— Mike Beitler, the Libertarian candidate for the U.S. Senate from North Carolina, spoke Saturday at a rally in Raleigh where activists assembled to promote the legalization of marijuana.

“If my neighbor is smoking marijuana, drinking a beer or over-indulging in chocolate, that's the adult's decision to make,” Beitler said.

As a Libertarian, Beitler said he believes people should be allowed to do whatever they want – as long as their actions don't infringe on other the rights of other people.

Beitler was the featured speaker at the daylong gathering on Halifax Mall, which was organized by the North Carolina Cannabis Patients Network.

The event also featured discussions and debate about ways to increase support for the N.C. Medical Marijuana Act.

Rally participants planned to work with the state Legislature in January to re-introduce the act, which stalled in the House health committee in the spring of 2009.

Beitler, a Duke University professor, faces off in the Nov 2. election against Republican Sen. Richard Burr and Democratic candidate Elaine Marshall.