Updated: Tue Apr. 21 2009 07:46:01

ctvbc.ca

Thousands of marijuana enthusiasts came together in front of the Vancouver Art Gallery Monday to celebrate April 20th -- better known by weed smokers as 4/20.

The day is observed throughout Canada and the world as a counter-culture celebration of marijuana, and to advocate the decriminalization of cannabis.

Vendors were on hand selling everything from T-shirts to bongs to pot itself.

Vancouver Police made sure the festivities didn't get out of control. But despite current laws that punish illegal drug use, many people openly puffed away as police watched from a distance.

"It's not our first priority to intervene in this event but we do want to make sure that people are safe," said Const. Lindsay Houghton.

"Our first priority is public safety and to ensure that things don't escalate to a point where public safety becomes an issue. Our officers are certainly exercising a high degree of discretion today."

Seventeen-year-old Alysha and her three friends were among the crowd. The teen says she took the day off from work and school to come down to the Art Gallery because she wanted to celebrate with other people.

"Everybody's getting together to do something we always do and proving a point that we can do it," she said.

"It's fun, it's the day and there's so many people here and it's just the fact that you see how many people come down here. Ten thousand came down here last year...you don't get those kind of numbers for nothing."

Police are encouraging anyone who does go down to the event to arrange for a safe ride home if they are going to be under the influence of marijuana.

In past years, police in some locations have tried to disperse the gatherings either by ticketing alleged offenders or making arrests.

At least one police force in Canada issued a warning in advance of this year's expected gathering in Grande Prairie, Alta. Mounties there told media revelers could face prosecution for possession of marijuana under the Controlled Drug and Substances Act.

With files from The Canadian Press

Comments are now closed for this story

Adrian
Is pot still illegal? Really? Why don't we step into the 21st century and end this idiotic and expensive war on drugs. And by the way I don't use drugs, I just resent my tax dollars being thrown away on such a stupid war.

gordon powell
hey i celebrated this day as many other personal users...phoning friends and wishing them a happy 4/20.....The government can legally sell smokes that the last time I heard had over 117 different chemicals in them. We don't want legalization, just decrimalization of small personal amounts....thanks and happy 4/20 to the world

Mike from Toronto
^ Plus by legalizing it, you remove the demand for the drug (via dealers) thereby reducing crime, and assuming it is regulated like alcohol or tobacco, will provide tax revenue for the government. I never smoked either, but I say legalize it.

Concerned Canadian
I find it amazing that the same worn-out arguments are still used to support marijuana being illegal.

Marijuana does not lead to harder drugs like heroin - that's a myth out of the 50s. In fact, it's because pot is illegal that those who buy it from dealers are exposed to other drugs. Legalizing it would break that connection.

It may be harmful to health - but so what? So is eating red meat. The government has no right to dictate what is healthy- they should only warn us of dangers, and let us decide.

If we legalized pot, we could finally control it- where it is sold, to whom it is sold, how much it is sold for, what its potency is. Right now we control none of that, and gangs proliferate. Legalization would end the gangs. They couldn't compete with $25 per ounce pot.

Nor would everyone automatically become a pot smoker- if you want to smoke now, you can. Legalization just makes it cheaper.

The argument I find most absurd is the claim that we shouldn't legalize pot because "we wouldn't legalize bank robbery just because lots of people do it." True- but the issue is why pot was ever illegal in the first place. There are good reasons to make bank robbery illegal- what exactly are the reasons that pot is illegal?

In fact, making pot illegal costs billions, when legalization could make billions. This is exactly analogous to the prohibition of the '30s regarding alcohol - yet we appear to have learned nothing from history.

Ironically, it's conservative people - who claim to be the ones who have learned the lessons of history - who don't seem to get that. These are the same people who decry government interference in their lives - then demand the government crack down on pot smoking.

Absolutely absurd.

