THOUSANDS LIGHT UP, LIGHTEN UP

Annual Rally Outside Vancouver Art Gallery Calls for Legalization of Marijuana

At precisely 4: 20 Wednesday afternoon, an enormous plume of fragrant
smoke floated into the air above the Vancouver Art Gallery grounds as
thousands of people lit up joints to rally for the legalization of
marijuana.

It was a peaceful affair. About a dozen young entrepreneurs sold
illegal cannabis in various forms from temporary booths set up around
the plaza for the occasion.

Signs read: "Bake Sale," "Happy 4/20" and "Doobies
$5."

"Business is very good," said one young shopkeeper, who gave her name
as Cieanna, from Squamish.

"We have macaroons and truffles -they're very good."

Another booth operator, Ashley, said her marijuana wares were flying
off the shelves.

"It's a great day -it's not raining, everybody's happy," she
said.

With a six-metre-high poster of marijuana activist Marc Emery as a
backdrop, a band pounded out a reggae beat and groups of greenclad
celebrants danced.

"Here's a news flash," the lead singer announced at 4:
05.

"Marijuana is legal! "Make noise!" he added. "We want to make them
hear us in Ottawa!"

While the vibe was decidedly mellow, the message of the rally was
emphatically political.

Speakers urged the cheering crowd -composed mainly of young people -to
cast votes in the May 2 federal election to defeat Stephen Harper,
whose minority government has tried but failed to pass legislation
that would impose prison sentences on people for growing pot, even for
medicinal purposes.

Uniformed police officers patrolled the edge of the
crowd.

"There were no problems other than traffic being impacted, which
happens every year," said Vancouver police spokesman Const. Lindsey
Houghton.

"We're there to keep the peace and make sure everyone stays
safe."