‘Operation Cannabis’: Anonymous Calls for Legalising Marijuana on 20 April [VIDEO]

Anonymous group of hacktivists and computer programmers plan to protest against the political ban on marijuana, which has been labelled as illegal drugs by the government. The hacktivist group announces Operation Cannabis for 20 April, the day celebrated by many as 'national marijuana smoking day', to push for the legalisation of marijuana.

Operation Cannabis already features a blog, a Twitter hashtag (#opCannabis), a Facebook page comprising 950 fans and a YouTube video (posted above). According to the minute-long video circulating the internet, Anonymous requests support from the people to legalise marijuana by making their social media profiles and avatars go green on 20 April.

A post on youranonnews.com seeks attention for the Occupy movement for marijuana legalisation on 20 April 2012. The message takes a new twist with Anonymous usual signature trademark:

"WE ARE ANONYMOUS.
WE ARE LEGION for legalization!
WE DO NOT FORGIVE the crimes of the War on Drugs.
WE DO NOT FORGET our brothers + sisters locked up because of it.
EXPECT US," reads the message.

Anonymous highlights several key points in the post that are used in most pro-marijuana arguments. "It is common knowledge that both nicotine and alcohol are more addictive and more dangerous that marijuana," writes Anonymous. The hacker group also points to scientific studies that demonstrate Marijuana's ability to impede and even prevent the growth of cancer cells in humans. Listing the plant as illegal banned drugs has caused a drastic increase in the number of incarcerated Americans, who have become a drain on the economy and society after being jailed for possession. Furthermore, the drug's illegal status has inspired the birth of vast organized crime distributors, while if marijuana was legal it could be controlled and taxed by the government.

Back at opcannabis.wordpress.com, a manifesto brands the "war On Drugs" as a lie perpetuated by the pharmaceutical and prison industries. The post ends with an urgent call for action:

"We are approaching the 11 billion dollar mark that the government has spent on the drug war this year alone and have put millions of nonviolent offenders behind bars. This is a true crime against humanity and needs to end! Saying cannabis is a dangerous drug and is not a medicine is NOT a noble lie....it is simply a lie!"