The successful ones (if any of them can be called successes outside of making our presence known) in the US are often sponsored by the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) and the Marijuana Policy Project (MPP). The New York branch of the Global Marijuana March (1st Sat in May) is helped by CuresNotWars which is run by former members of the 60s radical group the Youth International Party (Yippies). In more recent years, MPP and NORML along with High Times have been less than supportive of CuresNotWars, prefering gala fundraiser dinners to marching in the streets (This may be due in part to their feelings on Dana Beal and his other issue: legalizing ibogaine to treat opiate addicts). I will withhold judgement here since we're talking about organizations and individuals whom I respect but who might not respect eachother completely. Put short, infighting is hurting the movement here in the US, and we need both lobbyists in Congress and ordinary people in the streets. The medical marijuana and decriminalization acts in the individual states have been achieved through a combination of legislative action and ballot initiatives. It is hard to convince legislators that public policy is so radically wrong, so they are often slow to act (MPP does a good job of increasing support though). The other option we have, ballot initiatives, are difficult to set in action in anywhere except California, requiring a lot of signatures to even get on the ballot. (In California they make everything a ballot initiative, including a recent one to stop ballot initiatives). It is important to be aware of the legal rights you have in your country to protest and assemble (straightforward things probably in your constitution that will undoubtedly be obscured by municipal ordinances restricting free speech and protest permits). I would advise that unless you want to go to jail as a political statement, you be very careful with smoking at these things, as there are always undercover cops in the crowd and uniformed cops surrounding it. Bake goods instead!
