PROTESTERS TO GOV'T: GIVE POT A CHANCE

TORONTO -- Marijuana users chanted "we love weed" as they marched through
the streets of downtown Toronto yesterday, smoking their hearts out and
calling for Ottawa to legalize the drug. About 1,000 demonstrators rallied
at the Ontario legislature and later marched through some of Toronto's
busiest streets with a police escort.

They were led by Alison Myrden, who suffers from multiple sclerosis and is
wheelchair bound. She has long fought for legalized marijuana to ease her
pain.

"People don't understand that sick people still don't have an affordable
quality source of medicine," she said as she manoeuvred her wheelchair along
a tiny stretch of Bloor Street. "Our government is not helping us."

Canadians with chronic illnesses have been granted exemptions under the law
and can legally use marijuana to ease their pain.

But getting a reliable source of marijuana continues to be difficult for
many medicinal users. Ottawa has set up an underground grow operation in
Manitoba, but many patients who have received the government pot have
shunned it, citing poor quality.

The federal Liberal government has dodged efforts to legalize marijuana,
instead proposing to decriminalize it.

Under a bill before Parliament, possessing 15 grams or less would no longer
be a criminal matter, but would be dealt with by a fine.