A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A DEMONSTRATOR

Up early and on a mission to Brockwell Park: the sun is shining, and for some reason you can feel a buzz in the air.

Along with friends, we walk from the park towards the demo along the streets. Stoners smile, some smoking, some not,

A man calls over to us, "Hey what times the demo coming? We've been waiting ages, we're getting bored, man!"

My reply was sharp and sweet "How many stoners do you know that get anywhere in time? Behave young man! If you're bored sing a song and smoke a bong!!"

We decided we would wait for the demo to come to us, so sat about waiting in the sun for the fun to start.

My friend started handing out No Victim No Crime Stickers to anyone that would take one. At aged 81, many people were shocked by a lady in a wheelchair who was supporting this event. A lot of people started rushing around trying to take a photo of "Grandma Toker" - plenty of people including Rockers, Rastas and your average Rebels, came to her, kissing her face and giving her "respect", the best remark I heard was

"You see, cannabis ain't no killa! This lady is older than my Grandma. Look at her beautiful face! Look at her giving you all stickers! This woman is not a criminal! Free the weed!"

Suddenly the sound of drum beats fill the air, the mood is instantly HIGH, people start to move about and then dance. Suddenly, as the crowd of demonstrators appear around the bottom of the street, all the people waiting with us greet them with cheers of

"FREE the WEED"

"No Victim No Crime "

"Which Bush kills? George or Ganja? "

People start jumping about. The air seems a lot more smokey; the police presence thickens and then the parade arrives.

At the start is the band and a bunch of girls all dressed in green imitating leaves dancing in the wind. Behind them: banners and signs all pleading for legalisation.

We join in half way down the flow of tokers, just in front of the rinky-dink sound system, along with their own dancers and jugglers on stilts.

Along the way our Dottie is still becoming the star of the show. She is interviewed, photographed and filmed. All reporters' questions the same....

"How old are you? Do you smoke cannabis? How long have you smoked it for?"

When Dottie's reply was positive, they all look shocked and surprised, but were intrigued. A reporter for London news finished her interview with: "Well Dottie, I think you are the sort of person to share a bong with."

We met a twelve-foot human cannabis plant, female of course and very polite, and plenty of police who seem to smile all day long and arrest very few.

There are munchies galore, a speakers' tent, stalls and music areas, and in-between all of that are 20,000 people all buzzing on the fact that they're smoking illegal substances in front of police.

It is a great day all in all, people are happy and I see no trouble.

One thing that troubles me most is why arethe police so happy and accepting of this today, and yet we all know tomorrow people will be arrested for the same un-harmfull victimless crime? That's wrong.

If the government could accept it was a way of life and allow papers to run proper reports on a day where only 6 arrests were made out of 20,000 people, to show how unharmfull cannabis is and if they showed a load of drunks in a football riot, what would the public chose?

The only way you can help make cannabis a victimless crime is by doing a bit more than one march a year, join the Legalise Cannabis Alliance, write a letter to your MP asking why the government allows cannabis smoking on just one day a year?

And if you already do those things, spread your word, get your mates together, and get something done. The ONLY way forward for tokers is for all of them to do a little bit more for the cause, the Government find it easy to argue with 2000 people already endorsing the LCA. Imagine how difficult it would be for them to keep it illegal if everyone that was at Brockwell park on Saturday did their bit!!

20,000 tokers is amazing! 20,000 tokers who will help legalise cannabis for the good of themselves and others would cause a complete re think on the issue.

Think about it

Love Elsie Haze

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