A DAY TO CELEBRATE AT THE ANNUAL HASH BASH

Some aspects of the 38th annual Ann Arbor Hash Bash were the same
old, same old.

The event started with about 200 passionate people protesting
marijuana laws at the Federal Building. The crowd then carried signs
and marched to the University of Michigan Diag, where an estimated
1,500 people braced the wind to listen to speeches. Then they moved
on to a street party with information booths and music.

But this year, supporters of the fight to end the drug war and
legalize pot had a reason to celebrate.

Saturday marked the day Michigan's Medical Marijuana Law, which was
approved by 63 percent of voters last November, was fully
implemented. That means that as soon as patients take their completed
applications to a community health office on Monday, they can receive
a state ID that will allow them to use marijuana without penalty.

Chris Brunett, who was born with cerebral palsy 22 years ago, will be
one of them. As his friend pushed Brunett's wheelchair toward the
Diag, Brunett said he is angry that President Obama recently
dismissed - with a laugh - the idea of legalizing marijuana.

"He doesn't even want to consider it," said Brunett, who lives in
Davison, near Flint. "... He still wants to dismiss us like we're a
bunch of stoners or hippies."

Brunett said marijuana helps him cope with pain in his joints, and
that only someone who's been in his shoes can understand what it
takes to just get through the day.

"There are other drugs I can take, but they have side effects that
are 100 times worse than ... what? Having the munchies?"

As Brad Trudeau of Westland smoked a joint on his way to the Diag, he
said he wasn't worried about getting caught on city property, where
possession is a civil infraction with a $25 fine for the fist offense.

"Smoking weed should be legal anyway," he said.

On the Diag, speakers applauded Ann Arbor police for being more
understanding than most about marijuana; encouraged people to work to
end the "civil war" on drugs, and talked about the March shooting of
an unarmed Grand Valley State University student during a raid by a
regional drug unit.

The U-M Department of Public Safety officers did not take any
enforcement action during the event, but did assist three people who
needed medical treatment.