DON'T EXPECT NICHOLSON AT MARIJUANA RALLY

Annual 420 Pot March Set for Next Week

Regent Labbe "most definitely" wants federal Justice Minister Rob
Nicholson to show up at next week's pro-marijuana 420 Rally 2011 march
in Niagara Falls.

"If he wants to come and defend his position on the matter, he's more
than welcome," said Labbe, the organizer for this year's rally, set to
take place Wednesday at the corner of Hwy. 420 and Victoria Ave.

Reached by phone, Nicholson said the pro-pot rally isn't high on his
list of priorities.

"I'm going to be spending my time with my constituents here on the
campaign trail," Nicholson said. "Again, anybody is entitled to
protest or anything else if they want, but our position is very clear.
We're not the party to decriminalize marijuana."

Labbe wasn't surprised with Nicholson's response and that he wasn't
going to begrudge the minister's decision either.

"It's honestly understandable," Labbe said. "He is in the middle of an
election campaign. It's nothing to hold against the guy. If he's not
for it, he's not for it, it's his personal choice."

Labbe said he's a "proud" pot smoker who said he uses medicinal
marijuana to alleviate pain from injuries he suffered from a childhood
fall and from being hit by a car about six years ago. He said he
spends $300 on weed a month.

"If I were to rank it on a scale of one to 10, on days that I don't
smoke, I'm looking at about an eight in pain," Labbe said. "On days
that I do smoke, I'm looking at about a one and a half."

For those unfamiliar with marijuana culture, the term 420 has become
in recent years a popular euphemism for pot.

But because Hwy. 420 runs through the Falls, local marijuana users
have for years incorporated the local highway into their annual rally
by gathering at its intersection with Victoria Ave.

After a disorganized event last year in which nobody assumed the lead
role, Labbe, 23, who lives in Welland, took the reins this year.

The point of the rally, which begins at 1 p.m. and runs until 5 p.m.,
is to "educate the public on the harms of cannabis prohibition, to
decriminalize it, and also to free Marc Emery," according to the
event's Facebook page.

Emery is a well-known Canadian marjiuana activist who is currently
serving five years in a US prison for selling cannabis seeds.

Labbe said the Monday court decision that declared part of the federal
government's medicinal marijuana program unconstitutional will inspire
a larger turnout this year than in years past.

"Honestly, I think it should bring us quite the turnout. We're one
step closer to legalization," Labbe said.

As for Nicholson, he said he hadn't yet received a formal invite but
wasn't about to adjust his schedule to make time for the rally anyway.

"I appreciate that but I'm in the middle of a campaign," Nicholson
said. "And I spend as much time as possible with the residents of
Niagara Falls, Fort Erie and Niagara-on-the-Lake."