Marijuana march set for May 1

Proponents hope to raise awareness, erase stereotypes

By HEIDI DESCH / Hungry Horse News

In an effort to create awareness, a group of volunteers plans to hold a medical marijuana march on May 1 in Columbia Falls.

"We're hoping to create a forum where people can speak freely and ask questions," said Dan Decker, who is spearheading the event.

The event is part of the 2010 Worldwide Marijuana March, an event held in more than 300 cities around the world to promote the legalization of marijuana.

Decker said he chose Columbia Falls as the location for the march because the city's response to medical marijuana dispensaries wasn't negative like other cities in the county.

"We want to give back because of how open the city has been to us," Decker said.

Last month the Columbia Falls City Council chose to treat medical marijuana dispensaries the same as any other legal business. A 2004 Montana law legalized marijuana for medical use. Registered marijuana growers and suppliers — known as caregivers — can provide marijuana to medical patients with a doctor's prescription.

Decker said the goal of the march is to show support for medical marijuana use, but also to answer questions for those who have concerns.

Caregivers and those who use medical marijuana are expected to attend the event and provide information.

Decker himself uses medical marijuana to help with reflex sympathetic dystrophy, a chronic neurological condition that affects the muscles, joints and bones.

He said there are a lot of myths surrounding medical marijuana and the people who use it. Decker wants to change that.

"We're not looking to promote drug use or illegal drug use," he said.

Participants will gather at the north end of Nucleus Avenue around noon on Saturday, May 1. The march begins at 1 p.m., when people will walk on the sidewalks south and onto U.S. Highway 2. Marchers will disperse near the Sixth Avenue West intersection.

Decker said the march will be silent, but participants will carry signs. About 400 participants are expected.

Volunteers and security personnel will be provided to ensure that people cross roads safely and do not disrupt business activity along the route. A clean up crew will also walk the route following the march.

"We have enough staff to handle up to 2,000 marchers, but we don't expect that many," Decker said.

In preparation for the march, Decker said, he talked to business owners along the route. He said the response was largely positive.

Organizers expect the march to benefit the economy by bringing people in who will spend money at local businesses.

"Our economy needs it — not a lot of people come and spend money here this time of year," Decker said. "With a positive response we can turn this into an annual event."

Decker stressed that the event is not a protest, but a chance to educate people about marijuana and the people who use it.

"We're not the stereotype of what you think," Decker said. "Chances are you work with somebody who is a patient or know somebody who is a patient, but don't know they are."