After a week of toking in Manchester, the Union Leader finally takes notice. Thanks to Mark Hayward for the story:



With glass pipes and odd-smelling cigarettes, protesters have taken to Veterans Memorial Park in downtown Manchester, lighting up at 4:20 p.m. daily, the same time as do protesters in downtown Keene.

Participants yesterday said they started the effort Sept. 28, a week after the daily smoke-ins began in Keene. They say they light up to protest marijuana laws.

“There’s laws, and they shouldn’t be here. So many have tried to work within the system to change the laws, begging bureaucrats. But it never works,” said Travis Eden, a 24-year-old who lives in Manchester and works in information technology.

Eden said a video of him selling marijuana is posted on the FreeKeene Web site.

About two dozen were on hand for the ceremonial light-up yesterday, as one rolled a joint on a bongo drum and lit it. Another two shared a pipe. Some passed out brownies which they said were not spiked with marijuana.

Several waved protest signs with messages such as “Leaf us Alone” to motorists on Elm Street, often receiving honks of support from drivers. One woman wore the costume of a cannabis leaf.

Many did not smoke, and a few — including a gun-toting Bill Domenico — said they are not there to smoke marijuana, but to protest marijuana laws.

“I’m supporting the cause, but I’m not stoned,” said Domenico, who wore a gun on his left hip. He called himself the group’s “self-appointed watchdog.” A digital radio scanner hung on his right hip, which he uses to monitor Manchester police traffic.

Police said yesterday they have monitored the group but have not seen any marijuana use.

“They’re not doing what they say they’re doing,” said police Lt. Ernie Goodno.

When told a reporter smelled marijuana, Goodno said he will send an officer to the park to see what’s going on. No officer monitored the park yesterday, although police have done so on previous days, he said.

“We’ll enforce the law,” Goodno said. “We’re not going to turn our backs to someone violating the law, within reason.”

Eden said several of the protesters are Free Staters who have moved to New Hampshire. He for, example, moved here recently from Florida. He said the protests are drawing the support from passers-by, and the protesters offer them a puff or two.

Supplying marijuana to another is a more serious crime than merely smoking it.

“We’re not promoting this for people to come by and get high,” Domenico said. “It’s more if you want to participate in civil disobedience. We’re activists, but we’re not crazy.”