NDP- that I have been urging Canadians to saupport in the federAL ELECTION TO BE CALLED IN THE NEXT 10 DAYS). That was a great way to take advantage of a situation that might have been awkward, hundreds of angry trade unionists (angry at the BC government) rallying in the same spot as protesting marijuana people. But it went great instead, co-opting both groups into one. In fact, a number of the unionists joined our march as we left the Art Gallery at 2.30 p.m. under spectacular skies, warm temperatures and wonderful pot smoke. Unlike NYC, this was definitely a smoke all you got march. We marched down Robson street from Howe St. to Denman, getting many drivers in the cars in the opposite lane high by passing joints to the drivers who took hits and passed the joints back to the crowd. Many thumbs up and honks. Everyone was having a fabulous time. Many women introduced themselves to me, and that was a very warm and lovely feeling. Our group distributed 300 joints to the unionists, to the parade marchers, to drivers, to people watching on the street. It was glorious. On Denman Street, we stopped at Denman Place Mall where Member of Parliament (Liberal)Hedy Fry, who is a loathesome person, office is. There, the massive crowd mobbed the mall entrance and we all chalked anti-prohibitionist slogans all over the road, sidewalk and mall entrance. Then parade leader David Malmo-Levine led us to a nicely situated bit of park area at Denman & Davie street where David, Chris Bennett, Dana Larsen and myself gave short sweet speeches. David Malmo Levine did a terrific job in what turned out to be one of the most effective rallies we have had, and everyone in attendence felt serendipitous -everyone agreed that it was a completely lovely time. After 4.20, I took off and went to the opening of the 'Da Kind' Medical MJ shop and cafe at 1018 Commercial Drive. Don Briere has this project going and I hope it is a great success. Don is a brave soul who only recently was released from a Canadian jail for almost two years for growing pot, so I pray he does not encounter further jail for his brave new project. He is a courageous and heroic Canadian, who lost a son to heroin overdose 5 years ago. Then I went back to the fully renovated BCMP store and we were staying open late and then myself a four hot viper girls went to the fundraiser, awareness raiser at BLUNT BROTHERS - NEW AMSTERDAM CAFE, and the viper girls distributed 80 or so joints to the building crowd of well wishers. At 10.30, I was zapped from the sun, smoke & good feelings. If last Sunday, the day of the fire,was day one, then by Saturday, day 7, I had lived a lifetime, and I was tired. Wonderful week in challenging times. CTV news broadcast parts of the rally on the news. Post Extras:

-------end of article----

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MMM reports and articles archived for all years:
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-------------

----New York City MMM 2004 article begins----
http://www.drugwar.com/mmm2004.shtm

It's a Protest, Not a Pot-Fest-
MMM 2004

By Preston Peet-
for DrugWar.com

May 2, 2004

Ed "NJWeedman" Forchion and
DrugWar.com editor Preston Peet

May 1 was a beautiful Spring day, perfect to spend outside in Battery Park at the lower end of Manhattan in New York City, where an estimated one to three thousand people attended the 2004 Million Marijuana March and rally in support of medical marijuana and Drug War reforms.

Battery Park in Manhattan- May 1, 2004

Dana Beal

"The repressive cloud of the Rudolph Giuliani regime has blown out to sea," Dana Beal of Cures-Not-Wars said. "I was bummed out last year due to the low turnout of people and angry police attitudes, but this year I'm really happy with the way things have gone." Beal noted that it was a "protest not a pot fest," and specifically pointed out how few officers there were raking the crowd for victims to take downtown.

With just three arrests-one for possession, one for having an open container, and one activist with Cures-Not-Wars arrested for using a bullhorn-this year was remarkably peaceful in terms of police actions. While the march itself, which stretched a good three city blocks, was covered by the usual compliment of hundreds of police officers hemming in the marchers along the entire route, the police presence at the subsequent rally in the park was, compared to recent years past, non-existent. There were a few park police in green uniforms, and a small number of uniformed cops, but there were no blatant undercover officers picking out the unwary who might be brave enough, or simply unaware of the danger, to light up in the park.

"Put it out" said the officers to these two very lucky blunt-smoking gentlemen before they walked away without arresting them.

To put the icing on the cake, while chucking around a Frisbee with some fellow pot protestors and friendly strangers, I myself saw a group of black guys gathered under a tree twisting up a blunt not five feet away from me. What I did not see were the two uniformed NYPD officers approaching until they were right on top of the group, now smoking their twisted blunt. To both my own surprise and that of the smokers, the two cops simply told them to "put it out," then walked away from making an extremely easy arrest. I and the smokers all about fell down on the lawn in shocked surprise, considering how violent and aggressive the NYPD has been at past years' events, not to mention every day life in the Big Apple, where more people are arrested for marijuana offenses each year than just about anywhere in the country-despite the fact that marijuana use and personal possession are merely civil offenses in New York, since New York is one of eleven U.S. states which have decriminalized marijuana use since the 1970s.

"This is my first protest in NYC," said event coordinator and Cures-Not-Wars public relations person Karen Tuominen. "The march was great, with lots of people there. The police are pretty much being friendly."

