The Ideas of the March

Seattle’s annual Cannabis Freedom Rally sends a powerful message to the nation

The annual Cannabis Freedom Rally held in Seattle last month began as the Million Marijuana March several years ago. Event organizers changed the name to the Millennium Marijuana March before settling on the name “Cannabis Freedom March and Rally.” Many wonder why, in a state implementing a program to legalize cannabis, would activists still hold a march protesting pot prohibition.

On the one hand, participants were there to celebrate the legalization of cannabis, but also to extend a larger message. The prohibition of cannabis will not end until the federal ban on the use of the plant is lifted. The May 11 march began at Volunteer Park in the Capital Hill neighborhood and made its way to Westlake Park in Downtown Seattle ending with several important speakers including Seattle Police Department Interim Police Chief Jim Pugal. Protesters carried signs reading “Legalize, not Penalize” or listing the names of “prisoners of war” currently serving time in federal prison, convicted of cannabis-related charges.

Vivian McPeak, executive director of Seattle Hempfest reminded the crowd about how even though the cannabis movement has come a long way, there is still much to be done to end prohibition once and for all.

“We’ve already won in the court of public opinion,” she told the gathered crowd. “When that happens, it is only a matter of time before we win in the court of law.” Vivian praised the crowd for making progress without violence and explained how anger impedes the movement just before Seattle Police Department spokesman Sean Whitcomb took the stage.

Whitcomb reiterated his department’s role in implementing Initiative 502, the voter-approved initiative that that ushered in a state-regulated recreational cannabis market. “Don’t be afraid anymore,” Whitcomb said. “Hold your heads high and congratulations on all of the work you have done to get here.”

Whitcomb, however, reminded the crowd that cannabis sales are still not legal in the state, and Seattle police officers would take appropriate action with regards to still-illegal street transactions.

Everyone attending was excited to hear what Pugal had to say about I-502. The chief said it was not the job of the police officers to promote or condemn the private adult use of cannabis for recreation.

“The voters statewide—and certainly in the City of Seattle—spoke very clearly and said this is legal,” he said. Pugal also asked event participants to please be respectful of police officers and thanked them for the respect shown at the March itself before encouraging people to become a positive part of I-502’s implementation.

So why a march on the eve of legalization?

“What we have in Washington State is regulation, not legalization,” says states John Davis, owner of The Patient Resource Center and Seattle Hempfest board chairman. “Everyone involved is working towards implementing a program we hope will be acceptable [to] the federal government and a model for states looking at doing the same.”

Davis has worked closely during the discovery and planning stages of I-502 with the state Liquor Control Board, helping Hempfest board members understand the complex issues involved in regulating the recreational use of a plant still considered a Schedule I narcotic in the eyes of the federal government.

The Cannabis Freedom Rally is an ongoing annual event, taking place in Seattle in early May. The march, originally planned and executed by local activists, will continue as long as laws prohibiting the use of cannabis exist in the United States.

Just A Pinch

Seattle Police Department Interim Police Chief Jim Pugal wasn’t the only high-profile elected official to make his presence known at this year’s rally. Pro-legalization Seattle City Attorney Pete Holmes told rally attendees—likely some of his loyal constituents—that people could still be sent to jail for having a joint when he ran for office four years ago, according to The Seattle Times. “We’ve got to stop and pinch ourselves,” he said. “We’ve made amazing, amazing progress.”