Ann Bell
Smoking pot publicly is exactly what is wrong with this country. We have no smoking bans all over the place for cigarettes which are legal, but people can get away with smoking an illegal substance in front of police. It is the mixed messaging that is the cause of police fighting gangs who control drugs while we have a bunch of stoneheads who see nothing wrong with supporting illegal gang activity. Why does the media even cover this crap? It makes me sick.

Joan
Pathetic losers!! Nothing sadder than seeing a bunch of airheads trying to do the "Look at me, I'm so cooooool; I defy convention." like they were a pack of old hippies caught in a time warp.

Token Small Town Conservative in Saskatchewan
Hear, hear Adrian! There is no place in my government's tax plan to spend the BILLIONS of dollars it takes to police this issue. Oh, wait, apparently there is! If they found a single line of cocaine or hit of heroin then hit them hard, but pot is simply not worth the money, and I mean MONEY, that the two senior levels of government are throwing at it. To those of you who think that pot is an evil that this expenditure is justified for, look at those places where it is legal. Surprize! Society hasn't collapsed and people are generally happier, and likely a bit fatter. We need politicians from GOVERNING parties to grow a pair and publically call for an end to these ridiculous laws. Contact your federal Tory member and convice them that instead of looking at it as a crime and punishment issue they should look at it as an issue of private property and personal freedom. What the hell does the government and police think they are doing, telling me that I can't do this? Conservatives are all about telling the government to get out of their business, I don't see this as any different and I have very publically identified myself as a conservative whose main issue is crime and punishment! Opposition and fringe parties, provincial politicians, municipalities, and even people on the street all seem to see this but the governing federal party, be it red or blue, always falls back on the outdated and untrue arguements that basically says that "it's always been illegal so it should remain so". Message to Tories: if you can't support legalization for the crime and punishment angle, then support it for the spending angle!

Mark
Hmmm... why would they pick April 20th? Do they know that was Adolf Hitler's birthday?

B. Fast, Whitehorse.
I say, if we are to curb pot smoking (my desire) we should decriminalize casual use, change the consequences of such from a crime to a fine. I bet police officers would be much more prepared to zap the pot smoker for a hundred bucks than go through the hassles of a criminal trial.

Right now most officers are not pressing charges for simple possession. The only thing the law is good for is probable cause, the right of further exploration.

jb
Not everyone at the rally is a "pothead". Some of us were down there to protest Bill C-15, prohibition and to support medical marijuana. To use the term pothead in your article is not appropriate.

Dani - Red Deer
I find it disturbing that this is allowed to happen. No matter what the arguments or what your opinion is, it is still illegal. Why do the police allow this, just because it is the new 'norm'? What if we all got together one day to shoplift one item. Would that be acceptable?

I personally don't care one way or another if it is legalized, it wouldn't affect me at all, but I do care about obeying the laws that are in place. What are we saying here?

Jason from SK
It makes no sense in a free society to punish an activity that falls under personal choice. If there is no bad effect on others (second-hand smoke, for example) then it's reprehensible to intervene in the free choice of anyone.

Legalise it, Tax it, Enjoy it.

jay
Never saw so many losers in one place! I don't feel sorry for anyone that chooses to destory their mind with drugs.

SK Anti-Drug Activist
Pathetic...obviously these people don't understand who controls the money in pot...it's organized crime gangs...so quit whining about the violence on Vancouver streets, quit whining about guns, and quit whining about my freedom to own guns...

Another Concerned Canadian
Awesome! Police officers standing around witnessing the law being broken!

All of these criminals should have been tagged and bagged.

Air Cav
Bunch of stoners, who's minding the comic book shops while you are all at the Art gallery

Casual user who would rather not be a criminal
I make all my comparisons on this issue to the failed US experiment of alcohol prohibition in the 1920's.

Criminal activity skyrocketed during that era and the government of the day wasted huge sums on policing prohibition laws.

When the inevitable happened and they were forced to repeal those laws they then introduced government controls and TAXATION on alcohol products.

This resulted in a huge tax base paid only by the people who are involved in the industy either as producers or consumers.

