Pubdate: Mon, 01 Jul 2013
Source: Philadelphia Daily News (PA)
Copyright: 2013 Philadelphia Newspapers Inc.
Contact: http://www.philly.com/dailynews/about/feedback/
Website: http://www.philly.com/dailynews/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/339
Author: Jessica Glazer
Page: 8

POT PROTESTERS LIGHT UP PARK

A MONTH AFTER two marijuana activists were arrested near the Liberty
Bell during a protest for legalization, seven people were given
citations at a similar demonstration yesterday but no arrests were
made, a park spokeswoman said.

At 4:20 p.m., a few joints were passed among the more than 100 people
gathered at Independence National Historical Park. The rain did little
to deter the group, who marched from LOVE Park to peacefully protest
on federal property.

In preparation for the protest, federal officers, National Park
rangers and Philadelphia Police collected in large numbers around the
mall. Some law-enforcement officers wore bulletproof vests, others
were decked out in riot gear.

They stood by as the group chanted and held signs, but that changed as
soon as the activists lit up. Then, police rapidly brought the seven
people caught smoking to a nearby tent for processing. Immediately
afterward, the protesters became combative, chanting "bully,"
"ass----" and "Nazi," inches from the faces of riot police who slowly
backed up as protesters advanced.

Then, less than an hour after they arrived, most of the activists had
dispersed and no one was left in custody. By that time, the rain had
stopped.

Event organizer Ed Forchion, known to thousands of Internet fans as
"NJ Weedman," had waited for the marchers under a tree dripping rain.
A tumor in his right knee made it too painful for him to walk with
them.

"People keep asking me, ' Why do you keep doing things in Philly?' "
said Forchion, who is from Burlington County. "This is a protest to
the Feds, not a protest to the city of Philadelphia." Forchion uses
liquid marijuana from California for pain relief and wants the federal
government to recognize its medicinal uses.

The gathering has become a monthly act of civil disobedience, drawing
people from surrounding states. Last month marked the first two
arrests: event organizers N.A. Poe and Adam Kokesh. Poe attended
yesterday's gathering, although he stood in the street because he is
banned from entering the park.

While weed remains illegal in Pennsylvania, earlier this year state
Sen. Daylin Leach introduced a bill that would regulate it similarly
to the way the state regulates alcohol.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Matt