Pubdate: Sat, 04 May 2002
Source: Associated Press (Wire)
Copyright: 2002 Associated Press

THOUSAND GATHER TO SUPPORT LEGALIZATION OF MARIJUANA

PRAGUE, Czech Republic - About 1,000 people gathered Saturday in a central 
Prague park to support the legalization of marijuana.

Michal Polak, spokesman for the rally's organizers, said they sought a 
change in Czech legislation that would put marijuana on a par with alcohol 
and tobacco. Now, illegal possession and distribution of narcotics is 
punishable by up to 15 years in jail.

Polak said the rally participants did not want to encourage people to 
consume or distribute drugs, but were expressing criticism of the Czech 
penal code, which does not distinguish between hard and so-called "soft" drugs.

"To grow the plant should not be prohibited by law," Polak said.

In 2000, an estimated 25 tons of cannabis was consumed in the Czech 
Republic, according to an estimate by the national Statistical Institute.

Similar gatherings took place in two other Czech cities, Plzen and Brno, 
Polak said.
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