In article <a65dc8e7-f2be-4251-a730-87ba5bb5b5e9
@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>, m_p@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
says...
> http://news.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=3D2008805050320
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> BY AMBER ELLIS | AELLIS@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
AND DENISE SMITH AMOS
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> A few hundred people gathered at Fountain Square on Sunday for a rally
> to sup****t legalizing marijuana - a scene that played out in many U.S.
> cities this weekend.
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> The crowd listened to music and speeches about why the drug should be
> legalized before marching to the federal building a couple of blocks
> away.
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> Young and old s****ted hemp jewelry and ****rts with the plant - all for
> a drug they said should be available to "those who need it and those
> who want it."
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> During the march, the group chanted "Free the weed" and played drums
> as they showed off posters to passersby.
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> Sup****ters say marijuana can be used not only for recreation, but for
> industrial and medical purposes as well.
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> Tonya Davis, clad in a black-and-white jail suit and tan slippers
> bearing images of the marijuana plant, urged participants to back a
> proposal that would allow people to use marijuana as medicine. The
> bill will be introduced this month in Ohio, according to Davis.
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> Davis, who had handcuffs on one hand and a stop sign with the words
> "Stop arresting patients for medical marijuana" in the other, said she
> needs the drug to help with pain caused by arthritis, scoliosis and
> several other conditions. In all, Davis says she'd have to take 78
> pills a day to survive without marijuana.
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> "I'm not a drug addict. I'm not a criminal. And I shouldn't be forced
> to live like one," said Davis, 44, a Dayton resident.
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> "I'm going to continue to fight this until I have no breath left. I'll
> fight this until I die."
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> Opponents say the drug is dangerous and should not be made legal. No
> opponents appeared at the rally.
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> In Cincinnati, anyone caught with up to 200 grams of marijuana could
> face fines of up to $250 and up to 30 days in jail if convicted.
> That's strict compared to most of Ohio where fines average $150 and
> there's usually no jail time, said Tim Smith, a local attorney who
> opposes the city law.
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> Meanwhile, on Saturday night, about 75 people danced, drank $4 beers
> and listened to impassioned speeches about why marijuana should be
> legalized. It was the annual Hempfest party, and it was held at the
> Riverfront West S****ts Pavilion in Miamitown.
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> Organizers of Hempfest said they almost weren't able to hold their
> 13th annual fundraiser because the pavilion's owner was warned by
> police he might lose his liquor license for renting to them.
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> Owner Ron Schmidt said that someone from RENU, Cincinnati's Regional
> Enforcement Narcotics Unit, called him last week, warning him that he
> could be fined and his license revoked if illegal drug activity was
> discovered on the premises.
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> Smith offered to represent him for free should he have trouble with
> police. Smith is opposed to Cincinnati's marijuana law, which two
> years ago was changed to make it among the toughest in the state, he
> said.
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> Smith said police should not have targeted the party because for the
> past 13 years, there has been no trouble at the Hempfests.
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> "Why do you target something that doesn't create any problem for the
> police," he asked. Police wanted to stifle the speeches favoring
> legalizing marijuana, Smith claimed.
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> Police could not be reached to comment on the organizers' claims.
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> Copyright =A9 2007 The Enquirer. All rights reserved.
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=09How would you know where the rally is if someone just told you?=20
You must have written it down with all that short term memory trouble=20
I'm sure you're having... but don't worry, because there are supposedly=20
no lasting side-effects.
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