Grassroots Activists Head to the Nation's Capitol to End Cannabis Prohibition

Millions to gather "in hopes to cease lies and propaganda in the cannabis world"

(SALEM, Ore.) - Overgrow The Government, a group of grassroots activists, is calling on a million supporters, hemp farmers and protesters alike to join together for a protest march in Washington D.C. to demand an end to cannabis prohibition.

Consumption and sale of cannabis was legal in most American states until 1937. At that point, the plant became a hot topic for William Randolph Hearst, DuPont, Harry Anslinger, and the US Congress. Since then, cannabis prohibition has cost Americans billions of dollars, and over 800,000 people are arrested and/or incarcerated every year.

Overgrow The Government is making a tangible statement against this waste, and seeks an end to cannabis prohibition. On Friday, the organizers set up a logistical meeting with DC and believe that "the months of battling are over" and the permit needed for the event has been acquired.

The march will take place on April 20th, 2011 (4-20-11), beginning at 10:00 a.m. and running through the day. The starting location is to be announced, but the plan is for the march to end at the Capitol Stairs in Washington D.C.

Overgrow The Government is a movement of people tired of the lies and propaganda associated with cannabis prohibition and have taken a firm stand against it.

The unofficial organization was started when grassroots activist, Jason Warf viewed a protest at the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) headquarters in which hemp farmers planted hemp seeds.

Jack Herer, 9/08 Photo: Austin King

“To me this was a metaphor for what I see that needs to happen; I knew that with science, medicine, and numbers on our side now is the time to change these laws," said Warf.

Following the protest, he took his idea and posted it as an event on Facebook to see what kind of feedback he would get. Within the first week, the protest received an overwhelming response from various organizations which proved he had to turn his idea into reality.

He took on small group of activists as board members and started planning the event in the nation's capitol.

With a guest list now expanding over 10,000 and nearly 2,000 already expected to attend, the showing at our nation's capitol is bound to be impressive.

Lest we forget, 4/20 has been designated as "Jack Herer Day". Jack, the Emperor of Hemp, dedicated his life to sharing the truth about hemp/cannabis, so it is very fitting that his dream of ending cannabis prohibition would move forward on this special day.

Jack would say, "Hemp will save the world!" and if given a chance, it just may. April 20th could be a giant step in that direction.

Publisher Bonnie King has been with Salem-News.com since August '04. Bonnie has served in a number of positions in the broadcast industry; TV Production Manager at KVWB (Las Vegas WB) and Producer/Director for the TV series "Hot Wheels in Las Vegas", TV Promotion Director for KYMA (NBC), and KFBT (Ind.), Asst. Marketing Director (SUPERSHOPPER MAGAZINE), Director/Co-Host (Coast Entertainment Show), Radio Promotion Director (KBCH/KCRF), and NIE/Circulation Sales Manager (STATESMAN JOURNAL NEWSPAPER). Bonnie has a depth of understanding that reaches further than just behind the scenes, and that thoroughness is demonstrated in the perseverance to correctly present each story with the wit and wisdom necessary to compel and captivate viewers. View articles written by Bonnie King

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Dray February 26, 2011 12:12 am (Pacific time)

I hope you get 10 million people.I feel like the Gov. will stand there with their smugg look and laugh at us.Gov.keeps cartel and street dealers working.

jason February 2, 2011 11:41 am (Pacific time)

Don, I don't understand folks with your attitude! Do me a favor and tell me when the last anti-prohibition protest of our current size was? Also, what exactly are you doing to end prohibition? All my best!

Bruce Cain January 25, 2011 7:05 pm (Pacific time)

I'm 150% for complete Re-Legalization and was a good friend of Jack Herer's: http://www.newagecitizen.com/MERP/RelegalizeNowObama54.htm

Michael Wolf segal January 23, 2011 12:30 pm (Pacific time)

If you can't make it to DC, organize to legalize in your home town. Whatever you do, please wear a clearly visible green armband while you're doing it.

Anonymous January 23, 2011 12:26 pm (Pacific time)

If you can make it to DC, do it. If you can't, organize to legalize in your own home town. Even if you do neither: Please help send out an international call for legalization. “How?” 50 years ago a gay couple walking down the street holding hands was at serious risk of being physically attacked. Today gay marriage is legal in some places and on the table in others. What brought about this change? It was the extreme courage of the many gay folk who risked losing everything they had, including their families, by "coming out." When the general public learned that who they'd been despising and discriminating against was their neighbors, their friends, and their own families, things changed. The Armband Proposal is meant to be a massive coming-out of us--the people who want an end to prohibition. The idea is for everyone to see that we too are their family, their friends, and their neighbors. Be one of the pebbles that start our avalanche. In Nazi Germany (before the camps) Jews were required to wear a Star of David and Homosexuals to wear a pink triangle. On April 20, 2011 everyone who wants prohibition to be repealed should wear an armband with the image of a cannabis leaf on it. If millions of us are literally wearing our feelings on our sleeves that day the mass media will not be able to ignore it. The business world will regard us as a financially significant demographic. It will also send a clear message to the politicians that the time has come to repeal prohibition. This will be most effective if you just go on with whatever else you would have been doing, i.e. if you were going to a smoke-in, burn one for us. If you were going to go plant a zillion seeds, go for it! If you were going to work, go. Just be sure you’re wearing an armband with “Legalize Now!” on it. Local groups could sell these armbands at minimal price to raise funds to do their work with. Please help yourself by joining us in getting the word out to as many people as we can. If each of us contacts 5 people there will be millions of us on 4/20/2011!! Anything you can think of to help us make it clear that wearing the armband only means you want an end to prohibition, not necessarily that you, yourself, are a consumer would be greatly appreciated. http://www.causes.com/causes/553550-the-armband-proposal?recruiter_id=116322514

ElectroPig Von FökkenGrüüven January 22, 2011 6:41 am (Pacific time)

They've definitely got the right idea: We need to make our displeasure felt by those

Kelly January 22, 2011 6:00 am (Pacific time)

Well done!!! Great article Bonnie! Peace

Don McAdams January 22, 2011 3:12 pm (Pacific time)

The idea of overgrowing the government dates back over 20 years, in Jack Herer's book! This Jason character has done nothing new, and fails to realize that this idea has never worked because of logistics. 1) A lot of people can't afford the travel, 2) Do you know how many 'stoner' events there are in this country on that day?! I support the idea still, but all I can say to Jason, aka stickmanisahippy, or whoever you are... is good luck. I think you wasted time and money gettin' the permit...

ElectroPig Von Fokkengruuven January 22, 2011 12:11 pm (Pacific time)

I've always like this concept, but I didn't think it went far enough.

I think that we'll be stopping far short of the mark if we only plan to "overgrow the government."

We need to Overgrow The World!

Plant a few seeds in public places in YOUR OWN HOME TOWN, and let THE WORLD know that we want free access to safe, non-toxic food, fuel, medicine, and so much more!

Overgrow The World on facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=119870861377116

OTW's GLOBAL Public Plantings:
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=127504587263220

or just google "Overgrow The World" and you'll find us...

Peter Reynolds January 22, 2011 2:59 am (Pacific time)

"The success of the event depends on everyone in the cannabis world coming together in D.C to demand an end to prohibition and continue to do so in the years to come until a change is made," said Jason Warf. It has obviously Jason's chauvinist, insular, narrow mind that teh "cannabis world" extends beyond the borders of the USA!

Come on people January 21, 2011 5:30 pm (Pacific time)

We should be supporting this in mass.

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