Thousands Rally for Marijuana Legalization

Frolicking in the Indian Summer sunshine, thousands of marijuana smokers and their supporters assembled on the Boston Common Saturday to call for the legalization of pot.

Joints were shared liberally among the estimated 50,000 people gathered at the rally, with ashes falling on the very ground where the Foundling Fathers may have tread centuries ago.

Organizers said there was more interest than ever in the seventh annual event, which featured music, speeches and booths selling rolling papers, t-shirts, hackey-sacks and hemp laurels.

"It was very laid back," said rally-goer Sean T. Strauss '99. "It was one of the first times I've ever seen so many different kinds of people hanging out and being completely chill."

Smokers lounged on the lawn and enjoyed hit after hit in defiance of mounted police, park rangers and undercover officers patrolling the crowds.

About 60 extra officers were on patrol but police made only one arrest for selling narcotics, said Boston police spokesperson Brendan Flynn.

Flynn said there was no stated policy to look the other way, but one officer along a barricade on Tremont Street explained why individual smokers weren't pursued: "We're outnumbered."

Attendees became bolder as the afternoon progressed, with some daring to smoke within earshot of law enforcement officers. But the day remained peaceful with no open conflicts between officers and rally-goers.

The rally included performances by big-name bands like Letters to Cleo and Tree as well as lesser-known alternative act like Bim Skala Bim and the Bentmen.

Strauss said he thought some of the bands didn't quite fit the spirit of the event.

"Some of the music was a little too hard-core for the entire point of the rally," he said.

Speakers included university professors, musicians, a former city councilor and politicians from the Libertarian party.

Anti-authoritarianism was the ideology of the day.

Members of the press were issued credentials on a necklace of hemp twine. At one point in the concert, one performer exhorted thousands of fans to challenge the powers-that-be with obscene hand gestures.

Ironically, just a few blocks away from where the scent of marijuana lingered in the air, a few hundred people showed up for the 11th annual "Just Say No to Drugs Day."

Fewer than 500 people attended the anti-drug which featured a race, face painting for children and a softball game.

Freedom Rally co-organizer Eric Hipp, a musician and bartender, dismissed the anti-drug gathering: "The 'Just Say No to Drugs'" campaign has done more harm to the country than good, but we're trying to educate people about the uses of the drug."

Robin Reynolds, 18, had a simpler reason for attending the rally:

"Why do I want to see marijuana legalized? Because once it's legal, I won't get into trouble for using it."

--Associated Press and Boston Globe reports were used to compile this story.

Freedom Rally co-organizer Eric Hipp, a musician and bartender, dismissed the anti-drug gathering: "The 'Just Say No to Drugs'" campaign has done more harm to the country than good, but we're trying to educate people about the uses of the drug."

Robin Reynolds, 18, had a simpler reason for attending the rally:

"Why do I want to see marijuana legalized? Because once it's legal, I won't get into trouble for using it."

--Associated Press and Boston Globe reports were used to compile this story.