Cannabis Day celebrated with marijuana farmers market in downtown Vancouver

Although most Canadians would equate Canada Day with doughnuts and snow cones, some gathered to mark the nation’s birthday with more adventurous fare.

Marijuana enthusiasts set up a farmers market in the Vancouver Art Gallery plaza, where rows of pot vendors in pop-up tents sold an assortment of marijuana products ranging from dried goods to brownies.

Activist David Malmo-Levine says the spirit of the gathering is to advocate for the legalization of marijuana and encourage greater tolerance of the substance.

“We want to make sure that everyone who wants to smoke can smoke,” says Malmo-Levine.

Malmo-Levine says that although it’s not legal to buy and sell marijuana in Vancouver, police officers tolerate the event and don’t arrest any of the vendors.

Doug Sikora came down from the Sunshine Coast to sell marijuana-infused candies. He says they helped him kick a hard drug habit.

"They're not addictive, naturally grown, me and my wife make them ourselves," says Sikora.

As for what all of this has to do with Canada Day — for some, it’s about freedom.

"Canada is a place of choice, a place of refuge for many,” says a participant who goes by the name Captain Cannabis.

“It's everyone's right to do what they think is best for themselves.”