London Police made good on their promise and arrested the first man who decided to light up during the 4/20 demonstration in Victoria Park.
The arrest was met with protest and outrage from the crowd that had gathered throughout the afternoon.
The man claimed to have a medical marijuana licence, but police say it was outdated and he will be charged.
Every year on April 20, pot smokers gather in the park to protest the fact that marijuana possession is still criminal in Canada. Police issued a warning earlier in the day stating that smoking of any kind is illegal on city property and it would not be tolerated.
"This is an approach by London police that is unnecessary and it has caused commotion where none need exist," says demonstration organizer Eric Sheppard. "The enforcement strategy being practiced is utterly absurd. It's expensive, it's unnecessary and it poses a risk...These events across the country and across the world are part of a conversation that needs to be happening, we need to start looking at drug use and drug culture to look at new ways that we can form legislation that will be less harmful to society and our economy."
About 10 uniformed police officers were stationed in Victoria Park, some on bikes and some in nearby cruisers.
"We are enforcing the drug laws as they exist today," says London Police Service Sgt. David Ellyatt. " I don't think it's excessive, we are here to make sure public safety is there and that's what we did."
Meanwhile, others believe the police should let the events of the day unfold every year.
"Something like medical marijuana should be accessible to people, you shouldn't be arrested for it. The Supreme Court of Canada actually said it was unconstitutional to be arrested for it, but the London cops will still arrest you just for lighting a joint up," says Kevin Jones. "We're here to advocate...decriminalize it back to the stages where you could grow your own plant and smoke it and not be arrested."
The demonstration in Victoria Park lasted for about an hour. Only one person was taken into police custody.
