Brazilian Court Bans
March For Marijuana
Legalization
A Brazilian court has
banned a controversial
demonstration in favor
of the legalization of
marijuana, local media
reported Wednesday.
The so-called "the
Global Marijuana March,"
scheduled for Sunday in
10 Brazilian cities, is
banned in Salvador,
capital city of Bahia
state in northeastern
Brazil.
According to the
prosecutors, the
demonstration is likely
to fuel controversy over
marijuana smoking,
currently forbidden by
the Brazilian law.
The global march will
also be held in 19 other
countries.
Protesters said the
court's decision was
"absurd," and has
violated their freedom
of speech in a struggle
for a change in
legislation.
The demonstration was
aimed at promoting
public debate and
research on the use of
marijuana, they said.
The global march has
caused security concerns
in Brazil.
On April 21, five people
were arrested in Rio for
handing out leaflets to
the public, inviting
local citizens to take
part.
On Wednesday, Brazilian
police seized 4.5 tons
of marijuana as well as
five rifles and 50 boxes
of ammunition in Rio in
a truck carrying the
drug from Brazil's
southern state of Parana.
Lucas de Lima Pereira,
the truck driver,
planned to deliver the
marijuana to members of
a drug-trafficking gang
that rules several slums
in Rio.
The 34-year-old driver
had been arrested in the
past for transporting
marijuana, police said.
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