POT RALLY MAY HURT CAUSE

Initiative petitions are expected to be circulated to decriminalize
marijuana in Massachusetts. The annual pot rally on Boston Common scheduled
for today should furnish excellent arguments for opponents. The attorney
general's office has certified the petitions and the secretary of state has
printed signature forms. If 57,100 signatures are collected, such a
question could be on the ballot next year.

Decriminalizing pot isn't humane, or an economy measure - a way to unclog
the courts and redirect law enforcement resources to "real crimes.'' It's
just plain dumb. European countries that have experimented in this area
have seen a dramatic rise in drug use.

And once again, the Massachusetts Cannabis Reform Coalition will inflict
its annual "Freedom Rally'' on us. These gatherings are an excuse for mass
lawbreaking. There's much sparking up between music and semi-coherent
speeches. But attempts by the city to block the hemp fests have been
blocked by a zealous judiciary.

Citizens who attend the rallies get sobering insights into the effects of
marijuana use. Participants include burned-out relics of the 1960s
(middle-aged dudes with ponytails and tatoos) and dopey adolescents who
imagine themselves to be heroic rebels. Both have a hard time keeping a
train of thought on track and tend to express themselves with a lot of
"uhs'' and "like ya know, man.'' If opponents want to make some very
effective ads, they'll attend the rally with a video camera. The long-term
effects of marijuana use, reflected in rally participants, ought to win
adherents.