SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
It's a controversial issue, and while some in Yellowknife steer away from it, for others, marijuana is just icing on the cake.

The Co-op bakery frosted a 4/20 cake for marijuana marchers last year, pictured above. Kim MacNearney, organizer of the 4/20 rally in Yellowknife, thinks they rejected the design this year because it had a more prominent pot-leaf design. - photo courtesy of Kim MacNearney

Advocates will gather at Somba K'e Civic Plaza this Sunday to march in support of the legalization of marijuana. The rally is commonly known as 4/20, from the

time (4:20 p.m.) day and month when marijuana users across Canada will spark up.

Kim MacNearney has been organizing the event in Yellowknife for the past few years. She's gathered T-shirts, baseball caps and pins emblazoned with the notorious green leaf of the plant for her marijuana marchers.

But this year, her plans for post-march munchies hit a snag when she tried to get a cake frosted with a pot leaf made at the local Co-op grocery store.

The manager of the bakery told her it wasn't going to happen.

"We are a community-owned store," the bakery manager wrote in an e-mail to MacNearney, "and just as we would not allow racist comment, or a pornographic image on a cake, nor can we place an image referencing marijuana on a cake."

MacNearney, who is licensed to possess and use marijuana for her chronic back pain, said she's offended her medicine is compared to racist or pornographic imagery,

adding the Co-op made her a marijuana-decorated cake for the march last year without issue.

Justin Nelson, the assistant general manager of the Co-op, said they simply don't want to promote smoking marijuana in their store.

"Personally, I don't have an issue with it, but there are many people in Yellowknife that would have an issue with it," Nelson said.

MacNearney said she doesn't take the rejection personally, and understands marijuana is still a hot topic. She says every time she encounters friction like this, it reminds her she has more work to do.

"It makes me feel especially that I need to be helping to educate people, because there's still a scary public perception on this," MacNearney said.

Although some in Yellowknife are taken aback by the plant, many recognize the benign nature of most 4/20 rallies.

Observed peacefully

Yellowknife RCMP say they know 4/20 is usually observed peacefully.

Sgt. Marc Coulombe, spokesperson for the RCMP in Yellowknife, said their main goal is ensuring people at the rally are safe and secure.

"Although (marijuana) is an illegal drug in Canada, the RCMP exercises discretion when it comes to this event," Coulombe wrote in an e-mail to Yellowknifer.

However, Coulombe emphasized that officers can charge people with possession or confiscate marijuana depending on the circumstance.

"At any time, our officers can pursue action if they deem it necessary in the interest of public safety," Coulombe wrote.

Yellowknife's 4/20 rally begins at Somba K'e plaza at 2:30 p.m. with a march, followed by cake.

How do you feel about the legalization of marijuana?

Coun. Bob Brooks:

Says he's fully in support of legalization. "Legalizing would allow the government to set rules and regulations (similar to what they do for liquor) as well as gleaning a very important source of revenue for Canada. Just as important (if not more so) it would free up very significant RCMP resources and would give the criminal element one less hold on society."

Brooks said he'll spend 4/20 having Easter dinner with his grandchildren.

Coun. Dan Wong:

Says he supports the legalization, regulation and taxation of marijuana, while at the same time having strict laws against illegal trafficking and impaired driving. He'd also like to see education showing the health risks of marijuana aimed at youth.

"(We should) extend amnesty to all Canadians previously convicted of simple and minimal marijuana possession," he said.

Coun. Rebecca Alty:

Says marijuana legalization is not really on her radar, noting problems with housing, public health and nutrition affect more people in the North.

"I think we could be talking about bigger issues," she said, adding she'll probably spend 4/20 eating an Easter dinner.

We welcome your opinions. Click here to e-mail a letter to the editor.