Civics lesson at Capitol: Marijuana still illegal

ROBERT F. MOORE STAFF WRITER

Fifteen people who told police they thought it was legal to smoke marijuana
for a day were among 21 arrested in front of the Capitol during a weekend
rally promoting legalization of the drug, the State Patrol said.

State Patrol Capt. Patrick Chase was not persuaded by their story, however.

``It was shocking that some of them actually believed that,'' Chase said.
``It's an insult to the community right where we make the laws.''

Chris Wright, a member of the board of directors of the Grassroots Party,
which sponsored the rally on Saturday afternoon, called those who thought
they could legally smoke marijuana there ``misinformed.''

``We've never advocated breaking the law,'' Wright said. ``We've told
people that if they choose to engage in civil disobedience by smoking
marijuana they could be arrested.''

All of those cited at the rally were taken away from the scene by officers.
Not all were detained in jail, however.

Citations issued at the rally included 15 for possession of marijuana and
11 for possession of narcotic paraphernalia. Thirty total offenses were
spread among the 21 people arrested, including five juveniles arrested for
underage drinking, according to the patrol. It was the largest number of
arrests in the history of the event. Most arrests occurred between noon and
5 p.m.

Chase said the patrol tried to block the issuance of a permit for the rally
last year but backed off after organizers filed a lawsuit claiming a ban
would be unconstitutional. Since then, officials have heard complaints from
parents and teachers about alleged nudity, lewd behavior and public use of
marijuana at the rally.

Chase said the patrol didn't release details to the public until Tuesday
because no one in the agency's communications office was available over the
weekend and the matter was overlooked on Monday.

The Grassroots Party, formed in 1986, has three candidates on the ballot in
the Minneapolis general election, running for positions on the school
board, park board and library board.

Michael Samuelson, who said his curiosity drew him to the rally at around 3
p.m., said the event seemed relatively quiet.

``I heard a band and just wanted to see what was going on,'' he said. ``I
saw the troopers, but didn't observe anyone smoking pot. But, if anyone was
dumb enough to smoke in front of the Capitol, they probably got what they
deserved.''