MARIJUANA RALLY A BIG HIT WITH SUPPORTERS

A group of teenagers wound through Boston Common. The leader of the
posse, a high school junior with blue hair, stopped and said she liked
to smoke pot. She then walked away.

She was among the students and Boston residents at Hempfest,
officially known as the MassCann Freedom Rally Saturday.

Keith Saunders, president of the Massachusetts Cannabis Reform
Coalition (MassCann) and a Northeastern alumnus and part-time
professor at the university, began researching drug policy during his
Ph.D program at Northeastern. He wrote his dissertation on marijuana
reform policy. Saunders said he is deeply involved with the politics
of marijuana reform and gladly shares information about the recent
successes of MassCann.

Saunders commented on the non-binding public policy questions on
decriminalization posted in 30 Massachusetts districts.

"The representatives [in the districts] were shocked to find out
decriminalization received more votes than they did," he said.

That political view was a theme among guest speakers, including High
Times Magazine cultivation editor Danny Danko. Danko's speech centered
on defining marijuana use as a victimless crime. He called the
attendees "peaceful pot smokers" and "no threat to society."

Danko, like all of the speakers, repeatedly pointed to the presence of
police at the rally, but encouraged respect for the officers, saying
they were just doing their jobs.

There were two high-profile arrests made during the event for
possession of marijuana: the founder of MassCann and the publisher of
High Times magazine.

Though the marijuana legalization debate was the basis of the rally,
the day was hardly all about hard-hitting politics. Food vendors,
craftsmen and music attracted a diverse crowd. Rally supporters, as
well as those who had no idea what the rally was for, gathered to
dance to the live bands, shop the wide selection of hemp products or
just grab a bite to eat.

The tent set up by Veena Chander, a jewelry maker and vendor, was
among the most popular. Chander said she has been selling at the rally
for four years and plans to return in the future.

Northeastern senior physical therapy majors Emmie Milbut and Evan
Deckelbaum, along with their friend Jocelyn Heelan, a recent graduate
of the Hartford art school at University of Hartford, browsed through
Chander's jewelry.

Milbut and Deckelbaum said the rally was their first, and they enjoyed
taking in the vendors and music. Heelan, however, is a freedom rally
veteran and supports the message the rally sends.

"I think hemp is a viable resource to be used for a variety of
sources. I definitely support legalization," Heelan said, pointing out
her hemp-made purse. "And I'm a big jam band fan."

The bands featured at the freedom rally offered a little something for
everyone. During rock-country group Three Day Threshold's set, one
father danced with his young daughter. The rock-oriented Township
brought the teenage crowd to their feet. The longest running rally act
Dave Tree and SuperPower were among the crowd favorites, bringing all
ages to the stage for some high energy, hardcore rock music.