'A PLANT'S NO CRIME'

More than a dozen teens gathered in front of the Logan Tabernacle on
Monday evening to rally for the legalization of marijuana.

It's 4/20, and where this is national marijuana day and we want to
legalize marijuana (we came to rally)," said Jamie Gurinch, 15, of Logan.

Internationally, April 20 typically motivates a series of rallies and
special events among those who favor the legalization of marijuana.

Dylan Lofthouse, a 14-year-old who goes to Willow Valley Middle
School in Wellsville, attended with his two brothers, ages 13 and 15.
He said both his mom and his step-mom would agree with the cause as well.

* Everybody talks about legalizing it," he said, "but they never do
anything; we thought we'd do something."

The ages of those in attendance ranged from 13 to 20. Their homes
span the valley from Wellsville to Lewiston, and they attend a
sprinkling of different middle schools and high schools.

We hang out every day," said Logan resident William Mohan, a
17-year-old who attends Cache High School.

Mohan said at about 6 p.m. that the group of friends had been there
for two hours. It was his first rally.

We were just all hanging out and we thought we should go protest on
4/20," Mohan said. "We're pretty much standing for what we believe in."

Mohan said legalizing pot is their solution to getting the nation out
of the recession, as the sales could stir the economy.

Teenage boys in sleeveless shirts screamed while holding signs that
depicted their viewpoints.

One sign read: "The plant heals," while another said: "God made it."

Say no to man-made drugs," one yelled.

A plant's no crime," said another.

A few repeatedly chanted together, "Legalize Marijuana."

Richmond resident Kassy Sanders, a 17-year-old student at Fast
Forward High, talked to a friend about one of their buddies they'd
visited who was in jail for marijuana use.

We're supporting the kids who got locked up," she said, while
emphasizing that the more important reason for the rally was much
bigger than that.

Some of those who drove by honked and cheered, while other drivers
pointed their heads straight ahead and kept quiet. A few muttered
insults, such as "Get a life."

Mohan said police officers visited the group by earlier in the
afternoon. Even though his group had not applied for a permit to
protest, Mohan said an official said it was OK, as long as they
stayed off the street.

Later in the evening, Logan Police Chief Russ Roper came by to make
sure the rules were being kept.

I thought it was pretty cool," Mohan said. "It's pretty nice they're
just going to let us keep doing it."