The World Cannabis Marches take place this weekend (and on May 11 in Paris)!

May has arrived, and with it, the opportunity for pro-cannabis activists worldwide to take to the streets to make their voices heard. Indeed, after International Cannabis Day on April 20th (420), The second date on the global cannabis calendar is fast approaching. The first Saturday of May traditionally marks the World Cannabis Marches, which celebrate cannabis culture. The streets of major cities around the world come alive in a united movement against prohibition.

The cannabis parade is in the streets

The cannabis march tradition dates back to 1999. They take place in major cities around the world under different names: Global Marijuana March, Million Marijuana March, Cannabis Liberation Day etc. They celebrate cannabis as a culture and a way of life and aim to communicate, educate, and share on the subject to combat the stigma surrounding its consumption. The most well-known marches are those in New York, Toronto, Paris, Berlin, and London, but there are approximately sixty countries that hold them.

In France, two major Cannaparades will march. The Lyon march will take place on Saturday, May 4th, starting from Place Carnot at 2:30 PM. The Paris march will be held on the second Saturday of the month, May 11th. Both protests condemn France for having some of the most restrictive cannabis laws while also being among the largest cannabis consumers. The «Manifesto of the 5 Million» published on the march website reminds us of the sad reality for French cannabis consumers: «Other countries have never advanced so much, France remains stuck. (...) It's 5 million people that it ignores.».

The crowd of cannabis enthusiasts, who continue to be treated as criminals, and patients whose health depends on cannabis and who cannot access it, this crowd, usually silenced and underground, will have the opportunity to make itself heard on this occasion. Strengthened by the international context of cannabis policy liberalization, its demands will be carried by the force of the arguments that presided over the Canadian and American legalizations.

To participate, Meeting at Place de la Bastille on Saturday the 11th, starting at 1 p.m. The procession will begin at 3 p.m. and will go to the Place de la République. It will be accompanied by musical floats, entertainment, and speeches from associations and their representatives. All in good spirits and a great atmosphere.