GLOBAL CANNABIS MARCH INFORMATION

The next Global Marijuana March will be held in a city near you May 7th & 14th, 2011:

www.globalmarijuanamarch.org (If anyone knows of a better site for this information, I'd love to know: "mmelz5 at yahoo.com" - thanks!)

Do everything you can to show your community that cannabis consumers are REGULAR, PEACEFUL PEOPLE. Show those who see you that cannabis CAN be consumed harmlessly - for decades, even! Remember that you are representing us all so act as politicians do when they are trying to get votes: Look as attractive as possible and don't make anyone mad (They won't get on our side if we make them mad).
Show your town that this is an important topic and that it must be addressed immediately. Please make plans to attend a rally near you - it really means a LOT to show up. If nothing else, it'll get you charged up to battle some injustice, if even for just one month!
Now show no fear and get out there!! TAKE A SIGN - THEY REALLY HELP!



PAST EVENTS:

Omaha's 2010 Cannabis Awareness & Liberation March:
How do you like the name change? This year came with great setbacks AND improvements. One thing is for sure, though: The Cannabis Climate in Omaha has done a complete 180!
May 1st fell apart at the last minute, but May 8th was the closest to The Rally We'd Like To See so far! Compared to our first year at the Gene Leahy Mall, which was more like a stand-off between police and protesters, and the second year which was much better police-wise but saw our first civilian opposition (A peaceful woman held a sign displaying her concern for the children), this year was a perfect slice of Heaven, I kid you not! The weather turned gorgeous. The people were kind and cheerful. THERE WAS NO OPPOSITION OF ANY KIND! There were groups from Lincoln who set up tables, and groups from Freemont and Norfolk were there, too.
80 people were there for the speeches, comfortably seated down by the "grassy steps." Jake Nowatzke opened and thanked everyone for coming, and talked about how we're all going to get together in this state to begin taking the changing of cannabis law seriously and professionally.
AJ talked about getting us bigger and better and about not being afraid anymore. We had the crowd cheer, "YES WE CANNABIS!" when we asked, "Can we change these laws?" Everyone did that great - it was beautiful to hear!
Then I told people to do this with ACCURATE VOTER EDUCATION and REGULAR CONTACT WITH LAWMAKERS. We can't let them truthfully say, "I haven't heard my constituents raise this concern." They WILL address this when properly pressured, and that's a Great Thing! :)
My husband talked about Law Enforcement Against Prohibition, mandatory minimum sentences, and the need to contact lawmakers. It's scary but oh, so important. He let us know that there are many in law enforcement who know that Drug Prohibition does more harm than good and brings shame to the profession.
Then we all just enjoyed each other's company and enjoyed being in the park, acting just like regular people do when they enjoy days at parks, the only difference being the polite but fear-free civil disobedience.
At about 4:40, the Lincoln group led a small crowd on a sidewalk march which turned out as nice as you'd ever want - GREAT JOB SHOWING US HOW IT'S DONE!!! I was not in the mood to go after accidentally helping to make us look bad last year by not doing better crowd control. I'm sure sorry about that - I aim to get better from experience.
It appears as if the city and we have made peace just fine, and if you appreciated the peace from the city, please tell me, Melanie, at "mmelz5 at yahoo.com" and I will relay the number of messages I receieve to them when I write up a nice Thank-You note. People love to get thank-you notes - can't get enough of that - could you?
This was the rally that officially began the Cannabis Movement in Nebraska - there is no doubt about that.

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Omaha's 2009 Global Marijuana March May 2nd AND 9th:
About 200 people got their names on a list to get active in NE, the weather was heaven-sent, and the police were very OK. The march down Howard street got a little difficult when the sidewalk was very full of people so we went into the empty street until we got told not to do that by the police, but still, that went peacefully (So I thought. Our free permit for the 2010 March was DENIED FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 3 YEARS DUE TO FAILURE TO CONTROL SOME ANGRY CUSSERS WHO HARASSED OUR AUDIENCE.) and we got on our way. This made me visit the police station again (Last year I had to report some unprofessional behavior) to THANK the police for being so nice on our day there.
The atmosphere was free and fun - everyone was so nice! It was all a beautiful time.

