PRAHA – This is the 14th year
that the Legalizace.cz association has challenged the criminalization of
marihuana and its users. We are encouraging everyone to express their
disapproval of such laws by attending the global pot legalization
demonstration – Million Marihuana March 2011 – taking place on May
7. The demonstration will include a parade that
starts at 1pm in the Charles Square, Prague, traveling through the centre of
Prague ending in Parukářka park, where live music and educational events will
be taking place through out the day.
This demonstration is in part a response to the cannabis prohibition that is still active in the Czech Republic, criminalizing indiscriminantly the small scale growers and prosecuting all those involved in cannabis use, from self-treatment to recreation. This ineffective and arguably counterproductive approach taken by our lawmakers ignores valid questions within the marihuana drug policy debate and moreover reflects a western, largely american, propaganda campaign against the plant and its culture that was started in the 1930s. The anti-hemp arguments coming from many politicians lack scientific support and are often void of the minimal argumentative criteria of personal experience. The potential of the hemp plant can be found in wide array of uses, often the only reports of misuse have come directly from the people with the power to legally restrict the legal status of the cannabis flower.
The Legalizace.cz association actively opposes the current state policy position, wherein legalized drugs such as alcohol are subject to taxation, only to have that public money unnecessarily spent to fund the marihuana grow and use prohibition. This is yet another example of governmental inefficiency, especially when considering the dangers of hemp are relatively very low compared to those of other legalized drugs1.
For three years the Legalizace.cz association has been providing, through the ''Seeds for the Seniors“ campaign, the seeds of cannabis plants to many sick adults, along with information on growing techniques and the proper use of this traditional medicinal herb2. The association is disgusted by the passive negligence of the politicians, including the Health Department to the needs of the people, who could benifit immeasurably from the use of cannabis in their ongoing treatment. For this and many other reasons we are holding the demonstratin for legalization of marihuana on May 7th, 2011 and asking all supporters to come out in force.
At the same time, the NGO Legalizace.cz is releasing a detailed proposal that includes an educated and efficient solution to this unprecedent restriction of individual freedom concerning this medicinal herb. Our recommendations to the government of the Czech Republic are:
To legalize growing of up to 5 plants of medicinal (narcotic) hemp
To legalize the possesion of cannabis for self-treatment and recreational purposes
To legalize cannabis for the science and research purposes
To involve the civil society and to reflect the needs of the citizens in the process of solving current drug policy issues.
„The legalization of growing of up to 5 plants of psychoactive hemp would remove the herb out of the black market and put it in its natural environment of the gardens and balconies of sick people and recreational users. The freedom to grow five plants would partially reduce the growing of high-potency, higher-risk cannabis in indoor conditions, reducing the black market demand as well as its exorbitant price. This reduction of the negative consequences of prohibition could at the same time reduce the state budget costs for law enforcement of the cannabis users, who represent no danger for the society,“ said Robert Veverka, vice-chairman of the Legalizace.cz association, explaining the claim to legalize growing of 5 plants.
1 The number of crimes commited under the influence of alcohol in the Czech Republic is estimated 62 000 per year (18% of total), under the influence of non-alcoholic drugs it's about 7000 (2%). Traffic accidents with alcohol involved reached 5 725 in 2009, while other drugs were involved in 137 cases. Source: Annual report about drug situation in the Czech Republic in 2009
2 More info (in czech) at http://www.legalizace.cz/…ka-seniorum/
Note to the journalists: Instead of a press conference we will provide information service directly at the Million Marihuana March happening in the Press Centre of Legalizace.cz at our stall on the highest place of the Parukářka park from 15:30 till 17:00. To request information or an interview with any of the MMM guests please contact the Press Centre or our press agent, Mr. Robert Veverka.
Contacts:
Robert Veverka, speaker/vice-chairman of the Legalizace.cz, tel.: 773 691 561, mail: robert@legalizace.cz
Hana Gabrielová, chairwoman of Legalizace.cz, tel.: 777 027 012, mail: hanka@legalizace.cz
Martin Juki Jyrkinen, media services, tel.: 777 337 187, mail: press@legalizace.cz
