South Africans march in defense of cannabis

Million Marijuana Marchers took to the streets across the globe on May Day this year but the only march on the entire continent of Africa took place in Cape Town. According to main organizer Andre du Plessis, over 600 South Africans demonstrated in support of the legalisation of cannabis and to promote its potential use in low-cost building materials and medicine.

Du Plessis, an information technology engineer, said he had undertaken a
six-year study and found that it could be used in low-cost housing. "My research shows that we can deliver a 82 sq metre house for 15,000 rand ($2,188) which is three times the size of a house which is being currently built using conventional methods.

"These houses can be built with bricks made out of the stalk of the hemp and mixed with lime and sand. The houses will be thermal with great insulation."

"But the most interesting information is that it can help in fighting cancer tumours ... and lead to remission in various parts of the body but most importantly in the brain."

Du Plessis on Saturday stressed that the vast majority of the marchers were professionals -- not druggies and further noted that marchers were instructed not to consume cannabis while participating.

This in fact was a recurring theme in all the marches this year. What used to be a sort of excuse to hang out peaceably and get high in the sunshine once a year has now become a event of greater political import. No one wants the message that we are responsible consumers to get lost in a haze of marijuana smoke.

UPDATE: I forgot to mention the one place where the original spirit of the holiday is allowed to continue in peace was Canada -- where sensible policy reigns and consumers don't live in fear-- the mass marches were wreathed in the stuff and nothing bad happened. It was a celebration, not an alcohol induced riot. Furthermore, I've heard at least one report of a marcher posing with a law enforcement officer while smoking a marijuana cigarette. Leads me to believe a good time was had by all.