POT SMOKERS TO PROTEST IN DEFIANCE ON COMMON

Some will light up while police order others to line up as thousands of pot
lovers take to Boston Common for a pro-legalization rally today.

``There's nothing wrong with people demonstrating to show contempt for a
stupid law,'' said Steven Epstein, founder of the Massachusetts Cannibis
Reform Coalition, an affiliate of the National Organization to Reform
Marijuana Laws (MASS Cann/NORML). But Boston Police - uniformed and
plain-clothed - will be out in full force today doing just that.

``We will be arresting for all drug violations,'' said Police Commissioner
Paul Evans, cautioning pot smokers against lighting up in public.

While past rallies have started with a showdown between city officials and
cannibis connoisseurs, this year's 10th annual Freedom Rally has gotten off
to a much less volatile start, according to Bill Downing, MASS Cann's
president.

``We've always had to fight in court for a permit but this year the city
handed it right over,'' Downing said.

``It seems the city has no objective set of rules for governing petition
issuances,'' he said.

Despite protests from the city's Parks Department last year, a Suffolk
County superior court judge ruled the city must issue a permit for the
pro-marijuana rally on Boston Common.

Yesterday, Joe Bonni, MASS Cann chairman, said the city made the right
decision.

``It's become expensive and it's portrayed the city in a bad light,'' said
Bonni, who has attended eight Boston herb rallies.

Spokesmen from the mayor's office did not return phone calls yesterday.

Boston Police stressed the group's right to freedom of expression but said
they would have zero tolerance for illegal behavior.

``Officers and detectives assigned to the Drug Control Division will be
present in significant numbers to ensure that the rally remains true to its
objectives of free speech and not the demonstrations of pot smoking,'' said
Field Services Superintendent James M. Claiborne.

The rally, which begins at noon and will run until 6 p.m., will feature
guest speakers, bands and a sign-up sheet for an initiative regulating
marijuana's medical use, organizers said yesterday.

The proposed law would make possession of marijuana a civil violation
instead of a criminal offense.

Under the law, a person found in possession of marijuana would pay a fine
of between $50 and $200 but could not be imprisoned.

``Thirty-two percent of all American adults have smoked marijana,'' said R.
Keith Stroup, NORML executive director.