MARCHERS ADVOCATE LEGALIZING POT

The smell of hot dogs and cannabis lingered in the air outside of City
Hall on Saturday, as more than 50 marijuana legalization advocates
gathered on the building's front lawn to celebrate the Global
Marijuana March.

The local march began at Vimy Memorial and culminated with a barbecue
at City Hall, which was sponsored by the Saskatchewan Marijuana Party.

The mood at the late afternoon gathering was mellow, but there was no
mistaking the politicized nature of the event.

Cannabis flags blew in the breeze and placards read "No U.S. Drug War
in Canada" and "Repeal Cannabis Prohibition." Leaders of the
Saskatchewan Marijuana Party wanted to spread the message that
cannabis prohibition is an issue affecting all Canadians.

"People do not realize how much money the government actually spends
throwing people in jail and prosecuting people through the court
system (on marijuana-related charges)," said Marijuana party Leader
Nathan Holowaty. "All the lost revenues could be used toward health
care."

He said there's no reason marijuana should be illegal.

"It has been used for thousands of years for medicinal purposes. . . .
It is harmless compared to a lot of legal drugs like alcohol," he
said. "If we are supposedly a free society, why would someone be
thrown in jail for growing a plant?"

Michael Kereiff, party deputy leader, said he hoped the success of the
day would encourage other legalization supporters to participate in
future events.

"This is one of our best events," said Kereiff.

The party gained official party status in June 2006 and is set to run
candidates in the next provincial election.

The local march and barbecue were part of a worldwide celebration of
cannabis culture. This year, more than 200 cities, from Tokyo to
Mexico City, took part in the Global Marijuana March.