MARIJUANA FESTIVAL DRAWS 30,000 TO LONDON PARK

LONDON -- Braving torrential rain, thousands gathered in a park in
London on Saturday to call for the legalization of marijuana.

Organizers estimated that 30,000 people attended the Cannabis Freedom
Festival in the Brixton area of south London.

Participants heard speeches calling for the decriminalization of
cannabis, listened to bands from Europe, Africa, and Brazil, absorbed
the verses of "poets for pot," and browsed stalls offering hemp ice
cream, hemp clothing, and a cookbook entitled "Cooking With Ganja."

There were no reports of arrests.

"We're very pleased with the turnout," festival coordinator Andy
Cornwell said. "There's growing support from all walks of life."

On Friday, police said they would no longer charge people found in
possession of a small amount of marijuana in the south London district
where the rally took place.

Scotland Yard said officers would release users with a
warning.

If the pilot program is successful, it may be expanded to other areas
of London, Scotland Yard said.