PROTESTERS MARCH TO ‘FREE THE WEED’
PEOPLE with multiple sclerosis and terminal cancer joined recreational cannabis users on a march calling for the drug to be legalised. While their reasons for taking it were diverse, they came out for the Cardiff Global Cannabis March with one common goal: to change the law to allow people to use it without fear of arrest.
It remains illegal to possess, grow, distribute or sell cannabis in any form in the UK. It is a Class B drug and the maximum penalty for use is five years in prison.
The march, by about 150 people from Cathays Park to Hamadryad Park in Cardiff Bay, was one of a number of global events under the banner of the Global Marijuana March. Openly smoking cannabis to the bemusement of Saturday shoppers, protesters, including the Bristol Cannabis Club and the Tottenham Compassion Club, chanted “Free The Weed” and called for the drug to be taken out of the hands of criminals.
Among the marchers were those who had come out “just to smoke weed”, but also parents with children in push chairs and people who use cannabis to ease the symptoms of a variety of medical conditions.
Organiser of the Welsh event, Jamie Morgan, 47, of the Cardiff Cannabis Social Club, said they hoped to not only prompt a change in the law, but also the attitude of society as a whole.
“Personally, I am a recreational user. I have done my own research – I am my own guinea pig. I have used it for 30 years and seem to function. I have been a single parent and held down a job.
“We are just trying to show people ‘Don’t believe the hype.’”
This was the seventh march to be held in Cardiff and protesters are pushing for Spanish-style cannabis cafés to be introduced here.
“In some countries it’s still illegal but you can set up a café,” said Jamie.
“We are looking at different models. In Spain, as long as it’s consenting adults behind closed doors, it’s fine. If there’s no victim, there’s no crime.” Among those who attended was wheelchair user Alun Dennis Jones, 50, who is originally from Senghenydd, but now lives in a care home in Blackwood. He was diagnosed with MS aged 21.
He said: “I use cannabis once a week. It relaxes me. It helps with the pain. I would like to see cannabis legalised and regulated. It helps more than prescription medication. It’s pleasurable.”
Another protester from Cardiff, who didn’t want to be named, said she uses cannabis as it relieves back pain which “no amount of prescription drugs will touch”.
“Why is it illegal when it grows naturally?” she said.
A 41-year-old man, who had travelled over from Bristol, said he has two types of cancer and eight weeks ago he was given just two weeks to live.
He smoked cannabis recreationally once, but now wants to see if cannabis can work where conventional medicine has failed.
“I have ALL (acute lymphoblastic leukaemia) and a secondary cancer so I will try anything,” said the man, who didn’t want to be named.
“Conventional medicine says ‘we can’t cure you but we can support you’ so I think I will have a look into cannabis.
“There’s no evidence (that it helps), but there’s a suggestion that it will have a benefit. I won’t leave any rock unturned.
“Cannabis should be available and should be studied.”