Marijuana legalization supporters made good on a Facebook pledge to show President Obama that America wants to end prohibition. Organized by a group of local college students with support from PhillyNORML and NORML-NJ, volunteers attended the Moving America Forward rally on Sunday 10/10 in the Germantown section of Philadelphia.
Pro-marijuana volunteers held signs at the entrances as thousands of people streamed in and out of the event. Inside, participants wore marijuana leaf stickers, buttons and t-shirts.
The rally for Democrats included President Obama and Vice President Biden backed up by local hip-hop sensation The Roots. Congressional candidate Joe Sestak and gubernatorial candidate Dan Onorato were on the stump. Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter was also present.
Pro-marijuana organizer Lawrence Frydman was happy with the turnout. But he said that the size of the crowd and the multiple entrances made it tough for supporters to link up once inside.
“We’ll make sure it’s even better next time,” Frydman said.
He also wants the local elected officials to be more active in ending pot prohibition.
“I believe that Mayor Nutter is on our side. I believe that he and other politicians are simply waiting for us to stand up and let him know that it's OK for them to come forward on the legalization issue,” Frydman said in an email last night.
“Over the next few months and years, we are going to make a path for our local politicians to truly stand up for what they know is a common sense solution.”
Some of the local medical marijuana patients got nearly front-row seating at the Obama rally.
Jen Lande, who is hoping for legal medical cannabis access in New Jersey said, “ I was maybe 20 feet from the stage and the President when he spoke. We experienced an incredible amount of acceptance, interest, and empathy from those whom we engaged or vice versa. I wouldn't expect anything less...to me, Philadelphia will always be the City of Brotherly Love!"
Sandra Stronko-Crue traveled from York County PA to attend the rally with her mother and daughter. The trio wore t-shirts supporting medical marijuana.
“My family has three generations here today,” she pointed out.
Derek Rosenzweig, a leading advocate at PA4MMJ and PhillyNORML, attended the rally.
“Many people, after seeing us stand up for legalization, were quite interested in what we had to say. Our banner garnered quite a bit of attention, especially inside the main rally.”
Several media outlets filmed and interviewed the pro-legalization volunteers.
The Philadelphia Weekly was first with a story: Protesters Advocate “Green” Agenda At Obama Rally .
NORML-NJ handed out hundreds of free stickers that said “Yes on Prop 19,” referring to the California ballot initiative that would legalize and tax marijuana in that state. Local volunteers are participating this week in phone bank calling to support the measure.
Anne Davis, NORML-NJ’s executive director was at the rally. “Now, more than ever, we need to be talking about full marijuana legalization.”
The green marijuana leaf stickers could be seen prominently throughout the crowd.
Overall, the rest of the rally attendees warmly welcomed the pro-legalization volunteers.
As people were leaving the event a group of African-American women saw me wearing one of the stickers. The smartly dressed women approached to ask for a few and laughingly gave their ages as “pretty senior.”
After chatting for several minutes (they all had some detailed questions) the seemingly eldest of the group reached out and took my hand.
“Look at all these people out here to see Obama… President Obama!” She smiled beautifully at the thought, generations of struggle and now victory on her face.
She gave my hand a firm squeeze and then held up her sticker, “I hope this works.” The rest of the women nodded their approval.
by Chris Goldstein, the Philadelphia NORML Examiner. Chris is on the Board of Directors at PhillyNORML. He may be contacted through media@phillynorml.org
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Comments
Cannabis should have never been illegal in the first place. Its "illegality" is not based on any science, just on lies, distortions of fact, and blatant racism. The truth is that Cannabis is less physically addictive than caffeine, and that it may also serve as a much "safer alternative" to alcohol and/or hard drugs. Another Cannabis product, hemp, was used by humans since time immemorial! It is fully recognized that Cannabis use SUPPRESSES VIOLENT BEHAVIOR, and that Cannabis may be used to help not only treat, but to also prevent some devastating illnesses as cancer and Alzheimer's disease. The fact is that Cannabis has been used by humans for thousands of years exactly because there are so many ways in which this remarkable plant can help us and our planet. So, it is naive to presume that a bunch of fear-mongerers can change this fact, no matter how loud and untruthful they become! I worked in addiction medicine for years, and Cannabis use was the least of my problems, so I do recognize that classifying Cannabis in the same group as heroin and cocaine is one of the greatest scientific fallacies of our times. The so-called "gateway" drug theory was found to be totally invalid, and a very recent large study called this "theory" half-baked. Cannabis criminalization leads to horrendous Civil Rights violations around the country. YES to Cannabis re-Legalization! YES on Cali Prop.19!
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