By Taryn Kelly and Alana Woods
A group of students take the Green Line on the T to Park Street. Stepping out of the station onto the grounds of Boston Common, they are greeted by a slew of liberal activists holding up anti- war posters and announcing their political views over a small PA system to anyone that happens to pass by.
“Legalize it, don’t criticize it,” said Doctor Tracy Blevins, at the nearby protestors. Blevins, along with an estimated 50,000 other attendees, gathered on the Boston Common on Saturday, Sept. 20 for the 14th Annual Mass Cann/ NORML Freedom Rally.
Massachusetts Cannabis Reform Coalition (Mass Cann) is the state affiliate of the National Organization for the Reform of the Marijuana Laws (NORML). Together, the two organizations lobby to legalize marijuana use and hemp argriculture with events including, the Freedom Rally.
The Freedom Rally, commonly tagged Hempfest, is a day full of speakers, bands and other enthusiasts who come to support legalizing marijuana and hemp. It began at noon and continued until 5:30 p.m., after which many moved to “Smokin’ at the Wood,” the afterparty at The Linwood Grill. This year’s theme, “Fight Terrorism, End Prohibition,” was supported by Blevins.
“I’m not here promoting marijuana use, although I do support the legalization of it, but I’m here promoting the war on prohibition. The war on drugs is much more harmful than it is helpful,” Belvins said.
The walkways were lined with booths, some selling jewelry, posters and clothing, while others were handing out flyers and speaking on their views about legalization of marijuana. Loretta Nall, President of U.S. Marijuana Party, has traveled to many pro-hemp events across the United States to help raise awareness of her organization at such booths.
“U.S. Marijuana Party is here advocating the release of all non-violent drug offenders and we want to restore voting rights to all convicted drug felons,”said Nall.
Nall has successfully aided the organization of parties in alliance with hers in 27 states.
“I think these [events] are great. I like that people are getting together and discussing the issues surrounding marijuana,” Nall said.
Keith Stroup, executive director and founder of NORML, not only aided in the organization of the event, but was also among the many that spoke throughout the day.
“Our main message today is that there is nothing wrong with smoking marijuana. We’ve got to get over this idea that smoking weed is a deviant act. There are many responsible people in our society that smoke marijuana,” said Stroup.
But there was definitely more to Hempfest than the promotion of marijuana. Here, students had the opportunity to register to vote, listen or even join in the drum circle, dance alongside dreadlocked, peace-loving tree huggers or listen to live bands. Another popular activity at Hempfest was a visit to the various vendors that sold anything from posters and boxers boasting the marijuana leaf to hand- knitted crafts and blankets. From here, you could pass alongside a row of food stands who used posters that beared the slogan “Got Munchies?,” as their main form of advertisement.
Intermingled among the supporters were a few avid protestors. Lea Palleria Cox, a national networker for Drug Watch International, passed out numerous articles and talked to many attendees about the negative effects of marijuana.
“Marijuana is an extremely incidious, dangerous drug. Marijuana has four times as many carcinogens as tobacco. [Marijuana smokers] justify it by saying that they don’t smoke pot as often as cigarettes, but they are taking deeper breaths and holding in those dangerous chemicals longer than when smoking cigarettes,”Cox said.
Some attendees opposing Cox said that alcohol is just as dangerous and inhibiting as marijuana, yet it is legal.
“It took us 85 years to learn what damages alcohol causes. We can’t wait another 85 years to discover all of damages of marijuana that we haven’t seen yet,” Cox said,
Cox also spoke about her disgust about Hempfest being held in Boston Common.
“This is a national, historical site. Our forefathers would die all over again if they could see what is happening here,” Cox said.
Another protestor, who referred to himself only as Will, held up a sign reading ‘”Keep off Grass.”
The political element was unavoidable at Hempfest. Fliers and pamphlets adorned every corner, promoting peace, socialism, the impeachment of President George W. Bush, protection of the environment and even the U.S. Marijuana Party. A group of students were discussing the current terrorism situation. When asked if we are still at risk, freshman music industry major Dan Moreno said, “We are still at risk, but people have lost interest so no one really cares anymore.”
Greg Elwood, a freshman computer science major added, “I’m not really worried about terrorism … but I think 14-year-old girls strapping bombs to themselves is extremely messed up.”
Political debates seemed to be everywhere, and that was one thing that made Hempfest what it was.
Mary Baldwin Boyle, a spectator at the event, encouraged people to get more involved.
“You’ve got to start marching, you’ve got to make your voice heard. Even if you don’t smoke marijuana, this is about freedom of expression,” said Boyle. Boyle said that she did not smoke marijuana herself, but was there only to support the cause.
“I’m not out here to make the world better for me- I’ve got what I need. My parents taught me to be a critical thinker. If you teach just one or two people to think critically and they can go out to help others do the same, that’s when you’ve made an impact. That’s why I’m here,” Boyle said.
Saturday was a day of peace and unification in Boston Common. Shane O’Connor, a freshman music major at Berklee said of Hempfest, “Inhale, exhale. That pretty much sums it up.”
