Thousands rally for pot legalization at Hash Bash

Eric D. Lawrence, Detroit Free Press | NationalDesk

DETROIT -- Ralph Worick's green-and-white-striped flag fluttered in the blustery chill Saturday as thousands gathered and called for the legalization of marijuana at the 42nd annual Hash Bash at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.

"I think we should decriminalize cannabis -- period," Worick of Portage said as he steadied the flag, which also had marijuana leaf images similar to stars, high above the crowd. "My flag represents the United States of Euphoria."

Worick, 56, said he has been smoking marijuana since he was 11 and has been part of the pro-marijuana movement since 1975.

The event kicked off at what organizers like to call "high noon," and drew an estimated 3,000 people, according to University police spokeswoman Diane Brown.

It drew a colorful crowd, many wearing clothing with images of marijuana leaves. One man even dressed as Jesus with a crown of thorns and carried a sign with a Bible verse referencing the creation of plants. Smoke wafted through the air and the smell of burning marijuana was hard to miss.

Dan Skye, the editorial director at High Times magazine, told the crowd that he had been smoking marijuana for many years and that the legal climate had forced him to skulk around while doing so. He said those in the crowd would need to act to change that for future generations.

"I will probably not live to see this country completely legal. It's up to you guys," Skye said.

Even some politicians showed up.

"I believe we need to legalize marijuana," said Democratic state Rep. Jeff Irwin. "The amount of blood and treasure we've spilled in this drug war is an embarrassment to our country."

In 2008, Michigan voters approved a measure allowing medical marijuana. In February, a bill was introduced in the state House that would allow individual communities across the state to decide whether they would allow medical marijuana shops, known as dispensaries, within their borders.

Sabra Briere, an Ann Arbor councilwoman, told the crowd that she is concerned with loopholes in the medical marijuana law.

"If we could just get the people in Lansing to listen, we'd be much better off," she told the crowd.

Nick Collins, 19, of Kalamazoo was attending his first Hash Bash and said he smokes marijuana because of lingering pain from a snowboarding fall that broke his collarbone, a dislocated knee from playing basketball and unexplainable chest pains. He works at a convenience store because it's the only job he can hold while smoking every day.

Marijuana "shouldn't be illegal in any way. It comes from the ground," Collins said.

Not everyone who came to the Hash Bash came to talk about marijuana.

Aeryn Wood, 21, of Brighton had come on an outreach for her church, FloodGate Renewal Fellowship in Brighton. Wood and the approximately 40 other members of the nondenominational Christian church wanted to talk about Jesus.

And while she does not smoke and does not believe marijuana should be legalized, Wood sees some hypocrisy in current laws.

"It's no different than drinking," she said. "People are going to do what they're going to do."

Contributing: Bill Laitner