Tuesday, May 22, 2012

"Women On A Mission to End Prohibition!" NORML Women's Alliance of Canada at the 2012 Global Marijuana March




As I wrote about in my last post - "Women Will End Prohibition (Again!)" - The NORML Women's Alliance of Canada was selected to be the Grand Marshals of the 14th. Toronto Global Marijuana March. Held on the first Saturday of May every year, the peaceful protest is attended by upwards of 20, 000 anti-prohibitionists and people celebrating the Cannabis plant and all of Hemp's wonderful benefits and uses.

It was an absolutely beautiful day, after a week of heavy rain throughout Southern Ontario it was quite a relief that the bright and shining Sun had come out to greet us!   Preparing to begin our trek throughout the streets of downtown T.O. and before our group had a chance to completely assemble, our Alliance was split up at the launch point - the energy of the growing crowd pushed forward and the marchers were raring to get started! Fortunately it all worked out as those of us not right at the front remained to accompany our Prohibition-era Ford from Good Fellas Limo.  Complete with our very own "Al Capone" Chauffeur, the sweet ride was able to idle throughout the parade route and catch the eye of interested onlookers.

Michelle our Belle - the most photographed woman of the day! 
And our very own "Al Capone" - Thanks Harold!

The Torontoist reports:

The day’s most creative protest was staged by the National Organization for Reforming Marijuana Laws (NORML) Women’s Alliance. The NORML women dressed up in 1920s costumes and were followed by a car of a similar vintage, driven by a man dressed as Al Capone. According to NORML media spokesperson Andrea Matrosovs, the Women’s Alliance wanted to make plain the connection between the prohibition of alcohol in the 1920s and ’30s—which was a boon to organized crime—and marijuana prohibition today.

“When women gathered together in the ’20s and ’30s, they made things happen,” she said. “And it was to the benefit of families, and the dis-benefit of organized criminals.”
Matrosovs was somewhat unique among Saturday’s demonstrators. She doesn’t smoke marijuana at all. Her interest in legalization comes purely as a result of her social-science background and the time she spent as a high school teacher.

“If we could legalize, regulate, and tax, then we could take those revenues that are currently going to organized crime and direct them to good things,” she said. “My background is as an educator…and it bothered me that our youth were being funneled into alcohol, because that’s legal in our society at age 19, where marijuana isn’t.”

*****
 

MyETVmedia interview with Jodie Emery of Cannabis Culture and the NORML's Women's Alliance at the 14th. annual Toronto Global Marijuana March @ Queen's Park.



The Grid covers the Global Marijuana March:. 
"An estimated 15,000 people gathered at Queen’s Park on Saturday afternoon for the Toronto Global Marijuana March, and The Grid was there to find out why the event is so popular.
"Along the way, we encountered members of the NORML Women’s Alliance of Canada, who gathered in elegant 1920s costumes to protest the current prohibition of marijuana..."

*****

Our very own 1920-30's Nurse - On Duty!

Got a giggle...
Pretty pot leaf/CN Tower flying foam

Yes we do!  That's our Twitter handle: @NORML_CWA
"Dads for Marijuana" was also there.
The awesome black and neon signs were made by Jack Skidd.
NORML MariJane GanjaGirl, her smile can light up a room.
Kelly, our fearless leader!
Puff Mama with the Killin' Time Band

Once again, my camera failed me but not before I took the above pictures* leading up to the start of the March.  I'd like to thank Wendel Grant and Alison Myrden for letting me share some of their great photos (below) from the awesome day, Thanks!  (To see these great pictures enlarged, "Click" on them.)




NORML Women getting approval from the growing crowds
and passing motorists.








The Grand Parade Marshals!



Leading the way!








Alison's Photos





Alison and the NORML Woman's Alliance marching alongside Jodie Emery.
Cannabis = Zero deaths.  Ever.

Kelly and Alison - NORML Women inspiring us all!


It was a privilege to gather with such an incredible group of people who honestly care about our fellow human beings and Mother Earth.   Kudos to you, my fellow NORML Women, I'm glad to have marched alongside every single one of you.  Just like the Sabine's contributed to end the Noble Experiment all those decades ago, NORML Women will campaign** to bring about an end to the unjust Drug War today.  We're "Women On a Mission to End Prohibition" -  take that, Steve! 




