Reports on the Million Marijuana March around Europe

[User]

AMSTERDAM

YouTube - Joost Belinfante & Low Budgetarians - Nederwiet (Museumplein) (2/3)

______________________________

ANTWERPEN

In Antwerpen we had approx. 50 people, a little low but we were satisfied as 15 new people joined as members of Trekt Uw Plant, the Antwerp Cannabis Social Club, who will establish a collective plantation somewhere in Belgium and promises to give all its members one plant ready to be harvested before November the 1st. The cops were watching from all four cornes of the square but nobody was arrested.

______________________________

MADRID

During the first week of May was held the Global Marijuana March in 263 cities on five continents. As part of this global movement, the Association Madrileña Cannabis Studies (AMEC) and the Federation of Associations Cannabiscas (FAC) convened last Saturday, May 9 in Madrid one of the oldest pro-cannabis and many of the world.

This year, the thirteenth consecutive madrileños which are on the street to demand the normalization of cannabis are more than 5000 people gathered to protest in a peaceful and festive in the streets of Madrid.

Despite all the obstacles that put the city of Madrid, which, after notice just five days before the inability to perform the traditional route Sol-Opera, which had been asked the Delegation of the Government 25 days before, assured the conveners of the Plaza as Vistillas final demonstration.

But the protesters were found on arrival at the Plaza that was fenced off by 90% by the City to begin preparations for the Fiesta de San Isidro Madrid.

"This is how we treated the city of Madrid to the social movements, meddling in the constitutional right to demonstrate peacefully," the organizers complained in his speech, which also reported that "in 2007 in Spain were imposed almost 200,000 fines for cannabis, one third of the imposed throughout Europe, is also the country that devotes more effort proportionally to the repression [..]"

The convenors in its manifesto called for "the removal of administrative penalties for possession and consumption of cannabis, which defines the number of plants can be grown by individual and institutional support to the model Cannabis Clubs Users with which could reduce the main problems associated with drugs, reduce the volume of the black market, consumers would access to substances not adulterated and quality would prevent access to minors, thereby further reducing the likelihood of future misuses of the substance, and would be accessible to medical users, who today are still ignored by the health system. "

Also require, as a directly affected, to participate in the decision where the policies are approved drugs, and called for a broad social debate on the most equitable and efficient way of managing the potential risks and benefits provided by psychoactive substances, especially cannabis.

A. M. E. C. (Association Madrileña Cannabis Studies)
F. A. C. (Federation of Associations Cannabiscas)

______________________________

PRAGUE

About two thousands of mainly young people joined the demonstration in support of legalisation of marijuana in Prague today, organised by the Legalizace.cz civic association and accompanied by concerts and distribution of meals, drinks and products made of cannabis.

No incident accompanied the demonstrators' march from the centre of Prague to a park in the Prague 3 district where music bands' concerts will continue until late night.

While marching through the city, the participants unfolded posters featuring slogans in support of marijuana, listened songs about marijuana, and a specific scent proved beyond any doubts that they were enjoying their favourite drug.

"The event's goal was to manifest our disapproval of the criminalisation of cannabis and its users. We not only want the legislation to change. We also seek a change in the approach to those who use cannabis for various reasons," Legalizace.cz's Jiri Novak told CTK.

He said the demonstration is held in support of the legalisation of cannabis' use for medical purposes and of sanctions being lifted from those keeping marijuana for personal use.

In the opening speech the organisers pointed out that mafia abuses marijuana's rising popularity to enrich itself. They called on young people to grow cannabis by themselves instead of turning to dealers.

"The black market will stop and cannabis will become a personal matter again," one of the organisers said.

According to another organiser, Robert Veverka, the establishment of official cannabis farms would be a solution. The state would earn money in taxes and could invest it in prevention, Veverka said.

Czech advocates of marijuana's legalisation hold meetings in early May regularly, within the global marijuana march event.

Source

______________________________
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRASIL

YouTube - MARCHA DA MACONHA 2009 - Posto 9 / Arpoador, Rio

______________________________

ROME

A mask of Italy's Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi smoking a joint is displayed in a van during the Million Marijuana March on May 9, 2009 in Rome. The March takes part in 263 cities around the world to ask for the stop of all cannabis arrests and to defend the right to use and cultivate Marijuana.

Source
______________________________

VIENNA

In Vienna (Austria) yesterday we had 1.500 to 2.000 People at the Demo "Hanfwandertag" from Westbahnhof, through Mariahilferstrasse to the Center, Ringstrasse.

The Police only counted 400, but take a Look to the attached fotos ...

We had a Convoy with 5 Trucks an Soundsystems.

In front of Parliament in Vienna we smoked a Joint with 1.50 m length (world-record?)
______________________________

Primary Source: ENCOD