Daniel Keyes

For many people, Marijuana is a symbol of freedom – or lack of freedom. It’s a plant, cherished by millions, which grows wildly in nature. Yet, it is outlawed. I won’t get into the statistics that suggest pot is much less dangerous or addictive than many of the substances that are still legal. But I will say this (and you may disagree) – the government has no right to tell its citizens what they can and can’t do with their own bodies, nor do they have the right to outlaw a natural plant. I don’t know about you, but after all the progress we’ve made in the realm of human rights, the fact that this plant remains outlawed boggles my mind.

But events like this year’s Global Marijuana March (branded “Freedom Fest” in Toronto) marks a sign of hope.

Among the crowd during the Marijuana March – Toronto 2009

As someone who has attended each march in Toronto since 2006, I was amazed to see how many people packed the lawn of Queen’s Park this year. Estimates on attendance ranged as high as 30,000. There are very few occasions I’ve seen so many people gathered in one place, and even fewer when I’ve seen such diversity at a particular event. Young, old; black, white; hippie, hip-hop – almost every age, ethnicity and subculture was accounted for. But they all had one thing in common: a love for freedom and a longing for the simple right to use a plant that should have never been outlawed.

This, compared to 2006 when the crowds were much smaller and consisted mostly of hippies. Today, there is a huge movement of people making noise about a law they find is unjust. The prohibition debate has gone mainstream, my friends. It’s only a matter of time…

Here’s a video I shot at the first march I attended:

Related links:

Toronto Freedom Festival website

CityNews – In Photos: Toronto Freedom Festival & Global Marijuana March

The Star – High times at Freedom fest

The real reason pot should be legalized