Jim Finnel
Fallen Cannabis Warrior & Ex News Moderator
Four demonstrators waving cardboard signs near the Lucas County Courthouse got honks, waves, and thumbs-up from downtown drivers Saturday.
Their hand-painted messages? "Honk 4 Weed" and "Legalize the Leaf."
Their cause? Support for Ohio House Bill 478, which includes legalization of medicinal marijuana.
The group has been demonstrating downtown every Saturday at "high noon" for several months.
Demonstrators gather at Adams and Erie streets, near the courthouse's Ten Commandments monument, for an hour to an hour and a half, depending on the weather, and recently added weekly demonstrations at noon Wednesdays.
"My own personal view is that, No. 1, prohibition has never worked. And the medical marijuana movement is based upon the fact that it can be used for a whole lot of things," said Dave Green, 54, of Waterville who is self-employed.
"Marijuana has been used to treat glaucoma and nausea successfully, and it's very good treatment for people with multiple sclerosis. My personal feeling is that marijuana should be [as legal as] tomatoes."
Brian Holt, 45, of Toledo said he was there Saturday with a "Honk 4 Weed" sign, and wearing a green "Honk 4 Weed" T-shirt, because he considers the legalization of marijuana to be a human rights issue.
"I'm here every week and I don't smoke [marijuana]," he said.
Noah Bennett, 19, of West Toledo, said his "Honk 4 Weed" signs represents, in part, people who are imprisoned for smoking pot. He said pharmaceuticals, alcohol, and processed tobacco with additives are all much worse for society than marijuana.
He said he thinks marijuana should be completely legal, and sees the pending Ohio legislation as a move in the right direction.
"We want to do it step by step," said Mr. Bennett, an Owens Community College student who works delivering pizzas.
He said Saturday's turnout of four demonstrators was low because it was New Year's Day.
"We usually have 15 to 30 -- and we had 50 once," he said, "but I think alcohol got the best of them last night."
Sierra Blake, 16, waved a pro-weed sign at the trickle of holiday traffic and got an abundance of honks.
"They love us!" she said. "Even some policemen and ambulance drivers honk."
NewsHawk: Jim Behr: 420 MAGAZINE
Source: toledoblade.com
Author: David Yonke
Copyright: 2011 The Blade
Contact: dyonke@theblade.com
Website: toledoblade.com -- The Blade ~ Toledo Ohio
Their hand-painted messages? "Honk 4 Weed" and "Legalize the Leaf."
Their cause? Support for Ohio House Bill 478, which includes legalization of medicinal marijuana.
The group has been demonstrating downtown every Saturday at "high noon" for several months.
Demonstrators gather at Adams and Erie streets, near the courthouse's Ten Commandments monument, for an hour to an hour and a half, depending on the weather, and recently added weekly demonstrations at noon Wednesdays.
"My own personal view is that, No. 1, prohibition has never worked. And the medical marijuana movement is based upon the fact that it can be used for a whole lot of things," said Dave Green, 54, of Waterville who is self-employed.
"Marijuana has been used to treat glaucoma and nausea successfully, and it's very good treatment for people with multiple sclerosis. My personal feeling is that marijuana should be [as legal as] tomatoes."
Brian Holt, 45, of Toledo said he was there Saturday with a "Honk 4 Weed" sign, and wearing a green "Honk 4 Weed" T-shirt, because he considers the legalization of marijuana to be a human rights issue.
"I'm here every week and I don't smoke [marijuana]," he said.
Noah Bennett, 19, of West Toledo, said his "Honk 4 Weed" signs represents, in part, people who are imprisoned for smoking pot. He said pharmaceuticals, alcohol, and processed tobacco with additives are all much worse for society than marijuana.
He said he thinks marijuana should be completely legal, and sees the pending Ohio legislation as a move in the right direction.
"We want to do it step by step," said Mr. Bennett, an Owens Community College student who works delivering pizzas.
He said Saturday's turnout of four demonstrators was low because it was New Year's Day.
"We usually have 15 to 30 -- and we had 50 once," he said, "but I think alcohol got the best of them last night."
Sierra Blake, 16, waved a pro-weed sign at the trickle of holiday traffic and got an abundance of honks.
"They love us!" she said. "Even some policemen and ambulance drivers honk."
NewsHawk: Jim Behr: 420 MAGAZINE
Source: toledoblade.com
Author: David Yonke
Copyright: 2011 The Blade
Contact: dyonke@theblade.com
Website: toledoblade.com -- The Blade ~ Toledo Ohio
