CANNABIS CONSUMERS MARCH WORLDWIDE

Rain Dampens Local Pro-Pot Rally On Common

A small group of people took to the Halifax Common yesterday, hoping
to re-ignite debate over Canada's medical-marijuana program.

The rally was part of the Global Marijuana March, in which
medical-marijuana patients, advocates and cannabis consumers gathered
in more than 200 cities worldwide. Heavy rains put a damper on the
Halifax rally, but organizers remained hopeful they could change
current cannabis laws.

Maritimers Unite for Medical Marijuana Society says Health Canada is
gouging chronically ill Canadians by marking up medical marijuana by
1,500 per cent. They say people living with HIV/AIDS, hepatitis and
other conditions can't afford the product. Most exemption holders live
on lower, fixed incomes, according to MUMM, and medical marijuana is
essential for their well-being.

Patients unable to get exemptions risk being charged and convicted,
they further allege.

MUMM chairwoman Debbie Stutz-Giffin, 49, said at yesterday's rally
that all levels of government need to look at the program. She had to
quit her job shortly after being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis
about nine years ago.

Pain, muscle spasms

Stutz-Giffin said she tried a variety of pharmaceuticals to cope with
the pain and muscle spasms. One of them was supposed to slow the
progression of the MS; instead, it caused a rash covering 80 per cent
of her body and took more than a year to heal completely. She also
ended up with a severe gastritis attack that upset her entire
digestive system, she says.

Her body reacted to all of the pharmaceuticals, to the point where her
system can no longer tolerate them at all. "Marijuana is the only
thing that gives me excellent symptom relief and quality of life at
the same time."

Brian, 23, who did not want to give his last name, attended the rally
because he feels it's hypocritical that alcohol is legal while pot is
not.

Megane, 18, concurred. "Some people agree with it, some people don't.
But I agree with it - it's part of life," she said. "Everybody does
it; every person I know does it."

Chummy Anthony, who has run in provincial and federal elections for
the Marijuana Party, called current policy a war against the disabled.

"I don't think it's fair that Canadian citizens should be treated like
criminals, because their medicine happens to be medical marijuana."

A few people smoked dope openly during the event, but police made no
arrests.