Robbie Robinson

"This year's event was much better than last year's," said event organizer Robbie Robinson, who works with NY Cannabis Action Network and NY NORML. "We actively promoted this as a non-smoking event. One woman affiliated with the NYPD here today pulled me aside to thank me for stressing that to the crowd. Overall I'm very happy with the day."

Ed "NJWeedman" Forchion

"I'm glad to be here, and happy to participate," said Infamous Los, a rapper who came to the event with Ed "NJWeedman" Forchion of Camden, New Jersey, to perform and represent for marijuana reforms.

Cornell Dixon and Infamous Los

"We live in a police state," said NJWeedman, who later told the crowd about his own numerous battles with the state of New Jersey over pot and the stifling of his freedom of speech. "It's hard to get people out to participate in protests like this," he said, remarking on the relatively light crowd of about a thousand still in the park at exactly 4:20 in the afternoon.

"The fact that under federal law people can smoke marijuana for religious purposes on federal property isn't getting media coverage, so it isn't getting out to the people in general," said Cornell Dixon, who accompanied NJWeedman and Los to help bring attention to the dire anti-pot situation in New York's neighboring state of New Jersey. He was talking about the Freedom of Religion Restoration Act of 1993, a little known federal law which basically legalized the use of marijuana for religious purposes on federal property. Dixon himself is facing 6 felony charges for a variety of marijuana-related offenses in New Jersey, so has a strong personal stake in ending the perpetual war on marijuana. "Now we have federal marijuana sanctuaries," continued Dixon, "which is ironic considering the outrageous current federal efforts to lock up medical marijuana using patients around the country. It would be nice to get a lot of these people here today to come to the religious events at the Liberty Bell we hold every third Saturday of the month."

"We're trying to turn Liberty Park, (Independence National Historical Park) where the Liberty Bell is on display, into Peace Pot Park," added NJWeedman. "The fact that the Bell is there makes it very symbolic. We set up, say a prayer, then partake of our religious sacrament."

Burton Aldrich

"I'm not too familiar with NYC," said Burton Aldrich, an wheel-chair bound activist with New Yorkers for Compassionate Care, a group pushing hard for medical marijuana reforms in New York, "but I wish more people had turned out. There must be more smokers in NYC than this," he said, also remarking on the fairly thin late afternoon crowd. "There are times, like right now, when I'm in serious pain and would like to smoke, but can't because I could get arrested. Fortunately there are medical marijuana candies and chocolate around today. When more people realize that it's possible to eat marijuana and not smoke it, perhaps this will change people's perspective."

Chris Conrad and Mikki Norris

"They're calling for zero tolerance," said Chris Conrad about prohibitionists who insist that medical marijuana is just a foot in the door to full on legalization of marijuana. "Any time we can get patients out of harm's way it's a good thing and we must do so."

Mikki Norris agreed both with compatriot Conrad and with the prohibitionists' statement about medical marijuana being a step towards legalization. "Medical marijuana is beneficial for so many reasons to so many people, and the medical marijuana laws that have passed around the country have demonstrated this. Patients are dispelling the myth that pot is purely a demon weed, which should help non-smokers to realize how harmless marijuana really is compared to most legal drugs, such as alcohol. We want to tax and regulate marijuana, to eventually sell it out of licensed businesses to adults. There's no reason alcohol drinkers should have the right to drink but we can't have the right to smoke pot. It is flat out un-American." Conrad and Norris, hard working California activists and co-authors of "Shattered Lives- Portraits from America's Drug War," both took a turn addressing the crowd, informing them of the many victories large and small around the country and in California, stressing that despite the seemingly slow pace of reform, things are happening in marijuana reform and are moving towards sanity.

Steve Bloom, Bobbie Steele, and DW Editor Preston Peet

"It would have been nice with more people," said Steve Bloom, a senior editor at Grow America and High Times magazines, "but the speakers and performers are all really good this year." Appearing on the main stage in addition to Bloom himself were NJWeedman; Valerie Vande Panne, news editor at High Times magazine; Norris and Conrad; Paul Gilman, member of the coordinating committee of the New York Green Party; Playthell G. Benjamin, WBAI Radio Commentator; Julia Walsh, Village of New Paltz, Village Trustee (reading a statement from New Paltz Mayor Jason West); Burton Aldrich, Medical marijuana patient and activist with New Yorkers for Compassionate Care; Bonnie Tocwish, Activist, Cancer Survivor; and Don Silberger, a Libertarian US Senate candidate from New York. Performers included Arj Barker, Doug Benson and Tony Camin, the writers/performers of the "hit" show The Marijuana-Logues, currently playing at NYC's The Actors' Playhouse; and music by Bobby Steele (formerly of the Misfits); the David Nelson Band; Stir Fried; rapper Infamous Los; and hip-hop group Grand Finale. On the second stage The Subtle Chaos put on music for a mini-rave with a variety of DJs spinning the beats, inspiring most of the small crowd into dancing themselves silly in the sun.

This was a pleasant day in the sun, with easy vibes and friendly attitudes everywhere to be found. The two seperate stages drew the attendees into two distinct groups, with those interested in hearing the speakers and live bands gathered at the main stage, and those who wanted to dance and play gathered at the second. Although there were very few who had the nerve to light up, the mood was light and cheerful, even optimistic.