People came from cities across north Georgia Monday to a rally in Athens for the legalization of marijuana as a local man elaborated on the consequences of getting arrested under current laws.

"Up until two weeks ago I was a social studies teacher," former Clarke Middle School teacher Weston LePage said. "There was a raid on my home whereupon only two flowering plants were confiscated, but I lost my job and I'm here with you trying to redirect this into something positive."

LePage has maintained that the marijuana he used was for medical reasons as it allowed him to get off the pain medicine methadone for treatment of nerve damage to an arm.

LePage, who was arrested by Athens-Clarke police this month on marijuana manufacturing charges, also used the rally to criticize Georgia State Sen. Renee Unterman, who was instrumental in the recent failure of a medical marijuana bill in the state Senate.

More than two dozen people gathered outside Athens City Hall for the rally organized by Georgia CARE Project, which advocates the legalization of marijuana. The group engaged in loud chants and passing motorists would blow horns, but the rally went off without problems.

"We noticed that the mayor (Nancy Denson) here supported decriminalization and doesn't think people should be arrested for possession and stigmatized for the rest of their lives," CARE director James Bell said. "We're here to support that and bring attention to our cause."

The states of Colorado and Washington have passed marijuana legalization bills, but Bell didn't endorse either for Georgia.

"I would like to see it the way that Georgia feels comfortable doing it. I'm a Libertarian. I want full legalization and how they get there I don't really care," he said.

In fact, Bell said he plans to meet soon with state Sen. Curt Thompson of Gwinnett County in regards to a broader and more comprehensive bill that allows for the cultivation of marijuana.

Those at the rally ranged from University of Georgia freshman student Josh Wayne, who established a campus chapter of Georgia CARE, to 62-year-old Bob Reardon of Cumming, who traveled to Athens to offer his support.

"There is a yearning by people to step up and get the message out that something should be done," said Reardon, who said legalization could produce a new cash crop for farmers.

Wayne predicted Georgia would soon join other nearby states that have approved legislation for medical marijuana and he foresees the federal government changing its laws.

"It will be a hot topic with the elections coming up," he said.

Dahlonega resident Sharon Ravert, a member of the Peachtree NORML organization that supports legalization, was outspoken in legalizing marijuana, and she noted how students arrested for possession can be suspended and lose their government financial aid.

"When a child molester can come out of prison and get a ... federal grant to go to college, how are you going to arrest a kid that is doing well in school and tell them they can never come back?" she asked. "That is what I'm here for."

Follow Around Here editor/writer Wayne Ford on Facebook at www.facebook.com/WayneFordABH.