PRO-MARIJUANA RALLY DRAWS TEENS

Jessica Flanagan won't be old enough to vote for another four years, but
she already has a favourite political party.

It's the one that uses a marijuana plant for its logo.

Flanagan was one of about 60 people, mostly teenagers, who attended a rally
Friday in Galt Gardens held by Dustin Sobie, the Marijuana Party candidate
in Lethbridge.

The 18-year-old LCI student drew cheers and applause from his audience as
he touted the benefits of the drug and reasons why it should be legalized.

"There's a lot of social and economic benefits to ending prohibition,"
Sobie announced.

The federal political party promotes the legalization of cannabis, and
while it also promotes other issues, such as proportional representation,
its push to legalize the drug is what attracts most of its supporters.

"I don't think it's so bad," Flanagan said as she sat in Galt Gardens with
friends waiting for the rally to begin. "It's better than smoking (tobacco)."

Although some fellow teenagers believe marijuana should be legalized and
controlled, Flanagan said there shouldn't be any restrictions on its use.
"It makes people more happy and calm. The world would be a happier place."

It was difficult to tell whether those who attended the rally actually
support the party or just marijuana use. Only about a dozen spectators, not
including the five police officers, looked old enough to vote.

Many of the teens sported tattoos, bare midriffs, mohawks and nose rings,
and a couple of them were smoking joints, although not while the police
were near. The rally remained calm and peaceful, except during a brief
outburst by an obviously impaired woman who shouted to the crowd when Sobie
claimed marijuana is not addictive.

"He's a liar," the woman said, adding she has been addicted for years.

Sobie said no one has ever died from smoking marijuana or developed lung
cancer like tobacco users. He stressed making it legal would save the
government money in prosecution and enforcement costs, and make it cheaper
to buy.

"You could go to the corner store, pick up a pack of joints, and away you go."

Sobie urged his listeners not to believe the myths surrounding the drug. He
said pot is not a "gateway drug" which leads to other drug use, and it's
not bad for the health. He also denied claims that many more people would
begin using cannabis if it was legal.

The Marijuana Party isn't the only party to support decriminalizing
marijuana, at least for medicinal use.

Melanee Thomas, the NDP candidate for the Lethbridge riding, also attended
the rally, and said many prescription drugs are more harmful. She said she
personally believes the drug should be legalized.