Gearing up for the 420 march
Northern News Services
Wednesday, April 19, 2017
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
The organizer of tomorrow's 420 rally and march says this year's event is less of a protest and more of a marijuana celebration.
Kim MacNearney, organizer of tomorrow's 420 march and rally in Yellowknife, said she is
encouraged by legislation introduced by the Liberal government last week calling for legal
marijuana sales and usage in Canada. - Shane Magee/NNSL photo |
Kim MacNearney said she hopes participants use the opportunity to express to the territorial government that they are anxious to know what politicians are doing to be ready for legal weed, expected next year.
"We have the act," she said. "It's been produced. This year's march is more about what are we doing? Where are we are going? Asking the government here are you prepared? What's going on? Just a push for information."
She said that this year's event begins with the march at 4 p.m. at Somba K'e Civic Plaza beside city hall. From there, participants will march down 49 Avenue, past RCMP headquarters, turn on 49 street past the courthouse, head south on Franklin Avenue to 53 Street and head back to the plaza at about 4:20 p.m. There, she said people will listen to a review of the new federal cannabis legalization legislation and eat cake.
There will be draw prizes for pins, posters, shirts and gift baskets. In the past, 420 participants have smoked marijuana in the plaza, steps from RCMP headquarters without being charged or arrested by police. RCMP stated they will respond to calls for service at the rally, but respect participants' right to assemble. MacNearney said it is up to individuals whether they want to smoke pot in the plaza.
