With the legalization of marijuana on the horizon, pot advocates in Greater Sudbury are trying to raise awareness of the benefits of the drug.
About 50 people joined in Sudbury 4-20 activities Friday afternoon at the York Street parking lot near Bell Park.
Sudbury 4-20 spokesperson Jason Laface said he's been in the cannabis industry for a while, as part of the black market in the past, but with legalization coming, he said growers and dealers are being encouraged to leave that behind.
He said about four years ago, he joined forces with a group down in Toronto and the 4-20 movement was born.
“I learned a lot from those guys, and when I was moving back to Sudbury, they encouraged me to get run a 4-20 group here,” he said. “It's all about awareness. Scientific studies show the benefits of marijuana, and that's what we want to educate the public about — the medicinal aspects of marijuana.”
Wesley Stewart was among the participants in the Sudbury 420 event. He's been smoking marijuana for about 30 years.
“Marijuana isn't something that should be smoked behind closed doors any more,” Stewart said.
He said legalization isn't going to change the way he partakes in it.
“I work hard everyday, and I just want to sit back and relax with it,” he said. “When it's legal, I'll have more options to get it.”
There was a "group blaze" at 4:20 p.m.
Two other 4-20 themed events were also held last week. The Asylum hosted Sesh*Fest 2018, a comedy-music 4-20 celebration featuring four comics and three bands. For more on that event, click here.
