Alexander Mikhailov, chief of interdepartmental and information department at Federal Service for Control of Drugs and Physiological Substances. The slogan on the poster reads: "Don't risk your neck, change menu."
Photo: Sergey Mikheev
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Marijuana Addicts Willing to Rally in Moscow
Russia’s Federal Service for Control of Drugs and Psychotropic Substances has urged authorities to ban a Hemp March that marijuana addicts are willing to stage in Moscow on May 5, Interfax reported.
”It is nothing else but drugs propaganda and clear provocation. The response of authorities to attempts of staging the Hemp March should be extremely tough and well-defined,” Lt-Gen Alexander Mikhailov told Interfax Friday. Mikhailov is the chief of interdepartmental and information department at Federal Service for Control of Drugs and Physiological Substances.
Judging by Internet reports, marijuana advocates will attempt tomorrow to stage Hemp March in 13 cities of Russia, including Moscow and St. Petersburg.
In Moscow, the plan is to arrange promenade at the Main Exhibition Center and to march in the Central Administrative District, demanding to “legalize medical and recreation use of hemp and to stop discriminating hemp consumers.” The arrangers say they have properly notified Moscow authorities about the event.
So far, the authorities have suppressed all attempts of marihuana adherents to stage rallies.
Of interest is that the right advocates see nothing criminal in marihuana rallies. “I think the march arrangers have the right to hold it,” Lev Ponomarev, leader of For Human Rights public movement, said, forecasting that the force will be used to break the march. “Nowadays, all marches are prohibited here unless they have been arranged by pro-government’s movements,” Ponomarev explained.
www.kommersant.com
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