Pot parades around the world

TORONTO (Reuters) - Thousands of marijuana enthusiasts marched in downtown Toronto on Saturday, many openly smoking the drug as part of a globally coordinated rally meant to celebrate cannabis culture and push for the drug's legalization.

Police were content to let marchers -- who mostly appeared to be in their late teens to early 30s -- light up at will as they strolled along Toronto's Bloor Street shopping thoroughfare, chanting slogans like "free the weed," as amused motorists honked their approval.

The Global Marijuana March, scheduled to take place in 200 cities across the globe on Saturday with Toronto hosting the flagship event -- is in its 10th year, organizers said.

The event has grown in popularity in Toronto in recent years as the issue of marijuana legalization has become a political hot potato.

Canada's previous Liberal government tried to decriminalize marijuana earlier this decade, but the subsequent Conservative government killed the bill when it came to power in 2006.

Marijuana is not generally legal in Canada, but Canadian pot laws are generally more lenient than those in the United States. The federal government runs a medical marijuana program for patients who can demonstrate a need for it.

Nearly 500 people took to Stephen Avenue on Saturday to show their support for the medicinal use of marijuana.

"There are myths about marijuana and unfortunately people do not know how much it can help people who are suffering," said march organizer Keith Fagin.

About a dozen police officers patrolled the event, arresting three people. But police said the crowd was mainly calm and well behaved.

Rolling out at high noon May 3, the Ninth Annual Million Marijuana March smoked through downtown Portland as part of Oregon NORML’s protest of pot prohibition and to support the use of medicinal marijuana through Oregon's sometimes controversial Medical Marijuana Act.

Cops gathered on Broadway. Lights were flashing. Signs were waving. A cool drizzle was settling in.

“Relax it and tax it,” the crowd chanted.

“God made marijuana, man made beer,” some exclaimed—though it wasn't clear which one was supposed to be better.

A hazy tension filled the air.

A “bunch” is an understatement, actually -- several hundred pro-marijuana supporters gathered at Steele Indian School Park on Saturday, May 3 for the Global Marijuana March. The march, which started at 4:20 p.m. (420 being head code for “time to smoke some marijuana”) was Phoenix’s contribution to a global event that saw several cities around the nation and world marching for marijuana law reform.