PRO-POT RALLY GETS A BAD RAP

As a co-organizer of this year's Highway 420 anti-prohibition rally, I
feel compelled to respond to the March 25 article, City Considers
Renaming Highway 420.

While it's commendable to suggest renaming a highway to honour our war
veterans, in this case, Coun. Victor Pietrangelo says he's also
motivated to change the name because the number 420 is associated with
cannabis and because of the annual rally we hold in Niagara Falls.

He seems to think these are image problems that need
fixing.

We want to assure council and your readers the Highway 420
anti-prohibition rally is nothing to be ashamed of. And we're not the
only ones who think so -two-thirds of Canadians support cannabis law
reform.

Moreover, in 2002 the Senate Special Committee on Illegal Drugs
concluded: "The ohibition of cannabis jeopardizes the health and
wellbeing of Canadians much more than does the substance itself."
(Senate Report online at www.SenateReport.ca)

The senate committee studied the cannabis issue extensively and
recommended cannabis be legalized and regulated for sale to adults,
because leaving the supply in the hands of organized criminals is what
is causing the corruption and violence.

We're just saying the same thing.

History will look back on anti-prohibition advocates favourably for
what we are trying to achieve. We are performing a noble act in
protesting a harmful and counter-productive unjust policy that harms
all Canadians.

Our efforts deserve your support.

We encourage Coun. Pietrangelo, and any other readers, to drop by the
rally on April 18, pick up information handouts and listen to our message.

Marko Ivancicevic

Co-organizer, Highway 420 Anti-Prohibition Rally

Toronto