cannabisnews.com: Thousands Rally for Marijuana Legalization
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Thousands Rally for Marijuana Legalization
Posted by CN Staff on April 06, 2013 at 16:31:53 PT
By Eric D. Lawrence,  Free Press Staff Writer
Source: Detroit Free Press
Michigan -- As speakers at Saturday’s 42nd annual Hash Bash at the University of Michigan Diag called for the legalization of marijuana, Ralph Worick’s green and white-striped flag fluttered in the blustery chill.“I think we should decriminalize cannabis period,” Worick said as he steadied the white plastic piping that held the flag, which also had large and small marijuana leaf images similar to stars, high above the crowd. “My flag represents the United States of Euphoria.”
Worick, who lives in Portage near Kalamazoo, is 56 but has been smoking marijuana since he was 11. He said he has been in the pro-marijuana “movement” since 1975, and he’s brought some type of flag to the event every year since 2003, although he noted that last year’s Bob Marley “Freedom” flag just seemed to confuse people.Worick’s long-term commitment to legalizing marijuana was reflected in the range of speakers at the event that drew an estimated 3,000 people, according to University of Michigan Police spokeswoman Diane Brown, who noted that there were a few calls for ambulances as well as some enforcement for marijuana possession and citations issued for illegal sales not necessarily affiliated with marijuana. Brown noted the potential for an eventful day because of the mixture of crowds attracted to the Hash Bash, those watching the Final Four game featuring the Wolverines men's basketball team and a large gathering of Native Americans in Ann Arbor.Dan Skye, the editorial director at High Times magazine, told the crowd that he had been smoking marijuana for many years and that the legal climate had forced him to skulk around while doing so. He said those in the crowd would need to act to change that for future generations.“I will probably not live to see this country completely legal. It’s up to you guys,” Skye said.Even some politicians showed up.“My name is state Rep. Jeff Irwin (D-Ann Arbor), and I believe we need to legalize marijuana,” said Jeff Irwin. “The amount of blood and treasure we’ve spilled in this drug war is an embarrassment to our country.”Sabra Briere, an Ann Arbor councilwoman, said marijuana was not her issue, but loopholes in the law that legalized medical marijuana in Michigan had become a concern for her because she believes laws must be clear and easy to understand.“If we could just get the people in Lansing to listen, we’d be much better off,” she said.The event kicked off at what organizers like to call “high noon,” and drew a colorful crowd, many wearing clothing with images of marijuana leaves. One man even dressed as Jesus with a crown of thorns and carried a sign with a Bible verse referencing the creation of plants. Smoke wafted through the breezy air and the smell of burning marijuana was hard to miss. Nick Collins, 19, of Kalamazoo was attending his first Hash Bash and said he smokes marijuana because of lingering pain from a snowboarding fall that broke his collarbone, a dislocated knee from playing basketball and unexplained chest pains. He works at a convenience store because it’s the only good job he can hold while smoking every day.“(Marijuana) shouldn’t be illegal in any way. It comes from the ground,” Collins said.Not everyone who came to the Hash Bash came to talk about marijuana.Aeryn Wood, 21, of Brighton had come on an outreach for her church, Flood Gate Renewal Fellowship also in Brighton. Wood and the approximately 40 other members of the non-denominational Christian church wanted to talk about Jesus. And while she does not smoke and does not believe marijuana should be legalized, Wood sees some hypocrisy in current laws.“It’s no different than drinking,” she said. “People are going to do what they’re going to do.”Source: Detroit Free Press (MI)Author: Eric D. Lawrence, Detroit Free Press Staff WriterPublished: April 6, 2013Copyright: 2013 Detroit Free PressWebsite: http://www.freep.com/Contact: letters freepress.comURL: http://drugsense.org/url/9MKweocBCannabisNews -- Cannabis Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/cannabis.shtml 
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