RALLY FORTH

Steve Epstein doesn't expect any major hang-ups between now and next
weekend's annual Freedom Rally. By now, Epstein is confident that his
mass meeting to generate support for the legalization of marijuana
can pretty much run on automatic pilot.

Even under the influence of marijuana.

"After 15 years, it sort of runs itself," says Epstein, a Georgetown
lawyer who is a longtime advocate for the reformation of marijuana
reform laws. "There are some young folks who have become pretty
active over the past five or six years. This old man isn't doing too
much heavy lifting anymore."

Which may be true, but Epstein says he still has plenty of work
ahead of him in trying to convince local lawmakers to rethink the
state's current marijuana policies.

This November, voters in the 2nd Essex Senate District and the 3rd
Essex and Middlesex Senate District will have their chance to chime
in on a non-binding question that will appear on the ballot, asking
whether their legislators should introduce legislation to
decriminalize marijuana possession, making it like a traffic ticket
("Waiting to inhale," Sunday, Aug. 15).

Similar ballot initiatives were passed in Massachusetts districts in
2000 and 2002, but as of yet, few legislators have stepped up to
support it. When asked if marijuana reform could ever be a reality if
lawmakers have generally already made up their minds that pot-smoking
is dangerous, Epstein says he remains hopeful.

"I don't know that that's the case," he says. "I expect there will
be some positive feedback from it."

In the meantime, Epstein will carry on with his Freedom Rally, which
will take place on the Boston Common on Saturday, Sept. 18.

Epstein says this year's theme - "Roll the Vote: Please Tax Us" - pleads
with lawmakers to decriminalize marijuana and tax it, thus creating a new
and
significant revenue stream in the state.

"The theme isn't extremely different from previous years," says
Epstein. "It's the same message that this is pretty much fiscal
insanity. It's not just at all."