Thousands of pro-pot protesters are expected on Parliament Hill this weekend for the first 4-20 weed day demonstration since Canada legalized recreational marijuana last fall.
The event has been a big draw in past years, but organizers say the folks who used to stay away because cannabis was illegal will be drawn to show up this time and celebrate.
While crowd estimates vary from previous years, Shawn Mac, a program director for 4-20 Ottawa, said he expects this yearB次元官网网址檚 crowd to be more than double that from 2018.
B次元官网网址淭he crowd will be a little bit more diverse this year than it has been in most years,B次元官网网址� Mac said. B次元官网网址淧ersonally, I have lots of friends who have never attended for the simple reason that itB次元官网网址檚 not been legal and this year it is.B次元官网网址�
But while celebrating will be on the agenda, organizers also say there is still an element of protest over a feeling that the federal government has work to do to fully implement legalization.
Concerns remain about the governmentB次元官网网址檚 decision to tax medicinal marijuana; legislation to expedite pardons for people previously convicted of simple pot possession is still in the early stages of debate; and provincial and municipal governments are grappling with retail sales and land use for growing, among other issues. The federal government also hasnB次元官网网址檛 yet legalized edible marijuana products and has six more months to set rules to do so.
Mac said he thinks the legalization has been a B次元官网网址渂oondoggleB次元官网网址� and accuses the government of using misleading information to justify over-regulation that has helped large companies in the market.
Personal use of recreational marijuana became legal six months ago, fulfilling Prime Minister Justin TrudeauB次元官网网址檚 2015 election promise.
Kelly Coulter, a cannabis policy adviser based in British Columbia, said Canada is helping change global attitudes and policies as the first G7 nation to legalize pot. She said she plans to be on Parliament Hill on Saturday to celebrate.
Coulter said she believes there were a lot of people who voted Liberals in 2015 solely on this issue, though quantifying that is hard.
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With a federal election this October, she isnB次元官网网址檛 sure where those votes will go, but also doesnB次元官网网址檛 think it will be a ballot issue.
David Coletto, chief executive at Abacus Data, agreed. Polling done by his firm around the time of legalization last fall showed more than two-thirds of Canadians were perfectly fine with pot being legal. While Conservative supporters were the least likely to be OK with it, support was still above 50 per cent.
B次元官网网址淭here is no wedge here,B次元官网网址� said Coletto. B次元官网网址淚 donB次元官网网址檛 see legalization itself having any impact on how people are viewing the government.B次元官网网址�
Pollster Nik Nanos said at most, cannabis will be a B次元官网网址渘uisance issueB次元官网网址� for the Liberals from people irritated by some parts of the legalization roll out.
Conservative leader Andrew Scheer has said he would not roll back legalization entirely, but that a Conservative government would look at what has happened since legalization and make any changes they see fit. That could include, for example, not allowing people to grow pot at home. The current law allows up to four pot plants at home using seeds purchased from an authorized dealer.
Allan Rewak, the former executive director of the Cannabis Council of Canada, said little has changed since legalization except where people can purchase pot.
B次元官网网址淭his industry is about migrating an existing consumer from an illicit market to a legal one,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淲e have seen really no corresponding social harms, we didnB次元官网网址檛 see spikes in auto accidents, we didnB次元官网网址檛 see dispensaries robbed.B次元官网网址�
RewakB次元官网网址檚 biggest issue is the continued taxation of medicinal marijuana.
New Democrats plan to campaign on another issue: a promise to delete all former convictions for simple pot possession.
Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale introduced legislation in March to expedite pardons for previous convictions, waiving both the five year waiting period and application fee. The change wonB次元官网网址檛 delete criminal records.
The Liberals intend to limit debating time on GoodaleB次元官网网址檚 bill in a bid to get it passed into law before summer when MPs will vacate Parliament Hill and prepare for the fall campaign.
John Akpata, peace officer for the Marijuana Party of Canada, wants the records issue wrapped up before the election because right now he thinks people with convictions are being B次元官网网址渉eld hostage and being used as bargaining chipsB次元官网网址� to get them to vote a certain way.
Mia Rabson, The Canadian Press
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