Pubdate: Sat, 18 Sep 1999 Source: Boston Herald (MA) Copyright: 1999 The Boston Herald Contact: http://www.bostonherald.com/ Author: Azell Murphy Cavaan Related: MassCann's Web Site http://www.masscann.org/ NORML's Web Site http://www.norml.org/ POT SMOKERS TO PROTEST IN DEFIANCE ON COMMON Some will light up while police order others to line up as thousands of pot lovers take to Boston Common for a pro-legalization rally today. ``There's nothing wrong with people demonstrating to show contempt for a stupid law,'' said Steven Epstein, founder of the Massachusetts Cannibis Reform Coalition, an affiliate of the National Organization to Reform Marijuana Laws (MASS Cann/NORML). But Boston Police - uniformed and plain-clothed - will be out in full force today doing just that. ``We will be arresting for all drug violations,'' said Police Commissioner Paul Evans, cautioning pot smokers against lighting up in public. While past rallies have started with a showdown between city officials and cannibis connoisseurs, this year's 10th annual Freedom Rally has gotten off to a much less volatile start, according to Bill Downing, MASS Cann's president. ``We've always had to fight in court for a permit but this year the city handed it right over,'' Downing said. ``It seems the city has no objective set of rules for governing petition issuances,'' he said. Despite protests from the city's Parks Department last year, a Suffolk County superior court judge ruled the city must issue a permit for the pro-marijuana rally on Boston Common. Yesterday, Joe Bonni, MASS Cann chairman, said the city made the right decision. ``It's become expensive and it's portrayed the city in a bad light,'' said Bonni, who has attended eight Boston herb rallies. Spokesmen from the mayor's office did not return phone calls yesterday. Boston Police stressed the group's right to freedom of expression but said they would have zero tolerance for illegal behavior. ``Officers and detectives assigned to the Drug Control Division will be present in significant numbers to ensure that the rally remains true to its objectives of free speech and not the demonstrations of pot smoking,'' said Field Services Superintendent James M. Claiborne. The rally, which begins at noon and will run until 6 p.m., will feature guest speakers, bands and a sign-up sheet for an initiative regulating marijuana's medical use, organizers said yesterday. The proposed law would make possession of marijuana a civil violation instead of a criminal offense. Under the law, a person found in possession of marijuana would pay a fine of between $50 and $200 but could not be imprisoned. ``Thirty-two percent of all American adults have smoked marijana,'' said R. Keith Stroup, NORML executive director. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake