Press Release of Legalizace.cz

April 24th, 2013

Live and Let Grow

The 16th traditional annual demonstration, march and culturally uplightening event for the legalization of cannabis will take place on Saturday, May 4th, 2013, a part of the worldwide campaign Million (also Global) Marijuana March. The demonstration will commence at 12.30 PM by assembly at Karlovo náměstí in Prague, Czech Republic.

The event is organized by the Legalizace.cz citizens’ association and strives to express the citizens’ disapproval of the current anti-marijuana policy in our country. Furthermore, it aims to highlight key problems and imperfections of effective laws including the recently passed bill regarding medical marijuana. It also wishes to voice its solidarity with the victims of cannabis prohibition in this country and abroad. By way of this happening, thousands of citizens from the entire Czech Republic will join the hundreds of thousands of people and several hundred cities spanning five continents together in protest against the nonsensical and harmful worldwide prohibition of cannabis.

The main demand of this demonstration is to legalize the growing and possession of cannabis and cannabis products for personal use, both for medical and recreational purposes.

“The state has no right to violate the privacy and constitutionally guaranteed personal freedom of citizens. By growing, possessing and using cannabis for personal needs, one does not restrict or endanger others in any way and we regard this endeavor of the state to prosecute and penalize such activity as absolutely unacceptable,” Robert Veverka, the chairman of Legalizace.cz, has to say.

The outdated international pacts regarding narcotic substances that politicians love to refer to are becoming more and more irrelevant. By consensus of statewide referenda, several states in the U.S.A. have already legalized the recreational use of marijuana and it appears as though others are on the same track. Additionally, a recent survey of the Ipsos agency shows that the majority of Czechs support the legalization of marijuana for recreational purposes.

The prohibition of cannabis benefits solely those entities that are active on the black market, meaning large-scale growers and marijuana dealers. The dark side of this prohibition entails completely pointless and costly criminalization and persecution of upstanding citizens and the most amoral consequence of prohibition is the present situation of the ill whom cannabis verifiably helps, but despite all the promises of politicians, it still remains legally unavailable for them.

Legalizace.cz citizens’ association is not and cannot be satisfied by the status quo where the political representation declares its interest in making marijuana accessible for medical and research purposes due to long-term pressure of civic society and the learned public, and yet the practical outcome of this many-month endeavor of politicians and experts alike is still unusable legal mayhem where patients are forced to depend on illegal home growing or the black market.

“There’s been enough talk about the necessity for strict control and the monopolization of the market with medical marijuana. Yes, medical marijuana must be made available to patients in pharmacies, but free of charge or at such a price that corresponds to actual, meaning very low, production expenses. The intention to import and sell medical marijuana for prices comparable to black market retail prices defies common sense,” added Michal Řehák, the deputy chairman of Legalizace.cz.

Legalizace.cz appeals to politicians: “End the endless wishy-washiness and the forming of an environment of potential corruption, end the designation of the one and the same plant as medicine on the one hand, and as a harmful and dangerous drug on the other hand. It is a well-known and proven fact that cannabis is incomparably less dangerous and less addictive than legal alcohol or nicotine. Cannabis represents medicine, cannabis represents a plant you have absolutely no chance of eradicating. Regulate the market, advertising, the age limit of legal use, but legalize the growing and possession of cannabis by adults for personal use!”

The demonstration will start on Saturday, May 4th at 12.30 PM on Karlovo náměstí. The peaceful, but very visible procession accompanied by music will set out from here through the city to Parukářka park, where two music stages and a varied program will await.

You can also look forward to a kickass cultural medley provided by the legendary bands E!E, N.V.Ú., Terne Čhave, Prague Conspiracy, Queens of Everything, Los Perdidos and annual patron Urragan Andrew. The DJ stage will offer aside from DJ stars Gadjo.cz a Mikkim other great artists, among them Selector Boldrik and his guests, Baltazar, Z-Aires, DJ Medis and the new Futurebass Project. Apart from the musical entertainment, a cannabis open-air market and a non-profit sector await you, and for families with children, there will also be a program provided for the youngest protesters.

This cultural event is taking place in Parukářka park under the patronage of PhDr. Matěj Stropnický, deputy major of Prague 3. You can follow the live music from your homes at live.legalizace.cz. You can find current information at mmm.legalizace.cz.

A note for the press:

In place of a press conference, information will be provided for you at the venue of Million Marijuana March 2013 at Parukářka park at the Press Center Legalizace.cz from 3 to 5 PM. Please forward your requests for information or interviews with the organizers of MMM2013 to the Press Center.

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