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Approximately 1 million people marched for alternatives to cannabis prohibition Sat May 4th collectively in 182 cities around the world.
Beginning as an annual day of protest and celebration 3 years ago, more and more people keep coming out of the cannabis closet to make their voices heard. From the environment to civil and human rights the liberty bell rings.
The Million Marijuana March is the brainchild of Dana Beal, who is an activist pre-dating the Free Press’ 1970 founding. He used to hang out with luminaries such as Timothy Leary, Abbie Hoffman, and Tom Forcade (the founder of High Times Magazine). Most impressive about Dana Beal, is that he sent the largest amount of full color glossy posters to promote the event than any activist for any event in the world for any cause. It was not hard to see what his work made Campus and the Short North look like leading up to the perfectly sunny and warm Saturday. Even places as far as the streets of Tokyo, Japan were coated with Beal’s artistically perfected green glossy glory.
Between 600-750 people marched proudly defiant in the middle of High St. from 15th Ave. to Goodale Park. More than double the size of last year’s event which was the first in Columbus. This year was promoted by OSU-SSDP, For A Better Ohio sister, Drug Policy Education of Ohio, and the Ohio Prisoner Advocacy Network.
A permit was obtained by OSU-Students for a Sensible Drug Policy (OSU-SSDP) to make sure the march would be safe and noticed, and it was. The crew of OSU-SSDP used tens of thousands of staples to make the event successful and paid the majority of the bills.
Cars backed up and passing by, were honking for hemp and to an end to the war on drugs. Some screaming for joy, some lighting up to show that they are on our side, and many drive bys with video cameras to document something they have ever seen before. Even the majority of potentially annoyed escorting officers were pleased. One officer that prefers to be unnamed said, “I would rather have you marijuana people any day than those drunken rioters.” Whatever that really means.
As the march continued to grow and reaching its climax to network and be-in at the park, turning the corner at Buttles was welcomed by a New Orleans style horn band that jiggled all of us hundreds into celebration of doing what was felt to be a true calling of freedom.
The Million Marijuana March is the brainchild of Dana Beal, who is an activist pre-dating the Free Press’ 1970 founding. He used to hang out with luminaries such as Timothy Leary, Abbie Hoffman, and Tom Forcade (the founder of High Times Magazine). Most impressive about Dana Beal, is that he sent the largest amount of full color glossy posters to promote the event than any activist for any event in the world for any cause. It was not hard to see what his work made Campus and the Short North look like leading up to the perfectly sunny and warm Saturday. Even places as far as the streets of Tokyo, Japan were coated with Beal’s artistically perfected green glossy glory.
Between 600-750 people marched proudly defiant in the middle of High St. from 15th Ave. to Goodale Park. More than double the size of last year’s event which was the first in Columbus. This year was promoted by OSU-SSDP, For A Better Ohio sister, Drug Policy Education of Ohio, and the Ohio Prisoner Advocacy Network.
A permit was obtained by OSU-Students for a Sensible Drug Policy (OSU-SSDP) to make sure the march would be safe and noticed, and it was. The crew of OSU-SSDP used tens of thousands of staples to make the event successful and paid the majority of the bills.
Cars backed up and passing by, were honking for hemp and to an end to the war on drugs. Some screaming for joy, some lighting up to show that they are on our side, and many drive bys with video cameras to document something they have ever seen before. Even the majority of potentially annoyed escorting officers were pleased. One officer that prefers to be unnamed said, “I would rather have you marijuana people any day than those drunken rioters.” Whatever that really means.
As the march continued to grow and reaching its climax to network and be-in at the park, turning the corner at Buttles was welcomed by a New Orleans style horn band that jiggled all of us hundreds into celebration of doing what was felt to be a true calling of freedom.