Philadelphia – The monthly protest of draconian federal cannabis laws continues in front of the Liberty Bell with the ninth appearance of Smoke Down Prohibition onSaturday September 21st.

PhillyNORML, comedy activism crew The Panic Hour and marijuana legalization advocates from around the country will peacefully gather at 5^th& Market Streets on The People’s Plaza at Independence Mall National Historic Park to seek redress from our United States government.

Speeches will begin at 3:30PM. 

Scheduled speakers include: Pennsylvania gubernatorial candidate John Hanger, PA medical marijuana advocate Louanne Speese-Stanley, registered New Jersey medical marijuana patient Rowyn Capers, NJ medical marijuana activist Jim Miller, PhillyNORML Co-Chairs Mike Whiter and Chris Goldstein along with some light comedy and acoustic music. 

Smoke Down Prohibition also includes a “moment of cannabis reflection” at 4:20PM when some participants light marijuana joints in a political action of civil disobedience.

The protests began in December 2012 and at the April 20, 2013 “Smoke Down Prohibition IV” more than 400 hundred people actively participated in the 4:20PM moment.

Until May 2013 there were no citations or arrests at any of the Smoke Down Prohibition gatherings. Dozens of notable advocates gave passionate speeches to a crowd that always remained peaceful and respectful of the property; cleaning up trash and easily disbursing.

Then on May 18, 2013 more than one hundred National Park Service Rangers, Philadelphia Police, SEPTA Transit Police, US Fish&Wildlife Officers and heavily armed Department of Homeland Security agents surrounded the event and conducted a raid at 4:20PM. Dozens of participants were tackled to the ground and aggressively detained when they lit marijuana joints. Some of those detained were not smoking marijuana but simply holding cameras or cell phones.

Comedian N.A. Poe of the The Panic Hour was jailed in the Federal Detention Center on May 18th for six days. Poe was banned from the National Park property as part of his release and will be sentenced in Eastern District Federal Magistrate Court on September 24th.

The determined and decidedly non-violent Smoke Down Prohibition participants have endured many encroachments of their liberties but hundreds of supporters have bravely kept up the monthly action.

Since May the Deputy US Attorney is present in a processing tent on site and a coordinated multi-agency response with armed Park Rangers and Philadelphia Police continue to raid the event at 4:20PM. However, the law enforcement interactions with protesters has become generally more civil than the aggressive tactics needlessly employed in the spring.

PhillyNORML Co-Chair Chris Goldstein was cited during Smoke Down Prohibition in June in a civil interaction and paid a $175 fine. Goldstein was cited for the second time at Smoke Down Prohibition on August 31st with NJ Libertarian state Senate candidate Don DeZarn. Both received second citations for “Possession of a Controlled Substance.” The US Attorney is not allowing them to pay a fine but is requiring both to appear in Federal Magistrate Court for the new charges. They face a maximum of 6-months in prison and up to a $1000 fine. DeZarn and Goldstein were both detained with a single marijuana joint each.

About 2,000 people have protested federal cannabis laws by smoking marijuana at The People’s Plaza during Smoke Down Prohibition events with approximately 25 citations issued since May.

Pennsylvania has active cannabis reform legislation. The Governor Raymond P. Shafer Compassionate Use of Marijuana Act, HB1181, was introduced in 2009. The medicinal access bill is named after the Republican former PA governor who unsuccessfully tried to convince President Nixon to decriminalize marijuana in 1972.

PA is also one of eight states considering full legalization. The Regulate Marijuana Act SB528 was introduced in Harrisburg by PA Senator Daylin Leach this year. The bill would allow adults 21 and over to purchase marijuana in the state-operated alcohol stores. Rep. Mark Cohen plans to introduce the companion bill in the PA House this fall.

There is also active legislation before the US Congress to change these laws for the entire country, including HR. 499 Ending Federal Marijuana Prohibition Act of 2013

“This protest is about getting the federal government to remove cannabis from the Controlled Substances Act once and for all. That is the only way to stop the 750,000 marijuana possession arrests that continue to happen each year – more than 4,000 right here in Philadelphia,” said PhillyNORML Co-Chair Chris Goldstein.

PhillyNORML and The Panic Hour recently traveled to Boston, Massachusetts where marijuana possession is decriminalized. On September 14th and 15th tens of thousands participated in 4:20PM moments of cannabis reflection during the annual Boston Freedom Rally. There were no arrests or citations reported in Boston during the4:20 moment. Photos here.

Smoke Down Prohibition IX Facebook https://www.facebook.com/events/392460634212694/

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