POT PROPONENTS POLITICIZE PICNIC

He may not be quite old to vote but he knows how he'll cast his ballot when
the time comes.

Seventeen-year-old Adam of Dartmouth, who didn't want his last name used
for obvious reasons, showed up at the Dartmouth Common yesterday wearing a
T-shirt that said Overgrow The Government -- Vote Marijuana Party.

Adam was one of close to 300 pot proponents mellowing out at the ninth
annual Cannabis Day Picnic.

Bongos played, music blared and the heady scent of dope filled the air as
scores of young people paid homage to the popular drug.

A few espoused the benefits of medicinal marijuana but most were teens
looking to just chill out.

Organizers touted it as another step in the "battle to free the weed."

Prime Minister Paul Martin pledged to decriminalize marijuana, meaning
users would be subject to a fine instead of a record. It's still illegal to
possess, use or sell pot.

Adam, who smokes a couple of grams per day, says he would even like to get
involved in Marijuana party politics.

Attending the picnic was a way for him to take a stand against Ottawa.

"This is just a way for the government to make money over more social
programs. There's so many people that do it, they're basically blocking out
a large number of us that maybe don't smoke cigarettes or don't drink. This
is just another one of the drugs that the government can control," he said.

His friend Robert has already voted for the fringe Marjiuana party because
he thinks the drug has been unfairly maligned.

"I'd just like to see it legalized because it's really not a bad thing. If
you look at most of the different studies and stuff, it says that it's
good. No long-lasting effects and it just helps people out all around," he
said.

As in previous years, police left the picnickers alone.

Ice-cream vendors did a brisk business but the highlight of the day was 10
grams of marijuana rolled into what was billed as the Maritimes' biggest joint.