HATTERS MARCH IN SUPPORT OF MARIJUANA DECRIMINALIZATION

In an effort to support the decriminalization of marijuana, dozens of
people participated in the 2009 World Wide Marijuana March in Medicine
Hat on Saturday afternoon.

The second annual event started at 2 p.m. when approximately 50 people
walked from B.O.B. Headquarters (on 2nd Street) to City Hall for a
peaceful sit-in which lasted well past 4:20 in the afternoon.

"There's non-smokers here, there's smokers and there's medical
marijuana smokers, so we've got a little bit of everybody supporting
each other," said event organizer, Sarah Bergeron.

According to Bergeron, the purpose of the event was to help end the
prohibition of marijuana in Canada.

"It's really important because there's so many different therapeutic
herbal compounds in marijuana," Bergeron said loudly over the sound of
supportive car honks.

Bergeron said almost everyone has been very supportive of the event
and the cause.

"People are usually just happy that we are fighting for our right to
choose what we want to do. We're not hurting anybody."

Participant Jesse Evans said he came to the peaceful sit-in because he
wants to put a stop to people getting arrested in Canada for the
possession of marijuana.

"I just want to come out and say 'I smoke pot and I'm not a criminal.'
I'm not afraid to admit it."

Bergeron was impressed with this year's turn out and said she hopes
the event gets larger year after year.