In the two years that Cannabis Canada has been in existence, about 200,000 Canadians have experienced the humiliation of being arrested for marijuana possession. Of these, about 70,000 have been convicted and been given the life-long burden of a criminal record, and an additional 12,000 have suffered the indignity and brutality of being sent to prison. Countless others have been harassed, intimidated, and verbally and physically abused by police and other authorities, all simply for having a few grams of green flowers in their pocket. These numbers will only increase when the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act is finally put into force.

Yet don’t let these horrific figures fool you: there is no war on drugs. Drugs far more dangerous than those which are banned are easily available across Canada and around the world. They are advertised on TV, prescribed by doctors and sold in corner stores.
    What is called the War on Drugs is actually a war against an idea, the idea that people can be free to consume whatever herbs and substances they choose, to medicate themselves as they see fit, and to be free from unreasonable state interference into their body and mind.

This war is fought on TV and in the papers every day. The weapons used against us are fear and ignorance. The prizes to be won are the usual, power and money, to be gained by winning control over as many bodies and minds as possible. The victims of this war are society’s traditional scapegoats: the young and the poor. They are punished and held up as examples for the rest of us, so that we will feel ashamed and afraid, too ashamed and afraid to speak out or admit that we too are a part of this universally oppressed minority.

Prohibition touches all Canadians. We all suffer from the loss of civil liberties, the increase in crime and violence, the high price of synthetic pharmaceutical drugs, the shame and fear and mistrust upon which prohibition breeds and feeds and thrives. We cannot fight this oppression if we are too frightened to admit that it affects us all. It is important and necessary for all Canadians to realize that they are victims of what is called the War on Drugs, and that it is up to them, up to you dear reader, to do something about it.

Make no mistake about it, there is plenty you can do. Every movement is a collection of motivated individuals. When you’ve read “Homegrown Revolution” in this issue you’ll have some ideas as to how to put on rallies and otherwise educate your community. If you’ve got a few dollars to invest and are looking for rewarding and challenging work, then pick up a copy of our Fall 95 issue and learn how to open a hemp store. Writing a letter a week is an excellent and easy contribution, send them to different media and government officials, responding to current events and expressing your ideas about prohibition. Or just send some money to anti-prohibitionist organizations, it’s an investment in your future and that of your children.

Don’t just daydream about how wonderful it would be if marijuana were growing free, make it happen. You can make a difference. Only you can free marijuana.