Plenty of media outlets have released their news maker of the year. With Time magazine giving The Protester their annual person of the year. The death of Jack Layton and Occupy Movement is making rounds as the top news story. Some outlets have suggested the Conservative majority is news of the year, but those media are hoping to get back into prime minister’s office (PMO) good book. Maybe the recognition will have PMO staffers start returning media calls. Funny how an organization, currently referring to itself as The Harper Government, not Canadian Government, can be awarded news maker of the year, but shut out the press at the same time. Other than Layton’s untimely death, I figured I had a shot at least at honorable mention with R v. Mernagh.

I didn’t even make the NORML year in review. However, I feel much about better declaring myself marijuana news maker of the year after NORML decided their recently filed lawsuit was worthy of the number one ranking. They haven’t even won. We knocked down the marijuana laws. Number two on their list is the first marijuana legalization legislation has been introduced in US Congress. I’d say that is rather important.

Here’s my argument on why I should be thought of news maker of the year.

1) My name was a Google News Trend. Appearing on the CBC national news program The National was considered top of the pots for the prince of pot, Marc Emery. The Google news trend is the new weed high water mark.

2) Front page exposure on Digg, Reddit and Stumble Upon. The sudden thrust of excitement that the marijuana laws had been struck down in Canada created a huge reader jolt on not just my site, but WhyProhibition and Cannabis Culture. My email and site would go down for weeks from the flood of inquiries. Just keeping above the fray proved challenging.

3) International News – I found news of our win in far flung places like New Zealand. Possibly the only Canadian news the paper ran all year. They don’t know what a Harper is, but they know what a Mernagh is. We provided pot hope in other countries. Canada is leading the way to legalization.

4) The coverage continues. A few weeks ago I got a call from the Ottawa Citizen. They had acquired a large database of medical marijuana information and wanted to pick my brain. The Citizen nailed Health Canada to the wall in the same manner we did in court. Simply put when it comes to these stats, that were not accepted in the R v. Mernagh ruling, you’re slightly fucked in some places, your mostly fucked in most places, and your outright fucked everywhere else. I was really happy with the incredible national coverage and mini site. Plus having my photo on the front page of a bunch of newspapers across Canada that was taken in your grow room is awesome.

5) “The government of Canada is disturbed by this ruling.” Minister of Justice MP Rob Nicholson quote in the Niagara Falls Review. Possibly one of the proudest moments of the year is this comment from MP Nicholson on our win.

6) Public Prosecutions Canada issues a press release regarding their R v. Mernagh appeal.

7) The other news maker of the year would be the passage of mandatory marijuana minimum sentencing in Canada for growers. That news just bums me out!