Any time you go to a civic event in Harrisburg that gives the public a chance to speak, odds are good that a graying, older woman named Ava Berg will show up and use the forum to advocate for her favorite cause, legalizing marijuana.

That's what happened Thursday evening at Harrisburg Hope's well-attended forum on promoting economic development, held at Hamilton Health Center, a sparkling new facility that is a point of pride in the struggling neighborhood of Allison Hill.

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