One of Vancouver’s most outspoken advocates for the legalization of marijuana has been charged with drug trafficking after a cannabis seed giveaway in Calgary.

Dana Larsen was in the Alberta city Wednesday night on the second stop of his “Overgrow Canada” cross-country tour to distribute one million seeds – to be planted in public places.

With a heavy police presence outside, Larsen spoke to the standing-room only audience at the rally for about an hour about the legalization of weed and then began the giveaway.

He apparently then went outside when he heard about a rally volunteer being arrested, and that’s when he was detained himself.

Before being led away by police, Larsen told supporters that he will continue to give away more marijuana seeds.

“The police are not going to stop what we’re doing in this movement. This is a peaceful, transparent civil disobedience and we’re going to make change together,” he said.

On Wednesday, the Calgary Police Service announced Larsen is facing one count of trafficking marijuana and one count of possession for the purposes of trafficking.

The force said Larsen was taken into custody after he continued to distribute more seed packages outside the rally after speaking to a Calgary Police Services Inspector.

“He was openly trafficking marijuana seeds. It’s not really a grey area for us when it comes to trafficking,” Insp. Mike Bossley of the Investigative Operations Section told reporters at a Calgary press conference.

“We will enforce the laws that are in place, and that’s really the message. If you traffic controlled substances we will enforce that.”

The director of Sensible BC, a movement to remove marijuana from Canada’s Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, Larsen admits he is encouraging civil disobedience in a push to have marijuana legalized in Canada.

Larsen’s van, which was allegedly full of seeds and marijuana, was also seized from the scene.

“A search of the van belonging to the event organizer resulted in the seizure of 119 grams of marijuana worth approximately $1,190, 1,097 grams of marijuana seeds worth approximately $30,000, and a small amount of cannabis resin and oil,” read a statement from the force.

Larsen was released from custody and is scheduled to appear in court on May 18.

The other person arrested at the rally was released without charges.

The activist is scheduled to speak tonight in Edmonton. Larsen says his tour will continue but he will no longer be handing out seeds, as per his police-ordered bail conditions.

With files from CTV Vancouver’s Julie Nolin and CTV Calgary

 

 

 

I'm out of jail, and have done many interviews so far. The Overgrow Canada tour continues! But I won't be giving out...

Posted by Dana Larsen on Thursday, April 7, 2016