Marijuana users held a rally in Halifax on Saturday with hopes of creating a call to action to quicken the legalization process.
“We voted for the red because of the green, and they let us down,” said advocate Chris Backer. “With Justin (Trudeau) supposedly legalizing, the fact that we're still putting people in jail for cannabis is crazy.”
Backer advocates for people who have been charged for their medical use of the drug and wants to see fewer pot-related arrests.
“It’s just a plant,” he said. “I keep coming back to that. It’s just a plant and people are having their lives ruined over it.”
Debbie Stulz-Giffen of Maritimers United for Medical Marijuana agrees.
“We're putting out the plea to Bill Blair to please, stop arresting patients until a constitutional medical cannabis program can be put in place to protect patients so they’re not being forced to choose between their liberty and their health,” said Stulz-Giffen.
Liberal MP Bill Blair says the government will introduce new legislation to legalize pot next spring.
“I will ensure there are regulations based upon a public health frame work,” said Blair.
On the Liberal’s website, the government says it will legalize, regulate and restrict marijuana
Debora Snow, who has been diagnosed with breast cancer three times, hopes their promise of legalization would make getting cannabis oil easier.
“It is time for people to take a stand and stand up to our government who had made promises,” said Snow. “They should be protecting the cannabis patients, not arresting them.”
Snow says she doesn’t want to wait a year for that.
With files from CTV Atlantic’s Kelly Linehan.
