PROTESTERS RALLY FOR LEGALIZING MARIJUANA

Protesters outside the federal courthouse in downtown Shreveport made
their demands clear Wednesday - legalize marijuana and legalize it
now.

Nearly 100 people turned out in front of the U.S. District Court for
the Western District of Louisiana to condemn laws criminalizing
marijuana and to ask lawmakers to tax and regulate it instead.

Organized by Legalize Louisiana, a statewide organization calling for
the legalization of medicinal and recreational marijuana, the march
was part of a broader day of protests that included similar events in
Lafayette, New Orleans and Monroe.

"Like everything else, it's a step-by-step work in progress," said
Jacob Franks, Legalize Louisiana's Shreveport point man. "That these
protests are going on at different cities across the state show
there's a want for these changes everywhere."

Franks said the rallies drew their support mostly from social
networking sites and word of mouth. He said the goal was changing the
atmosphere of the entire state - from people on the streets to
lawmakers in Baton Rouge.

The march started on Fannin Street and Clyde Fant Parkway and moved
through downtown to the courthouse, drawing hoots and honks of
approval from passers-by as they moved. The protesters - mostly
college-age youth - waved signs and banners chanting, "Yes we
cannabis!" and "We are not criminals!"

Protesters were asked to keep the march clean and peaceful to avoid
casting suspicion on their cause.

"Do not bring anything illegal today to the march," the Legalize
Louisiana Shreveport Facebook page said. "Not only would it hurt our
cause - but you will go to jail. Please vacuum out your car or do
anything you can to be clean. If you try to do anything illegal,
someone from (Legalize Louisiana) will extract you from the march. It
is not our mission to mock law enforcement."

At the courthouse, they were met with law enforcement officers
positioned to keep protesters off federal property. The officers stood
with firm faces as the protesters shouted their slogans welcoming
police to join their cause and calling them brothers, not enemies.

"I don't see the harm in it at all," said Angela Wolinski, a protester
and a student medical assistant at Career Technical College.
"Legalizing it would minimize drug dealers and keep it off the streets."

Though the changes they were after were clear, not everyone believed
it was a fight they could win.

"I support them, but I don't think the city is ready for it," said
Shelby Woodard, a protester and server at Tokyo Steakhouse. "Something
about Louisiana is so different. I don't think it'll ever be legal,
but it's worth a try."