420
Founder
MAYOR Sam Katz says it would be hypocritical to endorse a pot conference in Winnipeg while also pushing police to crack down on grow ops and gangs.
"This group more than any other group should know you can't suck and blow at the same time," said Katz. "And that's what they're asking me to do."
The Canadian Cannabis Coalition has been shopping around for the Canadian city best able to host what some organizers say will be the largest cannabis fair and conference ever held in Canada.
Called CannaFair 2006, it's slated for next fall and could have attracted as many as 4,000 medical marijuana advocates to Winnipeg. But organizer Paul Hughes said earlier this week that Katz had kiboshed Winnipeg's bid because he refused to write a letter of support for the conference.
But Katz said the Canadian Cannabis Coalition doesn't need his support to hold a conference in town. The conference would feature speakers, workshops, a concert and a trade fair with as many as 400 booths. Exhibitors would include organic pot-growing experts, health and research firms as well as companies specializing in pot-smoking paraphernalia.
Hughes says the conference has nothing to do with organized crime or gangs and instead is for people who use or grow small amounts of cannabis for medical reasons.
Meanwhile, yesterday, some coalition members sought to distance themselves from Hughes.
Tim Meehan, an Ottawa-based marijuana activist, said Hughes had jumped the gun by announcing that Katz had kiboshed Winnipeg's bid to host the conference.
Meehan said Vancouver and Toronto have always topped the list as likely host cities because that's where most of Canada's pot activists live and where most international flights land.
"Winnipeg was never given any serious consideration, to be honest, just because of geography," said Meehan.
Source: Winnipeg Free Press (CN MB)
Copyright: 2005 Winnipeg Free Press
Contact: letters@freepress.mb.ca
Website: Winnipeg Free Press – Breaking News, Sports, Manitoba, Canada
"This group more than any other group should know you can't suck and blow at the same time," said Katz. "And that's what they're asking me to do."
The Canadian Cannabis Coalition has been shopping around for the Canadian city best able to host what some organizers say will be the largest cannabis fair and conference ever held in Canada.
Called CannaFair 2006, it's slated for next fall and could have attracted as many as 4,000 medical marijuana advocates to Winnipeg. But organizer Paul Hughes said earlier this week that Katz had kiboshed Winnipeg's bid because he refused to write a letter of support for the conference.
But Katz said the Canadian Cannabis Coalition doesn't need his support to hold a conference in town. The conference would feature speakers, workshops, a concert and a trade fair with as many as 400 booths. Exhibitors would include organic pot-growing experts, health and research firms as well as companies specializing in pot-smoking paraphernalia.
Hughes says the conference has nothing to do with organized crime or gangs and instead is for people who use or grow small amounts of cannabis for medical reasons.
Meanwhile, yesterday, some coalition members sought to distance themselves from Hughes.
Tim Meehan, an Ottawa-based marijuana activist, said Hughes had jumped the gun by announcing that Katz had kiboshed Winnipeg's bid to host the conference.
Meehan said Vancouver and Toronto have always topped the list as likely host cities because that's where most of Canada's pot activists live and where most international flights land.
"Winnipeg was never given any serious consideration, to be honest, just because of geography," said Meehan.
Source: Winnipeg Free Press (CN MB)
Copyright: 2005 Winnipeg Free Press
Contact: letters@freepress.mb.ca
Website: Winnipeg Free Press – Breaking News, Sports, Manitoba, Canada
