POT BILL GENERATES BUZZ

City Protesters Join Nationwide Rally Against Proposed Law

"Legalize, Regulate and Educate," was the message protesters were
trying to send to politicians yesterday during a pro-marijuana rally
in front of Stephen Harper's constituency office.

Protesters of Bill C26, the Conservative Party's proposal to instil
mandatory minimum sentences for drug offences, took their defiance
against the proposal to 308 constituency offices across the country
yesterday during the National Day of Protest.

Keith Fagin of the protest group Calgary 420 was outside of Harper's
office in protest of the bill that would set the minimum jail
sentence for cannabis offences at nine months.

"We're here to get the politicians to vote 'No' against the bill.
It's just going to cost taxpayers more money to put ordinary people
in jail. It's crazy to make someone spend nine months in jail for
using marijuana," Fagin said, adding that a lot of people need the
drug for medicinal purposes.

"What they should be doing is ending prohibition and then there would
be less crime. Tax it and legalize it and use the money towards health care."

Fagin was part of a group of about 10 people who marched with signs.

Lyle Strand, 53, was also on hand to rally for the legalization of
marijuana for medicinal use with his 41-year-old wife Sandi who is
legally blind and has severe diabetes. She also suffers severe
migraines and has used pot to ease the pain.

"It's terrifying to think if I am thrown in jail for nine months for
using marijuana. It is difficult enough to deal with diabetes out
here I can't imagine if I was put in jail," she said.

"I have explored so many options but they have bad side effects. This
is what helps me deal with the pain. It doesn't make it go away but
it makes me able to deal with it. It keeps me functioning."

Bill C26 was introduced by federal Justice Minister Rob Nicholson on
Nov. 20. The bill seeks amendments to the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act.