FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – 10/14/2013

PhillyNORML – Philadelphia Chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws

CONTACT: PhillyNORML Chris Goldstein 267 702 3731 media@phillynorml.org The Panic Hour NA Poe napoe0@gmail.com 267 616 0828

EVENT: Smoke Down Prohibition X: Saturday 10/26/13 from 3:30PM-4:45PM at 5th&Market Streets

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/525894194154404/

Monthly protest of federal marijuana prohibition returns to Liberty Bell

Philadelphia – Smoke Down Prohibition returns on October 26, 2013 for the tenth month in front of the Liberty Bell to protest the federal government’s senseless war on marijuana.

Comedy activism crew The Panic Hour and local legalization group PhillyNORML will gather at 5th&Market Streets from 3:330PM to 4:45PM.

Participants at Smoke Down Prohibition X will hear speeches from activists and advocates then some will take part in a “moment of cannabis reflection” at 4:20PM. The time is symbolic to many American cannabis consumers and marijuana joints are lit as a civil disobedience action.

The protests began as consistent, monthly gatherings in December 2012 and at the April 20, 2013 more than 400 hundred people actively participated in the 4:20PM moment.

For five months there were no citations or arrests at any of the Smoke Down Prohibition “reflections.” 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. Dozens of participants were tackled to the ground and aggressively detained simply for the act of lighting joints.

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 in December 2013.

Undeterred by the repeated attempts to encroach on their First Amendment freedom the protesters have bravely returned each month since.

Dozens of notable advocates have given speeches calling on the federal government to fully legalize marijuana and hemp for the entire country including: Neill Franklin from Law Enforcement Against Prohibition, Retired Philadelphia Police Captain Ray Lewis, National NORML Board member Diane Fornbacher, Jim Miller and Ken Wolski RN from the Coalition for Medical Marijuana New Jersey, registered NJ medical marijuana patients Jay Lassiter and Rowyn Capers, hemp advocate Les Stark, NJ state legislature candidate Don DeZarn, activist Ed “NJWeedman” Forchion, PA gubernatorial candidate John Hanger and many more. The crowd has always remained respectful of the property, cleaning up trash and easily disbursing.

More than 2,500 people have protested federal cannabis laws by smoking marijuana at The People’s Plaza during Smoke Down Prohibition events with approximately 30 citations issued since May.

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” for civil disobedience actions at the same site. The US Attorney is not allowing them to pay a fine but is requiring both to appear in Federal Magistrate Court. They face a maximum of 6-months in prison and up to a $1000 fine. DeZarn and Goldstein were both detained with single marijuana joints. Their initial court hearing is October 24, 2013 at 10:30M. Legal defense fund: http://www.gofundme.com/sdp420

“The United States is now divided by a patchwork of freedom for cannabis consumers,” said Chris Goldstein, PhillyNORML Co-chair,”Until marijuana is removed Controlled Substances Act these federal laws will continue to be used as a convenient excuse to interfere with the lives of millions of Americans. We are seventy-six years into prohibition: it warrants a monthly protest.”

CONTACT: PhillyNORML Chris Goldstein 267 702 3731 media@phillynorml.org The Panic Hour NA Poe napoe0@gmail.com 267 616 0828

Added on October 14, 2013federal, marijuana, NORML, Philly, prohibition, protestIn The News