Pubdate: Sun, 19 Sep 1999 Source: Register Citizen (CT) Copyright: 1999 Journal Register Company Contact: http://www.ctcentral.com/ Author: Associated Press THOUSANDS RALLY IN SUPPORT OF LEGALIZING MARIJUANA BOSTON - Roughly 40,000 people packed the Boston Common on Saturday for the 10th annual rally in support of the legalization of marijuana. Police said they arrested 72 people at the rally, most on drug possession charges. "I've been coming here since I was 14," said Faith Pinkos, 19, of Providence, R.I. "I don't smoke myself, but I don't find anything wrong with it. It's not as dangerous as alcohol. It's not hurting anybody." Activists with the Committee to Reform Marijuana Laws used this year's gathering to collect signatures for a proposed November 2000 ballot question that would decriminalize the possession of marijuana. The organizers need to collect more than 57,100 voter signatures in the fall. If they collect those signatures and the Legislature doesn't act on their proposal, they must collect additional signatures in the spring before their proposal can go on the ballot. Under the proposed law it would still be a criminal violation to provide marijuana to a person under 18. But it would make possession of marijuana a civil offense, punishable by fines of up of to $200. It would also allow for the personal use of marijuana for health reasons. Still, many at the rally felt there should be no legal limitations on marijuana. "There's absolutely nothing wrong with the responsible use of marijuana," said Keith Stroup, executive director of National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML). "This is not only about marijuana, it's really about personal freedom." Police estimated the crowd at around 40,000. Boston police spokesman Kevin Jones said the rally was generally peaceful, although police did have to subdue one man who pulled out a gun while being booked on drug charges. - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D