Global Marijuana March

Madrid, Spain. May 8, 2004. Million Joint March (La Marcha del Millón de Porros en Madrid, Mayo 2004), part of the Million Marijuana March.

The Global Marijuana March (GMM) is an annual rally held at different locations across the planet. It refers to cannabis-related events that occur on the first Saturday in May, or thereabouts, and may include marches, meetings, rallies, raves, concerts, festivals and information tables.

The Global Marijuana March also goes by the name of the Million Marijuana March (MMM). It began in 1999.^[1] Around 700 different cities worldwide have signed up since 1999.^[2][3] There are local names for the event too. Such as: World Cannabis Day, Cannabis Liberation Day, Global Space Odyssey, Ganja Day, J Day, Million Blunts March, etc..

The Global Marijuana March is a celebration embracing cannabis culture as a personal lifestyle choice. Participants unite to discuss, promote, entertain and educate both consumers and non-consumers alike.

One of the main organizers since 1999 is Dana Beal and his Cures-Not-Wars.org website.^[4] Another of the main organizers is CannabisCulture.com and its magazine, Cannabis Culture.^[3] Both Dana Beal and CannabisCulture.com people have mailed thousands of GMM-MMM posters worldwide over the years.^[5]

Events by country

Canada

Toronto, Ontario

The rally at Queen's Park in Toronto, Canada is a city tradition since 1999.^{[6][7][8][9][10][11]} 20,000 people showed up in 2007.^[12] 15,000 in 2008, despite the rain.^[6][13] For the May 2, 2009 event^[8] the Toronto Star reported: "Police estimate roughly 12,000 people filled the north lawns of Queen's Park yesterday afternoon, with about 5,000 participating in a 2 p.m. march to decriminalize marijuana."^[7] In 2010 over 40,000 people came to the Queen's Park. The parade had over 12,000 people, making the Toronto Global Marijuana March, the largest cannabis event in Canada, and the largest Global Marijuana March event of all the participating cities.^{[citation needed]} In 2011 the Toronto Star reported 25,000 at Queen's Park, and 20,000 on the march through downtown.^[14] CTV News reported "Tens of thousands march".^[15]

Regina, Saskatchewan

Held in Regina on the first Saturday of May since 1999, originally at the Saskatchewan Legislature. Starting in 2001, it was held in Victoria Park, in the center of Regina's downtown, until 2008 when changes to the City's permit policy forced organizers to change the location to Central Park. The event features live music mixed with speakers on various topics, sometimes with only an incidental connection to marijuana. For example, 2007-2008 featured Jim Elliott from the Council Of Canadians, who primarily deal with issues surrounding Canada's independence from the U.S., and who used the Marc Emery case as an example of increasing U.S. interference.^[16]

New Zealand

In New Zealand J Day is celebrated in some of the major cities.

Dunedin

J-Day in Dunedin, is celebrated in the city's centre of town, The Octagon, on the first Saturday of May (2nd, 2009) from 'High Noon' until 4:20 pm. Dunedin is arguably chronologically the first city in the world to host any GMM event. Named '4:20 Extreme', local participants climb the famous Baldwin Street to meet at the top by 4:20 am. Interestingly, locally J-Day coincides with The University of Otago Capping Parade, in which a multitude of ceremony-attending graduates parade down the main street on their way to the Town Hall ceremony, and also the University Hall Parade, in which University of Otago dormitory-student decorated themed floats parade down the main street, stopping in the Octagon typically armed with many water balloons, and collectively shouting chants of dormitory-specific pride.

Dunedin became famous for its JDay festivities in 2003 when around 50 activists marched to the Central Dunedin Police Station, where they planted cannabis plants and smoked cannabis in the main foyer as acts of protest.^[17] The event was given considerable national and international media attention as no arrests were made.^[18] The Central Dunedin Police Station was hot-boxed again on JDay in 2004 by over 100 activists, again with no arrests. This second incident was also covered by the media, resulting in the Dunedin Area Police Commander, Dave Campbell, justifying the fact that no arrests were made with the quote, "We had more important things to do" in the Otago Daily Times.

The 2007 International J-Day in Dunedin featured political speakers and music provided by local DJs and counted 170 people at mid-day. In the lead up to J-Day 2008, NORML NZ's Maryjane the Cannabus toured 42 towns between Auckland and Dunedin in 42 days for daily law reform rallies. The Cannabus arrived in Dunedin, New Zealand's most cannabis friendly city, on April 25 for a week long 'Cannabis Awareness Week'^[19] which was planned by Otago NORML and featured public workshops, informational lectures at Otago University, and a round-table discussion featuring university academics, MPs, and policy researchers. Cannabis Awareness Week culminated with J-Day on May 3, 2008.^[20]

The 2008 J-Day in Dunedin was well attended despite sleet and hail early in the day. Over 500 supporters participated in the event, enjoying games, prizes, political speeches and music from Bushmaster and Ashes of Eden.

United States

Los Angeles

As of 2011 the Moorish science temple of America has been doing the Los Angeles Million Marijuana March for 13 years at Leimert park in Los Angeles, California. The 2-day 2011 celebration marks the first time bands have filled the 2 days. Leimert Park is a famed free speech arena, which has also held Black Panther rallies and more since its inception. Acclaimed rap artist Ditch will headline both days. The event went off well with over 2,000 people attending over the 2 days. Ditch was honored for being able to bring unity to that area among so many different races and types of people. Ditch also honored jailed freedom fighter Eddy Lepp at the event. Eddy then called in live to the audience from Federal prison in which he is serving 10 years for cultivation of marijuana. Eddy's wife Linda Lepp was on hand to receive the award. This marks the first time so far that Eddy Lepp has spoken to a live concert audience from prison. Rapper RBX also performed at the Los Angeles march marking the first time in years he has performed in South Cental Los Angeles^[21][22]

New York City

In 1999 during the first worldwide Million Marijuana March New York City held another of its annual marijuana marches. The Village Voice reported on the police and organizer estimates of the crowd size: "the police claim it was 4000 people while organizers say 20,000".^[1]

Dallas, Texas

The Dallas, Texas 2008 GMM more than doubled the 2007 attendance. Over 100 participants gathered from 12-1, and then marched from the Earle Cabell Federal Building down Commerce St., over to Dealey Plaza, where they protested on the Grassy Knoll, then over to the West End, crashing a Cinco de Mayo festival there. They then marched back over to the Federal Building. This was repeated at 3:00. The event was sponsored by DFW NORML and at the event, Barry Cooper (lecturer) announced his candidacy for the US Senate on a Pro-Decriminalization platform.^[23]

See also

• Legality of cannabis by country
• Category:Cannabis laws
• Category:Cannabis legal reform
• Legality of cannabis
• Legal and medical status of cannabis
• Cannabis rescheduling

References

1. ^ ^{a b} "Smoke and Jeers. Million Marijuana March Protests NYC's Record-High Pot Arrests." By Jennifer Gonnerman. May 4, 1999. Village Voice.
2. ^ Global Marijuana March cities - Cannabis Wiki. List of cities and nations that have signed up since 1999.
3. ^ ^{a b} Global ganja celebration. By Dana Larsen. October 28, 2002. Cannabis Culture magazine.
4. ^ Cures-Not-Wars.org
5. ^ 2007. 2006. 2005. 2004. Cannabis event posters, flyers, banners. Including GMM-MMM.
6. ^ ^{a b} "Pot fans rally in Big Smoke". By Paul Irish. May 4, 2008. Toronto Star.
7. ^ ^{a b} "High times at Freedom fest". May 3, 2009. By Trish Crawford. Toronto Star.
8. ^ ^{a b} globalmarijuanamarch.ca - Toronto Global Marijuana March.
9. ^ Toronto Marijuana March a.k.a. Toronto Freedom Festival
10. ^ Toronto GMM 2006 photos and videos.
11. ^ Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Global Marijuana March and more.
12. ^ "Marijuana march in Toronto draws 20,000". May 5, 2007. Globe and Mail.
13. ^ T.F.F. 2008 - A Huge Success! | Toronto Freedom Festival.
14. ^ Peaceful ‘pot heads’ march for marijuana - thestar.com. By Moira Welsh. May 7, 2011. Toronto Star.
15. ^ CTV Toronto - Tens of thousands march in favour of legalizing marijuana. 2011 May 7 article. CTV News article, photos, and video. Video for Toronto and some of the other Canadian cities that held 2011 GMM events.
16. ^ Regina GMM 2008 video and write up.
17. ^ [Otago Daily Times, May 5, 2003]
18. ^ [Otago Daily Times, May 6, 2003]
19. ^ Otago NORML presents Cannabis Awareness Week : April 25 - May 3, 2008.
20. ^ Public Pot Protests Set For National Road Tour.
21. ^ Ditch will headline Million Marijuana March 2011. MOG.
22. ^ Ditch to honor Nate Dogg at 2011 Million Marijuana March. MOG.
23. ^ dfwnorml.org

External links

• Global Cannabis March.
• GMM-MMM Yahoo Group with public archive.
• Compilations of GMM-MMM links and reports over the years.
• "Marching for freedom" - 2004 global reports and some photos. Cannabis Culture magazine article.
• Global Marijuana March wiki page.
• May 7, 2011 city list.