SUPPORTERS OF LEGALIZING MARIJUANA RALLY IN MADISON

MADISON - Supporters of legalizing marijuana urged people to vote for
candidates who support the drug's legalization at a rally this weekend.

Organizers estimated several hundred people attended the 36th annual
Great Midwest Marijuana Harvest Festival, which took place at State
Street Mall on Saturday and Sunday.

Police did not have their estimate readily available, said Madison
Police Sgt. Dave McClurg. No arrests were made for marijuana use, he said.

Last year's rally focused on supporting a bill that would have
legalized medicinal marijuana in the state. But with the demise of
that bill, organizer Gary Storck said this year they focused on
electing officials who support legalization.

"Go out and ask the candidates where they stand and if they don't
support medical marijuana or they refuse to say how they would vote
on it, don't give them your vote," Storck said of this year's message
at the festival.

The weekend finished with a march up State Street and rally at the
steps of the Capitol Sunday afternoon.

Attendee Ricardo Jimenez, a commercial artist from Trempealeau, said
the movement to legalize marijuana is gaining momentum.

"People are going to do it and you're not going to stop them," he said.

Another attendee, Janny Mayo, of Oshkosh, said she comes each year to
the festival. She's hopeful marijuana will be legalized one day. She
said taxes generating from its legalization could help bolster
government coffers.

"I do believe one day they will realize there is nothing wrong with
it," she said. "There (are) more important things to worry about than
people smoking pot. ... It's just going to take enough people to push it."