GLOBAL MARIJUANA MARCH, SATURDAY MAY 5 2007, VICTORIA PARK, DOWNTOWN REGINA.

Presented by NORML Saskatchewan and Head2Head Novelties

In 2005 and 2006 we were shut down at the beginning for lack of a loudspeaker permit, which I had tried to get but had gotten no response until the cops came on rally day. This year I found out that the police didn't actually have the authority to do it. The loudspeaker permit was actually a part of the park use permit which I have never had a problem getting. They had bluffed me. Not this year.

We were late with the equipment, a p.a. and lighting system, rented at very low cost from B-Sharp Music , and the stage, a 16 foot long flatbed trailer I rented from a cool neighbor. There was a patiently waiting crowd of about 350 people, along with a pack of reporters and news cameras milling around interviewing people. I stepped out of the truck and was going to start unhitching the trailer and unloading the gear.

I made it about 3 steps before I had microphones and cameras in my face, answering several slanted questions asked in rather negative tones. I haven't seen the final stories, I didn't watch the news at all that day but I suspect they were written with a negative slant prior to the event.

We quickly got the p.a. going. I spoke briefly first, introducing the event and dispelling the wierd rumour I've been getting questions about, that marijuana was somehow legal during rallies, then expressing my usual concern, as a parent and as a NORML representative, that young teenagers should not be smoking marijuana because it effects them differently than adults in terms of long term effect and potential dependency. Then I introduced our keynote speaker, Regina's best known medical marijuana patient and Sask Marijuana Party Vice President Tom Shapiro. He spoke on his situation, Health Canada's bizarre policies and the ominous changes being made to the medical marijuana system.

Next up was John Nesdoly of the Western Independence Party Of Saskatchewan, whose main pitch to our movement was to make the referendum system easier and his contention that provincial governments do have the right to instruct law enforcement on issues of priority, contrary to the current line we've been getting from Sask Justice Minister Frank Quenell. Nesdoly's speech was actually very charged and professional, the audience liked him and, playing down the right wing tendencies his party is known for, he was very persuasive.

Next up was Carla McEwen, who played an acoustic set balanced with brief speeches about the human right and responsibility to use one's common sense, telling the primarily youthful audience "your life is and should be your own fault. It's up to you to know what you're putting into your body, read up on drugs before you take them because there's nobody to blame if you screw your life up."

Next was Jim Elliott from The Council Of Canadians, who were one of the first non-marijuana related political organizations to come to the defence of Marc Emery in 2005 when the DEA extradition attempt first started. The CoC's primary purpose is resisting US control over Canada's legal, economic and political processes, usually centered on the "trade" deals which throw out the right of Canadian citizens to control our own economy and resources. He spoke for a long time, covering a wide variety of issues related to Canada's soveriegnity. Many listened intently while many, just waiting for the bands to start, ignored it and played hackysack or just talked in their own circles.

Then old mid and new school stoner rock took over the park all at once with Power Box Social, who mix heavy Sabbath and Tool influences with a bit of punk and a solid rock vocalist, though there were problems with the microphone and it was changed before the next band.

Power Box Social live

Next was Without An End, an innovative grindcore band with 2 lead vocalists holding mics, playing off one another and, though this may be a strange word for eerie and intense result, harmonized rather well.

Next was stoner-black metal band ARchaeus, who put on a solid show and kept the crowd moshing.

Then came the night's headliner, Symbiote, who drove 6 hours from Prince Albert to support the cause. They ended their set of originals with the crowd demanding more until they started with covers, and still demanding more, some audience members very forcefully, until they were doing covers they hadn't totally learned yet and still more until they didn't even have any half learned covers left to do.

There was a gentle warm wind and a slight, pleasant, mist of drizzle throughout the day, we kept the stage and equipment covered from the downpour that seemed always about to start but didn't until after tear down was finished.