Source: Boston Herald (MA) Contact: http://www.bostonherald.com/ Pubdate: Sat, 3 Oct 1998 Author: Mark Mueller RALLY'S POT-SMOKING PLANS MAY GO BUST Pot paradise or bust bonanza? That question will be answered at noon today as an estimated 60,000 marijuana supporters take to Boston Common for a pro-legalization rally under the watchful eyes of the Boston police. Trying to prevent the kind of mass inhaling that characterized the annual "Freedom Rally" in its previous eight years, authorities yesterday issued the latest in a string of warnings to keep the event cannabis-free. "If people smoke pot, we'll definitely make it a memorable experience for them," said Sgt. Detective Margot Hill, a police spokeswoman. "We respect the right to assemble and the right to free speech, but not the right to break the law." Scores of police officers, both plainclothes and undercover, plan to blanket the common for the five-hour rally, which will feature speakers and bands. Complementing the Boston contingent, MBTA police will be riding the commuter rails and the subway, arresting those who try for a buzz on the way into the city. The repeated warnings have struck a sour note with the rally's organizer, the Massachusetts Cannabis Reform Coalition, an affiliate of the National Organization to Reform Marijuana Laws. The Bay State group's president, Bill Downing, could not be reached yesterday, but he previously blasted the law enforcement buildup as an "intimidation tactic." He said volunteers at the event will pass out fliers alerting rally-goers to their rights against unreasonable searches. And while Downing said he fears a massive police presence sets the stage for a riot, no such panic swept the crowd last year as police made some 150 arrests. Hill yesterday downplayed such concerns. "We'll be prepared for any contingency, although we don't anticipate any trouble," she said. "We would hope that people engage in responsible behavior." Anyone convicted of possessing marijuana faces a six-month jail term, a $500 fine and a one-year driver's license revocation. Juveniles busted for possession could be barred from obtaining a license for up to five years. "A drug arrest will follow you wherever you go, so if you have any aspirations for the future, don't do it," Hill said. - --- Checked-by: Joel W. Johnson