MARCH PROMOTES MARIJUANA USAGE

As on most Saturday nights, drivers cruising on Massachusetts Street last
Saturday were encouraged to honk for cannabis.

But this time, the message was less about "honking for hemp" and more about
the medicinal and recreational uses of the leafy plant.

A group of about 55 people gathered to show support for legalizing
marijuana as part of the international "Cannabis Liberation Day."

The event, sponsored by the Students for Sensible Drug Policies, was one of
several such events around the world. Cities such as Kansas City, Salt Lake
City, Rome, Tokyo, New York, Moscow and Mexico City hosted similar marches
that usually occur on the first Saturday of May. This was the first time
that Lawrence hosted the 'Million Marijuana March.'

"It's a beautiful day to come together to show that many kinds of people
smoke marijuana," said Chase Cookson, president of the Students for
Sensible Drug Policies. "We want to dispel the negative stigma associated
with marijuana."

Matt Beamer, St. Louis, Mo., senior, said he thought the march was
necessary to bring awareness of legalized marijuana to the public.

"I think the government wastes a lot of money and a lot of time with the
drug war," Beamer said. "We want to get people talking about it and get
people comfortable with marijuana."

Beamer said he believed the government should move toward legalizing
marijuana for medicinal uses.

The supporters began the evening at 6 p.m. by holding up signs on the side
of Massachusetts Street with slogans such as 'Free the Weed', 'Keep your
laws off my bong' and 'Smoking pot is American.'

Some passing motorists honked their horns, held up their thumbs or smiled
to show their support, drawing cheers from the supporters.

At 7 p.m., the group marched down the street shouting protests against the
drug war, with two police officers following. The group encountered five
more officers when it passed a small group of veterans supporting the war
in Iraq.

"Seventy percent of troops in Vietnam smoked marijuana," said a supporter
with a 'Responsible people smoke pot' sign.

"That's a bunch of bull honky," said one of the veterans as the group passed.

The march continued down to Sixth Street, where the group crossed the
street and walked back down Massachusetts Street.

Shop owners and bystanders stood and watched as the group passed by.

Andrew Jacobsen, Overland Park resident, said the march was a good start.

"I went to school in Madison where there was so many people in the march
that you could see people smoking joints on the steps to capitol, and the
cops didn't do anything," Jacobsen said. "This is smaller, but it is a good
start."

After the march ended, the students gathered back at South Park.

"We've proved that we can peel ourselves off of the couch!" Cookson said.