BRATISLAVA, May 6, (WEBNOVINY) — Starting a genuinely professional discussion in society about decriminalization of marijuana is the basic aim of organizers of the third gathering called Million Marijuana March, which will be held on Saturday, May 7, at noon at Freedom Square in front of the Cabinet Office in Bratislava. „We want the debate shifted to a professional level, to formalize it, so that it is no longer a political debate, but a debate of people who know something about the plant,“ said media coordinator of the event, Daniel Hromada at a news conference on Friday.
„The event aims to educate, open a public discussion, and help improve awareness of the benefits of hemp. It is absurd that in the third millennium, a decision on whether someone will be deprived of his freedom or not is made on the basis of myths and prejudices and not expertise. We believe that the freedom to change states of consciousness, of course, if the change of these states is not having a negative impact on other people, is directly contained in the Charter of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms,“ said Hromada. Organizers of the gathering have already presented the text of their a challenge to the public, by which they wish to achieve the formation of an expert commission, which should answer the question whether for the future of Slovakia it would be better to criminalize alcohol or decriminalize marijuana.
Peter Kalis, MP for liberal ruling coalition member SaS, which together with his party colleagues attended the press conference as a guest, said he believes a suitable way to break the taboo of the topics of cannabis is its use medicinal purposes. „SaS party has prepared a proposal to allow its use for people for whom it is the last hope to relieve their suffering,“ he announced, adding there is a provisional agreement in the coalition on this initiative. Among the diseases for which cannabis could have positive effects he mentioned Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and certain cancers.
Another SaS MP Martin Poliacik believes that a trend is now beginning to prevail in Europe to punish dealers, not users of marijuana. „In the Czech Republic process lasted nearly ten years from the first calls until enactment of the law, I believe with us it will be a few years the less,“ he said.
Organizers of the event point out that surveys from 2008 show that 26.4 percent of people aged 15 to 26 years had some experience with cannabis, while consumption significantly increased among university students. „About fifty percent of university students could thus leave school not only with a diploma, but also a record in the criminal register because of that experience,” the organizers say.
The event will be held in Bratislava after seven years. It was held for the first time in 2003 and then a year later. The SaS had decriminalizing marijuana in its election program. However, it did not make it into the government’s program because of opposition from coalition partners. Droba calls it politically naďve. „Decriminalization is and remains our agenda and we fully support it. Today we would have been much more resolute,” he said.
Finally, Poliacik pointed out that under current legislation, possession of any quantity of marijuana is not allowed and urged people to come to the event „clean“. „It should be a peaceful march, not a provocation, which would warrant some great police maneuvers,“ he said.
SITA