Pubdate: Sun, 17 Jun 2001 Source: Bergen Record (NJ) Copyright: 2001 Bergen Record Corp. Contact: http://www.bergen.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/44 MARIJUANA FESTIVAL DRAWS 30,000 TO LONDON PARK LONDON -- Braving torrential rain, thousands gathered in a park in London on Saturday to call for the legalization of marijuana. Organizers estimated that 30,000 people attended the Cannabis Freedom Festival in the Brixton area of south London. Participants heard speeches calling for the decriminalization of cannabis, listened to bands from Europe, Africa, and Brazil, absorbed the verses of "poets for pot," and browsed stalls offering hemp ice cream, hemp clothing, and a cookbook entitled "Cooking With Ganja." There were no reports of arrests. "We're very pleased with the turnout," festival coordinator Andy Cornwell said. "There's growing support from all walks of life." On Friday, police said they would no longer charge people found in possession of a small amount of marijuana in the south London district where the rally took place. Scotland Yard said officers would release users with a warning. If the pilot program is successful, it may be expanded to other areas of London, Scotland Yard said. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake