Thursday May 23, 2013  - Canadian Drug Policy Coalition - http://drugpolicy.ca/

Last week, we released our first report on the state of Canadian drug policy. Entitled "Getting to Tomorrow: A Report on Canadian Drug Policy", it examines the overwhelming failure of Canada's drug laws and provides recommendations on how we can improve the health and safety of Canadians when it comes to drugs. Please download it, read it and share it.

At the beginning of the report you will find the recommendations we have made, which include the regulation of cannabis, the decriminalization of other drugs, the scaling-up of harm reduction services, and the expansion of overdose prevention strategies, among others.

In the coming year we will be working hard to advocate and promote these recommendations. If you would like to help make this happen, please consider making a donation to CDPC. It will be greatly appreciated and your support makes our work possible.

One of our supporters has agreed to match all donations up to $5,000 over the coming months, so please consider making a tax-refundable donation to CDPC on our SFU secure donations page.

Download Report

The report release received ample coverage from the Canadian media, which included articles in major newspapers across the country, network television news segments and countless radio interviews. Overall, the response was positive and productive.

Read about it here:

Calgary Herald: Report calls for decriminalizing both 'hard' and 'soft' drugs

National Post: Canadian Drug Policy Coalition recommends decriminalizing hard drugs

CBC Radio: Decriminalizing Drugs

The Province: Harper government to stay tough on drugs

This years Global Marijuana March had 5 speakers and 4 were women Debbie Fagin, Lisa Mamakind Kirkman, Tamara Cartwright and Nadine Bews. The usual sponsors Bongs and Such, Grass Roots, Hemp Roots, The Next Level and a important new addition was Bob Erb 4 Herb.

Norml Canada and Norml Women’s Alliance of Canada both had representative's attending and speaking. The Norml Canada banner lead the march this year with volunteers proudly holding the banner up on stage and during the march.

Global TV attended and the evening news broadcast was very positive with all the signs and the messages about being responsible adults and responsible politicians will make for safer communities!

Hardsparkle Sinsemilla crew were on hand after their adventure to Ottawa 420 where they posed on stage with Precious Chong for photos.

A very interesting note was we won a battle we have fought (campaigned) for years for many public events in this city. No Calgary Police Service (CPS) what so ever for the the first time for all our public events in Calgary. The CPS were contacted and informed about the event as is done with all our public events.

2010 was the last year the City of Calgary send us a letter about a bylaw would not allow our events. The peaceful events have always gone ahead despite Calgary city hall politicians years of attempts to deny our Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. 2011 there was another noticeable shift in Calgary city policy when I did not receive the usual bylaw letter and the city had steel tables with attached chairs and shade umbrellas brought out earlier then usual to the city plaza area for our spring events no less. City hall security made sure to point out to me the tables were brought out early for us.

City of Calgary bylaw letter 2009. City of Calgary bylaw letter 2010.

Picture gallery here.

YouTube videos here and another here.