Pubdate: Sun, 4 May 2008
Source: Fort Collins Coloradoan (CO)
Contact: http://www.coloradoan.com/customerservice/contactus.html
Copyright: 2008 The Fort Collins Coloradoan
Website: http://www.coloradoan.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1580
Author: Tim Keith
Cited: Front Range NORML http://www.frontrangenorml.org/
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Marijuana)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Marijuana - Medicinal)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topic/NORML (NORML)

SUPPORTERS RALLY FOR MARIJUANA

Supporters of legalizing marijuana gathered in Civic Center Park 
behind the Larimer County Justice Center on Saturday.

The event in Fort Collins was part of the Global Marijuana March; 239 
cities across the globe also held events.

Supporters also set up shop in Boulder, Denver and Colorado Springs.

"We believe it's time to stop the prohibition on marijuana," said 
Gregory Stinson, president of Front Range Norml, a group that 
advocates the legalization of marijuana. "It's senseless and needless."

Marijuana is a safer alternative to many prescription medicines and 
alcohol, he said.

While many people a year die from prescription and over-the-counter 
drugs, none die from marijuana use, said Tim Gordon, a member of 
Norml who helped organize the Fort Collins event.

The federal government considers marijuana a Schedule I substance, 
meaning it's got high potential for abuse and no accepted medical 
use. And using marijuana brings several health risks, including 
impairment, increased risk of heart attack and added potential for 
lung cancer, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Saturday's event advocated for two bills that are currently in 
Congress, HR 5842 and HR 5843.

HR 5842 would prevent the federal government from interfering with 
medical marijuana programs in states where they are legal.

HR 5843 would eliminate federal penalties for the possession of 100 
grams and "not-for-profit" transfer of one ounce of marijuana.

Marijuana laws and biases are based on false propaganda, Gordon said.

Marijuana users are not going to "hack people to death with a 
machete," as some "government propaganda" has portrayed them as 
doing, Stinson said.

An unfair stigma is attached to users, Bill Omarrow said.

"It's still associated with hard-core drugs, and I don't think it 
should be," Omarrow said.

The association was probably because of the drug culture of the 
1970s, the Loveland chef said.

Omarrow, who has degenerative back disease, said he has used 
marijuana for medical reasons for almost 40 years. 
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake