SUPPORTERS RALLY FOR MARIJUANA

Supporters of legalizing marijuana gathered in Civic Center Park
behind the Larimer County Justice Center on Saturday.

The event in Fort Collins was part of the Global Marijuana March; 239
cities across the globe also held events.

Supporters also set up shop in Boulder, Denver and Colorado Springs.

"We believe it's time to stop the prohibition on marijuana," said
Gregory Stinson, president of Front Range Norml, a group that
advocates the legalization of marijuana. "It's senseless and needless."

Marijuana is a safer alternative to many prescription medicines and
alcohol, he said.

While many people a year die from prescription and over-the-counter
drugs, none die from marijuana use, said Tim Gordon, a member of
Norml who helped organize the Fort Collins event.

The federal government considers marijuana a Schedule I substance,
meaning it's got high potential for abuse and no accepted medical
use. And using marijuana brings several health risks, including
impairment, increased risk of heart attack and added potential for
lung cancer, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Saturday's event advocated for two bills that are currently in
Congress, HR 5842 and HR 5843.

HR 5842 would prevent the federal government from interfering with
medical marijuana programs in states where they are legal.

HR 5843 would eliminate federal penalties for the possession of 100
grams and "not-for-profit" transfer of one ounce of marijuana.

Marijuana laws and biases are based on false propaganda, Gordon said.

Marijuana users are not going to "hack people to death with a
machete," as some "government propaganda" has portrayed them as
doing, Stinson said.

An unfair stigma is attached to users, Bill Omarrow said.

"It's still associated with hard-core drugs, and I don't think it
should be," Omarrow said.

The association was probably because of the drug culture of the
1970s, the Loveland chef said.

Omarrow, who has degenerative back disease, said he has used
marijuana for medical reasons for almost 40 years.