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| Let Them Eat Cake! |
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| We overshot and found the coalition's event sponsors |
After missing the place one time - as it's signage was hard to spot - we finally arrived, and, walking inside, found a beautiful spot to play - barn-like in its inner design, with high wood beam supported ceilings adorned with strategically placed chandeliers. The stage and sound equipment were top notch too, including the conveniently mobile sound booth. I'm told the place could get rowdy at times but on this night, as it would turn out, there was not even a need for a doorman - although some pretty scrappy looking gentlemen stood by who could certainly assert some control on someone need be I was sure. |
| Host for event in 6 Nations |
The no-alcohol event was in support of medical marijuana for a fundraiser for the group called the MMAR Coalition Against Repeal who are on a mission to raise funds for lawyers fees in order to continue their battle to preserve the right for people to have the right to grow their own medicine (and food) - namely marijuana.
The Coalition which boasts over 6,600 members across Canada has raised over $144,000 so far towards the $250,000 needed to hire their top gun Lawyer, Johnny Conroy to take it to the next legal step. Essentially their argument is simple - Canadians are constitutionally entitled to grow medicine and food - without government control. 
The (now former) federal government, for its part, had unveiled a list of reasons pot shouldn't be 'legal' including scientific, and fact based nuggets, such as "it's a gateway drug to harder drugs". Wow! Really hard hitting stuff, no puns intended. Former heavyweight boxing champion,
George Chuvalo, who lost two sons to heroin overdoses and a wife to
suicide thinks tobacco is the gateway drug. His son emphasized that fact before dying and Chuvalo has relayed his message for years now, yet the government has never acted to close this "gateway", nor created a list, despite also now knowing that the addictive nicotine laden drug also causes lung cancer. 
All successive federal governments, from my understanding, had always denied marijuana had any medical value - while at the same time holding the patent to the medical development of cannabis. This fueled conspiracy theorists that it was a cancer cure that government and big pharmaceuticals wanted to hide, and then control it, on their terms.
I'm not quite convinced on the cancer cure-all yet but I do believe there is medicinal value to be gleaned certainly - in some cases the only relief one can get - such as those afflicted with constant convulsions - so there seems no doubt now. Meantime the government has stopped issuing any more new grow licenses.
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| Event Poster |
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| Vessels for use and growing |
Thus the smoke-screens with the moral reasons for them controlling its sale and manufacture of it in forms for ingesting, such as pill, food, oil, etc. The government simply has not been good frankly at handling this part, or even growing on a quality on par as most self-growers and often lack consistency - something MMAR Repealists say they can manage much better. And that patients know what form or type works best for themselves.
For example, a person may find a certain strain seems to make them want to clean and do things, while another it made them feel groggy, but only the patient would know which side affect was affecting them and in what way, and they then would be able to adjust what product form they took to best suit their ailment. Surely most Doctors won't have the ability to decipher that while 'prescribing". The government model would have you get what you get - and them large profits.  |
| VIP upstairs |
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| The Yappers rock out on stage |
It kind of reminds me of what always seems wrong with "do-gooder" programs; for example when they leave people with lived experience off the organizing committees and boards, resulting in ineffective programs or poor distribution of essential services. No difference. Surely this is one issue where "grass roots" input applies!?
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| Hey!..who ate part of this pot cookie? |
In addition to the entertainment provided on this night, and the baked goods, and table munchies, solo singer keyboardist, The Lounge Lizard, also appeared onstage following The Yappers playing with unbridled passion it seemed this night, as well the hosts had an array of hip hop performers on the later slate, including somelocal aboriginal performers who rocked it!
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| Prizes Sponsor |
The main event however, was a talk by legalize activist Jason Wilcox flown in from B.C. to address the group, and who's fight for the right to grow is where this all began. His knowledge on the Marihuana for Medical Purposes Regulations, which the government is currently trying to get enacted, is what alerted people to the issue, as essentially, he says, they are trying to remove the right for the sick and disabled to grow their own medicine while pushing the "industry" to commercial growers expected to make patients start to pay up to 4 x what they had been previously, all for making a killing in a new taxes revenue stream.
Government can't bogart the issue forever.
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| Just Crazy! |
It seems ironic now that a prodigal son may be 'king" soon, and, when that happens, it is more likely the time for real change on this issue in Canada.
Recently, the Supreme Court sided with those choosing other methods than smoking it, and so, if you're a medical user, these may just be the horses to put your money on for this race! Watch for a MMARCAR event near you!
Peace Out!
