SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Dozens of marijuana advocates turned out for Yellowknife's fourth annual 4/20 march and rally Monday afternoon.

Organizer Kim MacNearney, right, leads a group of marijuana advocates on a march through the downtown streets on Monday afternoon. It was part of the city's fourth annual 4/20 rally. It is held here at home, across Canada and around the world, in part, to protest laws that make pot illegal. - John McFadden/NNSL photo

The event was held at the Somba K'e Civic Plaza, and people, most of whom were in their teens or 20s, openly smoked marijuana within steps of the RCMP headquarters. No police were seen at the rally.

The Yellowknife 4/20 event is funded by a man named Bob Erb. The Terrace, B.C. man won $25 million in a lottery in 2012 and funds several 4/20 rallies across Canada.

The event name refers to the date these rallies are held and the time, typically at 4:20 p.m. The event was held in conjunction with other 4/20 rallies across Canada and around the world.

"It's time that people have a real discussion about what cannabis is," said 4/20 organizer and legal medical marijuana user Kim MacNearney. "It's not a drug in the same classification as all the other things and I think people are being put through hell, being arrested and charged and put through the justice system."

Indeed, MacNearney learned about Canada's pot laws and the justice system firsthand after she and her husband were charged in 2009 following an RCMP drug raid at their home in Northland Trailer Park.

Police found a small growing operation and charged the MacNearneys with cultivation for the purpose of trafficking.

Their children and dog were temporarily seized. The couple was convicted in 2014 of simple possession after they testified the marijuana was for personal use to treat Kim's back pain. They were sentenced to three months of house arrest.

Yellowknifer asked MacNearney if organizing the 4/20 celebration of all things marijuana is her form of retaliation for what she and her husband went through.

"Maybe in a way," she said. "If me spreading knowledge is retaliation, then that's were I'm at; bringing a little open mindedness and open conversation to a town that seems pretty in the closet and quiet."

Many people at the event said they agree with MacNearney that marijuana is far less harmful than alcohol and that pot can be used safely for a variety of medical ailments and should be legal.

"I support the legalization of marijuana because it can actually reduce the crime rate as has been the experience in Colorado where pot is legal," said one young man as he puffed from a joint while he sat on the steps at the plaza.

"I believe it should be an election issue this fall because there are more benefits to marijuana than anything else."  

Carrying a pro-pot sign, as 4/20 participants took to the downtown streets, Aerial Landry voiced her support for legalizing marijuana.  

"It doesn't hurt anyone," said Landry.  

"Alcohol is worse because you don't know what's going on when you're drunk. You black out. You get angry over nothing."  

Yellowknifer asked RCMP why they stay away from an event where people are openly breaking the law but they did not respond as of press time. 

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