Close to five thousand pro-marijuana demonstrators gathered at Parliament Hill to mark 4-20, the annual day to celebrate pot around the world.

With a large police presence nearby, at exactly 4:20 p.m., the crowd counted down from 10, chanting "Happy 420" creating a thick haze over Parliament Hill. Sabrina Haddad was among them. She says she comes to rallies to advocate for marijuana. “It makes you sleepy hungry and happy and that the biggest side effect you're ever going to have.”

But she says at this year’s rally the tone is more celebratory that in others. “I am grateful, I think it’s a good thing and a step in the right direction.”

Only hours before pot smokers gather annually to celebrate,  Health Minister Jane Philpott was at the UN General Assembly in New York on Wednesday, when she announced the spring 2017 timeline. She told a special session on a global drug policy that the plan will “challenges the status quo in many countries.”

Philpott says, "We will introduce legislation in spring 2017 that ensures we keep marijuana out of the hands of children and profits out of the hands of criminals.”

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spoke on the Matter in the House of Commons. He suggested he is opposed to decriminalization. “The fact of the matter is, decriminalization actually gives a legal stream of income to criminal organizations…That’s not what anyone wants in this country.”

But many at the rally in Ottawa still have questions. Ryan Redecopp says. “I hope it is not more lip service- we have heard a lot of announcements about their intention. If they follow through that will be great and I hope it is respect to legalization and not another form of prohibition.”

Redecopp says he hopes the issue doesn’t get buried in debate in Parliament. “I don’t think it needs to be a debate. I see nothing wrong with the plant, people should look at not as a drug but as something that can benefit people.”

The Federal Liberals will assign a task force to study all aspects of legalizing, regulating and restricting assess. The legislation is expected to be announced in Spring 2017.

With files from CTV News