**What's up next for the NORML Women's Alliance of Canada?
The Treating Yourself Expo in Toronto May 25, 26, and 27th. - See you there!  Also, don't forget to LIKE our new Facebook Page and follow us on Twitter.

*
For more than 300 great photos from the event see the2012 Global Marijuana March Flickr page by Cannabis Culture Editor Jeremiah Vandermeer.



Tuesday, May 8, 2012

I'm Gonna Party With Zach Braff









Kudos to actor @ZachBraff who "Tweeted" his support for an end to the legal prohibitions criminalizing marijuana and gay marriage. I find that there's a connection to be made about people against both of these Human Rights.


(Click screenshot to enlarge.)



Friday, May 4, 2012

Women Will End Prohibition (Again!)

For anyone who didn't get a chance to watch "Prohibition" - the phenomenal 3 part documentary by Ken Burns and Kim Novick - you're in luck! PBS has gone all out and created an absolutely amazing web experience worthy of sharing so go check it out, and tell your friends!

Watch Women of PROHIBITION Pauline Sabin on PBS. (Click text if video is not displaying) See more from Ken Burns.

NORML reports: "In May 1929, Pauline Sabin founded the Women's Organization for National Prohibition Reform (WONPR). It was a platform for women who were demanding the repeal of the 18th amendment forbidding the manufacture and sale of alcohol. Known as the Sabin women, the leadership of the WONPR consisted primarily of the nonpartisan wives of leaders of American industry. In a little over a year, almost 1.5 million Sabin Women were publicly calling for an end to prohibition-inspired violence and political malfeasance related to the illegal production of alcohol." ~

The parallels between The Noble Experiment and The War on Drugs are glaringly apparent. The NORML Women's Alliance of Canada has been chosen* to lead Toronto's 2012 Global Marijuana March and would like to bring attention to the obvious by dressing in attire reminiscent of the 1920's and 30's prohibition era. Women were paramount to the success of repealing Alcohol Prohibition, and we are going to do it again regarding the Prohibition of Marijuana! It's time.

Jodie Emery is one of the strongest leaders in the cannabis legalization movement. Wife to imprisoned activist Marc Emery, Jodie has become a voice to be reckoned with in her own right. Mrs. Emery will also be at the front leading the Global Marijuana March alongside the NORML Women's Alliance of Canada.
*****
Follow the NORML Women's Alliance on Twitter: NORMLWomen'sAlliance - @NORML_CWA Join and "LIKE" the new Facebook Page for the NORML Women's Alliance of Canada. * - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - APRIL 27, 2012 The NORML Women’s Alliance of Canada Leads The 14th Global Marijuana March The NORML Women’s Alliance of Canada is pleased to announce we have been chosen to lead the 14th Toronto Global Marijuana March (GMM) throughout the city on Saturday, May 5, 2012. The GMM takes place annually in over 100 cities across the globe and will attract upwards of 20,000 cannabis enthusiasts and anti-prohibitionists to downtown Toronto alone. We believe that women will once again be a successful, driving force towards ending prohibition. In the spirit of the day the NORML Women's Alliance of Canada has chosen to honour those women who bravely campaigned for an end to alcohol prohibition in the 1920s and ‘30s by dressing in attire reminiscent of this era. The peaceful protest will assemble at 11 a.m. and launch at 12 p.m., north of Queen's Park North at Charles Street. It will traverse north to Bloor Street, east to Yonge Street, south to Gerrard Street and east to Church Street. After the march, the crowd will disperse to several marijuana-friendly events across the city. Members of the NORML Women's Alliance of Canada are mothers, grandmothers, daughters, sisters, and caregivers of this nation. We are calling on the Canadian Government to end cannabis prohibition, re-prioritize spending to focus on our families, education, health care and a mandate to protect Canadians from being damaged any further by this harmful, tried and failed government policy. The NORML Women’s Alliance of Canada is a non-partisan coalition of socially and geographically diverse women from coast to coast to coast who believe that marijuana prohibition is a destructive and hypocritical policy that undermines the Canadian people, sends a mixed and false message to our youth, and destroys the cherished principles of personal liberty, freedom and sovereignty belonging to all Canadians. NORML Women’s Alliance of Canada