Pubdate: Fri, 29 Aug 2008
Source: Rocky Mountain News (Denver, CO)
Copyright: 2008 Denver Publishing Co.
Contact:  http://www.rockymountainnews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/371
Author: Steve Myers, Rocky Mountain News
Cited: Citizens for Safe Access http://www.citizens4safeaccess.com/
Cited: Americans for Safe Access http://www.americansforsafeaccess.org/
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Marijuana - Medicinal)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Marijuana)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/people/Barack+Obama
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/people/Mason+Tvert

POT PROTESTERS KICK BACK, LIGHT UP; MARCH CAN WAIT

LINCOLN PARK -- The fragrance of marijuana wafted over Lincoln Park 
this afternoon as about 100 pro-pot supporters openly puffed away and 
prepared for a march in support of their cause and favorite 
presidential candidate.

"This is a love in for Barack Obama," shouted Richard Eastman over a 
blow horn. "Medical marijuana saves lives."

The march was initially schedule to start at 2 p.m., and then pushed 
back. About then, a band started playing for the crowd and by 2:45 
p.m. the march still hadn't started.

Eastman, 55, of Los Angeles, told the crowd he is HIV positive and 
has used medical marijuana since 1994, although he first used the 
drug in 1963 at age 10. The founder of Citizens for Safe Access 
travels around the country to promote his cause.

"AIDS nearly killed me, but reefer never killed me. I have the heart 
of a 30-year-old. I have the lungs of a 30-year-old," he said after 
passing a pipe to Miguel Lopez of Denver.

Lopez lit up and explained the cause. He said he supports "the 
responsible use" of marijuana by adults.

"It's not about getting drunk and slobbering all over the floor," he 
said. "It's about having fun in a way that's easier and not harmful."

Nearby, a group of four 16-year-olds shared a pipe. A mother with her 
baby in a stroller watched the activities. A Denver police officer 
drove up, stopped and ordered several illegally parked cars moved 
while a huddle of a dozen users shared several joints and a pipe.

Not all marijuana supporters were happy with happening scene.

"Obviously, there's some image issues here with the public use," said 
Mason Tvert, who led a group that sponsored a Denver law saying pot 
use should be low police priority during the Democratic National 
Convention. "We support this cause but not what's going on here today."

Don Duncan, the California director Americans for Safe Access, said 
Barack Obama on one occasion said he supports stopping federal raids 
on medical marijuana users. Twelve states have legalized medical 
marijuana use, he said, but federal agents continue to arrest users 
and stop distribution.

"What I'm looking for is action from Barack Obama," Duncan said. "We 
need to harmonize state and federal laws." 
- ---
MAP posted-by: Richard Lake