SMOKE, FIERY RHETORIC AT LEGISLATURE HEMP FEST

EDMONTON - As nearly 150 people gathered Monday to smoke marijuana on
the grounds of the Legislature, organizer Ken Kirk tried to stir the
crowd with fiery rhetoric and suggestions on how to avoid arrest.

"I want to talk a little bit about rights that you probably don't know
that you have," said Ken Kirk, organizer of the event that took over
the south lawn of the Alberta Legislature Monday afternoon.

No one was taking notes.

And no one should have worried about the police.

"We are not here to arrest people for simple possession," Const.
Shannon Lowe said as she sat with another officer on a nearby park
bench.

"It's really not worth it for us. Contrary to media reports, the
courts are not full of simple possession cases."

Lowe said she was assigned to the rally just to ensure there was no
trouble.

The first hemp rally held in 1996 drew more than 250
people.

"I think most people are scared to show up here," said first-time
attendee Michelle Thompson about the low attendance.

The numbers may be down simply because the federal government is
pushing to decriminalize simple possession.

Ottawa proposes that a person with up to 15 grams of marijuana be
ticketed but there would be no criminal record.

"A lot of the time, we'd have these pot rallies, and the police would
come in the middle and bust us. But the last couple of years, they
haven't been busting us at rallies," said Kirk, who looked decades
older than the rest of the crowd.

"We're winning this war," Kirk yelled over the loudspeaker.

The announcement drew many loud cheers and applause, and vigorous flag
waving from Leif Manson.

"I'm proud to be a Canadian and a pot smoker," said the
heavy-equipment operator from Edmonton. "Although I don't smoke pot
these days."

After Kirk spoke, most of the crowd lined up to sign a petition to
establish the Marijuana Party of Alberta.

To become an official party, 8,500 signatures are needed. Supporters
have already collected 3,000, party advocate Lyle Kenny said.