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Omaha's 2008 Global Marijuana March, May 3rd:
Much better than last year: 150 people, two marches (The route I planned had NO cars so a group of locals went on a march to where they KNEW some people would be - GREAT JOB!), real signs, media (Interview went well and made it on the news, but I never got the channel - I think it was for UNO), and a very positive crowd hungry for change. If you didn't make it to one of these inspiring events, you are not treating yourself very well, ha ha ha!

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Omaha's 2007 Global Marijuana March, May 5th:
IT WAS FANTASTIC!! Even though it threatened to rain, about 50 people showed up, tables were set up with lots of info and merchandise, a small band played, pipes and joints were passed freely, a few people had fun with me while holding up some signs, and there were no problems or mean police presence whatsoever! GO OMAHA!
(In case anyone is wondering, the person who collected your contact info at this event lost the list. SORRY!! But you can go to the "Omaha" page and join up through the YahooGroups link there - thanks!)

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(This is when I lived in Leavenworth, KS for a year.)
Kansas City, MO, 2006 Marijuana March:

If you live near Kansas City, and you didn't come to this event.... YOU MISSED OUT!!!! It was the best protest I have ever been to - even better than Seattle Hempfests because we were out in the public eye, getting "regular" people to THINK about the laws we live under! It was a blast - THANKS, MOHEMP!!!

First, there were about 80 people there on the corner, many holding signs for the cars. It was very positive, not angry or anything, and there were NO POLICE cars!! I felt so FREE! I'm sure they were there, but I really have to give KC Police a hand for not making us feel all hated and oppressed! THANK YOU, Kansas City, MO Police!!!

Then, after about 30 minutes, we all went on a sidewalk march - FUN!! People had fun chants, we were telling everyone that we are not criminals, that 8 billion dollars a year are spent for nothing, and people were amazed by us, but in a good way! People were honking, cheering, no negativity - it was a dream!

We walked on to this gorgeous park for great bands and motivating speakers. Again, Kansas City has shown brilliance by putting a park in downtown so well, you feel like you're in the middle of the woods!

It was the most peaceful, freedom-filled day I think I have ever had. Everyone was so nice. I just looked around at the groups of folks, talking quietly and having a relaxing time, and I wondered, "HOW could THIS be outlawed?"
Our laws must change, and soon.

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Here is what happened May 5th, 2006:

I dressed nicely and drove the 2 hrs to Topeka with a big, "Make Pot Legal 555.org" sign on the back glass while going 55 mph. (I believe in supporting our troops by not having them die for the oil we waste. 55 is faster than a horse!)

I just couldn't believe the coincidence. On the very opposite corner from the rep's office, there was a dedication of a memorial to fallen law enforcement officers going on. So, out of respect for the family members, I took my sign in the opposite direction, hoping to run into other people with signs like mine. I was stopped by one very friendly police officer who asked, "Are you for real?" and I gave him a flyer and explained how the police should never have to die in the drug war; how drug abuse is a health problem, not a law enforcement problem; and how I think the relationship between police and civilians has been hurt by the drug war. He was VERY receptive, but mostly amused, I think. He was nice, that's all I know!

I found a busy intersection, waved my sign happily & proudly, and I've never heard so many honks for legalization anywhere else - not even in California! Only 2 negative responses (No birds this time, yeay!) and it was GLORIOUS! I did not expect that from KANSAS! I stayed there about 90 minutes, then hand delivered some cannabis information to ex-Representative Ryun's office. It included an "End Cannabis Prohibition" flyer, a "Law Enforcement Against Prohibition" flyer, a personal testimony on how cannabis helped me, and a card from Americans for Safe Access about the rescheduling of cannabis. Then I went home, and it was a GREAT DAY FOR FREEDOM, Thank You, LORD!

May 2005 events are detailed on the "Things I've Done So Far" page. I hope all this is helpful to you! Rock On For Freedom!!!

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