NEW YORKERS TAKE TO THE STREETS ON MAY 4 DEMANDING RATIONAL, COMPASSIONATE LOCAL, STATE AND FEDERAL POLICIES ON CANNABIS (MARIJUANA)
/FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NEW YORKERS TAKE TO THE STREETS ON MAY 4 DEMANDING RATIONAL, COMPASSIONATE LOCAL, STATE AND FEDERAL POLICIES ON CANNABIS (MARIJUANA)
New York, NY, April 29, 2013- THE NYC CANNABIS PARADE, one of the longest-running public demonstrations against cannabis (marijuana) prohibition, will take place this Saturday, May 4, 2013, beginning with assembly at 12 PM on 24th Street between Park and Madison, followed by a parade led by the “Ganja Granny,” Arlene Williams, down Broadway to Union Square for a mass celebration of cannabis culture, live musical performers and speakers addressing the state of legal reform around the US and in New York, the injustice of arresting and imprisoning cannabis users, the medical uses of cannabis and the critical need to legalize cannabis under local, state and federal law.
The event in Union Square features acts including East Village icon David Peel, African diaspora acoustic percussion ensemble Heritage OP, The Black Market Merchants, and others. Speakers will include NYC mayoral candidate Sal Albanese, Tony Newman from international advocacy group the Drug Policy Alliance, Joanne Naughton (Law Enforcement Against Prohibition), Harlem activist Joseph “Jazz” Hayden, Dr. Sunil Kumar Aggarwal MD, PhD, Arlene Williams “the Ganja Granny” (Green Ribbon World), addiction treatment and wellness activist Dimitri Mugianis (NYHRE), Alec Foster (New York University Students for Sensible Drug Policy), Laura Notini (NORML Women’s Alliance), and radio host and journalist Paul DeRienzo (teacher, independent radio and TV producer and contributor to The VIllager).
“New York has a long tradition as a leader in progressive social policies but now lags far behind the rest of the country in terms of rational marijuana laws. As marijuana law reform spreads around the US and overseas, it is high time that New York City and New York State join the movement away from the futile and destructive policy of marijuana prohibition,” said Parade Coalition member and NORML Long Island Executive Director Troy Smit.
About the NYC Cannabis Parade and the Global Marijuana March
The NYC Cannabis Parade is an inclusive and peaceful celebration of the ”cannabis culture” that spans national, cultural and racial divisions. It is also a political event demanding an end to Prohibition, a proven disaster.
In 1999, after thirty years, this event turned into the Global Marijuana March and spread to approximately 300 cities around the world. The event occurs annually on the first Saturday in May to unify the community of cannabis reformers and promote a larger conversation about cannabis policy reform and the destruction that accompanies prohibition.
CONTACT: Troy Smit Info@CannabisParade.org. Event URL: www.CannabisParade.org