17th Annual Portland Global Cannabis March & Rally this Saturday

Event begins at HIGH NOON at Pioneer Courthouse Square featuring Garcia Birthday Band, The Hill Dogs, Mack & Dub, Bad Habitat, Justin James Bridges and John Cornett & Friends; the March kicks off at 4 pm.

Jay Searls and Justin Bridges lead the march as thousands make their way through downtown Portland. (2014) Photo by Bonnie King, Salem-News.com

(PORTLAND, Ore.) - On Saturday, May 7, 2016, nearly 300 cities worldwide, including Portland, Oregon, will participate in the 17th Annual Global Cannabis March.

Portland participants will gather in Pioneer Courthouse Square for a rally that begins at 12:00pm, with a scheduled cannabis freedom march beginning at 4pm through downtown. An impressive list of performers will be on stage until 6pm.

The stage is being dedicated to Dr. Phillip Leveque, who worked tirelessly for medical marijuana patients in Oregon and beyond. He passed away a year ago, May 2, which was Global Cannabis Day last year. An appropriate date for him to make his exit.

Bonnie King, Salem-News.com, will be opening the ceremonies with a dedication to "Doc" Leveque, at High Noon.

Musicians Garcia Birthday Band, The Hill Dogs, Mack & Dub and the Smokin' Section, Bad Habitat, Justin James Bridges and John Cornett & Friends have joined the lineup for the rally. There will also be several guest speakers and non-profit organization booths.

Why People Around the World March For Cannabis

We march so cities and counties do not impose onerous regulations which offer little protection to the consumer or the non-consumer of marijuana. These choices only drive the cost of marijuana up and allow the unregulated market to thrive.

We march to push for privacy protections for medical patients and users, smart and fair regulations, increased availability of expungement for those with prior marijuana convictions and decreased criminal penalties for the remaining marijuana crimes.

According to Anna Diaz of Parents 4 Pot, “Even though legalization is now a reality in Oregon, we have much work to do. We march to support our medical program, which we need to save from the legislature. We march to remove the stigma that responsible cannabis consumers suffer.

"We march to show solidarity with people in parts of Oregon who cannot march openly in support of marijuana. Portland is not like other parts of Oregon when it comes to marijuana.”

“We march to remind the public that we still have prisoners of the drug war who need to be freed. We march in remembrance of the warriors we have lost along the way. And we march to celebrate our hard-fought victories to show prohibitionists that we will continue this fight until our freedom is complete,” continued Diaz.

One of the march sponsors, Paul Loney of Loney Law Group, said, "Measure 91 was only the beginning. We need to protect the rights of renters, employees, and adult responsible users. Do we fire people for using tobacco or alcohol on the weekend? Do evict renters for brewing their own beer at home? If cigar bars are allowed, why not cannabis lounges? We march here to support those here in the US and around the world who cannot be public with their responsible use of marijuana."

According to Scott Gordon, the Executive Director of Portland NORML, “As issues like federal scheduling continue to suppress cannabis freedom nationally, it's important to maintain a grassroots level of activism such as participating in events like the Global Cannabis March.”

The ACLU of Oregon's Legislative Director Kimberly McCullough spoke out in support of the march saying, “We continue to be involved in this effort because we want Oregon’s experience with legal marijuana to be a successful model for other states so we can finally change federal policy.”

To continue tradition, a bio-diesel bus has confirmed they will be offering FREE RIDES along the march route to the disabled. The bus will be parked nearby the Pioneer Square for boarding. There will also be ASL interpreters for the hearing impaired. Come out and have your voice heard!

Who: Nearly three hundred cities worldwide, including Portland, Oregon, will participate in the annual Global Cannabis March.

What: 17th Annual Global Cannabis March

When: Saturday, May 7, 2016 - 12:00pm-6pm (March at 4pm!)

Where: Pioneer Courthouse Square - 701 SW 6th Avenue, Portland, OR 97204

Why: To bring an end the failed war on cannabis!

For more information: facebook.com/gcm.portland Facebook event Page: facebook.com/events/1682927788591727/

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Event Schedule

Emcee Scott Gordon, Portland NORML 12:00-12:05 - Opening Ceremony - Bonnie King - Dedicated to Dr. Phillip Leveque

12:05-12:30 - Band - John Cornett & Friends

12:30-12:35 - Kristin Flor, Voices of the Cannabis War

12:35-12:40 - Granny Patton, Patient Advocate

12:40-12:45 - Bradley Steinman, Attorney

12:45-1:10 - Band - Justin James Bridges

1:10-1:15 - Eric Lewallen, CRRH

1:15-1:20 - Madeline Martinez, WFCC

1:20-1:25 - John Lucy IV, Attorney

1:25-1:30 - Jessie Sponberg, Portland Mayoral Candidate

1:30-1:55 - Band - Bad Habitat

1:55-2:00 - Scott Gordon, Emcee

2:00-2:05 - Lindsey Rinehart, Activist

2:05-2:30 - Band - Mack & Dub

2:35-2:40 - Rachel Kurtz, Portland NORML

2:40-2:45 - Anna Diaz, Parents 4 Pot

2:45-2:50 - Oregon State Treasurer Ted Wheeler, Portland Mayoral Candidate

2:50-2:55 - TBA

2:55-3:00 - Leland Berger, Attorney

3:00-3:30 - Band - The Hill Dogs

3:35-3:40 - Paul Loney, Oregon Marijuana Law

3:40-3:45 - Jenifer Valley, Candidate Clackamas County Commissioner 3, Stoney Girl Gardens

3:45-3:50 - Keynote Speaker - Elvy Musikka, Federal Medical Marijuana Patient

3:50-3:55 - Keynote Speaker - Kimberly McCullough, ACLU Legislative Director

3:55-4:00 - Keynote Speaker TBA

4:00-4:30 - MARCH THROUGH DOWNTOWN PORTLAND

4:30-4:35 - Keynote Speaker TBA

4:35-4:40 - Keynote Speaker TBA

4:40-6:00 - Band – Garcia Birthday Band

Dr. Phillip Leveque, RIP, which Portland's Global Cannabis Memorial Stage will hereby be dedicated to.

Source: Portland NORML news release

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