If the our government takes a lesson from the US past, legalizes ganja and treats it the same way as alcohol what could be more fair?

Instead of huge amounts of money going to a few outlaw drug dealers, it would end up as tax dollars to use for the good of all our citizens.

Linda
I'm wondering if this enthusiastic & intelligent group of individuals, take time away from work & education for more important issues? Would they protest the fact that their hard earned tax dollars do not go into adding school buses to bring their children to school, or the thousands of tax dollars spent on protecting the safety of criminals? How about the "needle program" to support the addicts? The outrageous auto insurance premiums run by the Provincial government, the development of too many low income, multi family homes, the outrages fuel prices, the minimum wage being the lowest in Canada with BC being one of the most expensive places to live in the WORLD! It shows where the priorities lie with many BC'ers. The protesters are the very people that I'm trying to avoid living near as I attempt to find a good neighbourhood to live in and cannot find one that is like the ones in Ontario "the centre of the universe"

what are you thinking
april 20th is hitler's birthday, for heavens sakes can you not find a better day to celebrate this wonderful event

kevin
Yes, they are very aware that it is hitler's birthday. But, are you saying that hitler was a lunatic or a pot smoking lunatic?

Chris
Check out portugal. Decriminalized All drugs 8 years ago, and opiate related deaths are waaaaaaaaaay down, and also drug uses has gone DOWN DOWN DOWN.Why dont other governments WISE UP. And for those people that dont beleive me. get off your fat ass, turn off Americas next top model. Put down the remote and check it out.This pothead did

Regulus de Leo
Why would we legalize a cancer causing, addictive substance that triggers schizophrenia, anxiety and depression? (Look it up deniers).

And yes, I think cigarettes should be illegal as it is now possible for nicotine users to inhale using an electric cigarette that produces no carcinogens and they can be gradually weaned off nicotine.

Joshua from High Prairie, AB
Why do people need more excuses to destroy themselves and society? Why do police do nothing while being on the scene?

Dan in Van
To have marijuana deemed illegal is completely ridiculous--the points made about gangs controlling it's production and distribution are spot on. Getting their grip released on this substance will allow law enforcement to concentrate on the truly corrosive drugs--cocaine, heroin and all of the other life and family killers. Legalize marijuana now.

Bill
Did you notice all the violence in the vidoeos? Neither did I! Think banning championship series in hockey, baseball ,etc., incites far more violence than a "smoke in" could come close to!

pam
my advice to ann bell and joan.....loosen up the bone wilma!!! or take a 4:20 break!

and the cops want to zap potheads??? really, i've had oodles of cop neighbours over the years and they would disagree....they find it a waste of their time and our money as they have a lot worse things to deal with than a substance no more dangerous than alcohol and much safer than ciggys!

joey campbell
That's great. We have 17 year old kids skipping school to smoke dope...and people are applauding it. Then we wonder why the streets of Vancouver have turned into a war zone!!

Rob
Protest sure....but breaking the law is breaking the law. Sending the wrong message to kids...you can break what laws you do not agree with. Futhermore, you are telling kids they can use the drugs that think should be legal. How about your kid thinks cocaine should be legal?? How do you tell him you can smoke illegal pot, but he cannot use coke?
And until pot is legal, you are supporting a chain of bad guys, from growing, supplying, and pushing.
Legal protest, sure, that is why we live in such a great country, with freedom to protest, but no need to break the law to protest.

A. Dunwoody
They call marijuana the gateway drug so make it illegal, yet legalize alcohol, the real gateway to the dark side of addictive drug use.

Joel Bain
After being around downtown Vancouver and coming across a lot of those participating in this event, I cannot decide which of the following is more true:

1. Only people who smoke pot are stupid.
2. Smoking pot makes you stupid.

Any input?

Mike Wagar
I'ma medicinal user and I say its time to end the war on marijuana,, it has gotten too expensive and too many people want it enough to make further enforcement redundant. legalize it already, we have more imprtant things to deal with these days, perhaps other social woes will disappear one the "evil Weed" is made not so evil,, like gang warfare (HINT HINT)

Sean
I have nothing against pot smoking but I wish the people who did it didn't think it was a great acquired skill.

It would be like someone standing in the street swilling whiskey and saying: "look at me, I'm drinking!"

I mean who gives a monkey's butt!

bcfudge
Marijuana does not support gangs. Marijuana supports the Police. Since it's so readily available to practically anyone, and since a huge number of people either use it recreationally or support the recreational use, it is a great revenue for police forces. Most marijuana is grown locally, and dosent change hands much between the producer and consumer, which cuts out the gang profits, however with increased marijuana production comes the arguement for ever increasing police funding. Legalizing Marijuana would remove the police stronghold on society, as they would no longer be able to punish us for an otherwise socially accepted activity.

Edmonton Jim
This drug does not seem to have the same effects as Alchol, which promotes violence! I hope we can all chill out and inhale today!

Miss a good smoke, Kamloops
As I understand it, every time there is serious talk of decrim. in Canada, the USA pick up the phone and get paranoid. Anyone know anything definitive on that one?

Wade from Port Colborne
I have no problem with decriminalizing the use. However, I do believe incredibly stiffer consequences should be instituted for those under the influence that cause damage to property, or injury or death because of THEIR CHOICES !!!
I truly think that sounds quite fair. Any smokers ready to sign that agreement? Probably not! Hey Token Small town.... what about you. You got a couple big enough to agree to that? Isn't that what your telling us governing persons to do grow a pair? I have. So I will advocate to end these ridiculous laws, but will you argree to the flip side to it. Simple yes or no will be sufficient.

Amy
If my tax dollars are going to a war on drugs then I am very disappointed that the police in Vancouver looked on as people got high in front of them. Is this a war of attrition? Hoping that they will run out of pot or something...

Terry S.
This is silly. Pot hurts extremely few pople and most of that is due to the fact that gangs are allowed to contoll the trade.

It potentially can help HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS in medicinal use alone, lower costs and less resource drain for law enforcement, an increase in tax revenues plus more legal jobs!

At the very least keep the sale illegal but allow personal use, possesion and the abillity to personally grow up to 5 plants.

Full decriminalization, controll and taxation make far better sense though.

Samaul
Alcohol stole 30 years of my life & killed my father at 48 yrs old. I know many people who have died from alcohol use & lots of them were car accidents killing innocent people. Alcohol is the only drug that makes people do things they would never do. I'm personally lucky to be alive because of the hell I lived in because of alcohol addiction. Heroin makes you sleepy, cocaine is like drinking a gallon of coffee,I've tried them all & alcohol is the most dangerous. I contemplated murder, rape & suicide many times while drunk,no illegal drug ever made my brain think such terrible thoughts. Alcohol is the drug that gives young people the courage to try other drugs. It's time to legalize them all. Portugal is a good example, there was a reduction in recreational drug use,after it was legalized.

Mike
My own experiment.
I'm 52 yrs old, for the past 6 months I have been putting off going to get blood tests. I'm terrified of needles & have been all my life.
Growing up it was drilled into me that drugs were bad, so I was terrified of drugs too. Sixteen years old after a few beer I smoked some pot, then I wasn't afraid of pot anymore. At seventeen after a few beers I let someone stick a needle in my arm, never again did this happen, alcohol removed my fear from every drug I ever tried. Alcohol put me through 34 years of hell. I don't do drugs of any kind any more, but alcohol was the only one that was addictive to me. It turned me into someone I didn't like or want to be it seemed there was no way out of this hell.
The most dangerous drug alcohol is already legal. It's just plain stupidity not to legalize them all regulate them like alcohol. Put the gangs out of business, no more gangs. It would be less likely for drugs to get into the hands of kids. Like prohibition with booze it didn't work. All my years of trying to recover from alcohol addiction there wasn't much help from our government, legalization would provide the funds for more treatment facilities.