Group Demands Space for Great Pot Festival

ATLANTA (CN) - Organizers of "The Great Atlanta Pot Festival" sued Atlanta, claiming the city violated their civil rights by refusing them a permit to hold their event in Freedom Park.

Camp Legal Defense Fund sued Atlanta in Federal Court.

It claims it and its predecessors "have for a number [of] years endeavored to put on a political demonstration promoting cannabis law reform."

They want to hold a meeting at the city's Freedom Park on May 4.

Alas!, the city refused them a permit.

Atlanta told them the city is a "passive park," and they could hold their festival, if at all, only on "the streets and sidewalks of Euclid Avenue and Hurt Avenue."

The plaintiffs claim they were denied the permit because they support legalization of marijuana. They say holding the festival on the sidewalk would limit its size and endanger people who attend.

It's not a "smoke in," the group says on its website. Drugs will be forbidden. One of the speakers is expected to be former six-term Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney.

The group wants to hold The Great Atlanta Pot Festival with a Global Cannabis March which is scheduled for 300 cities around the world, according to the website.

The plaintiffs want the permit.

They are represented by Ralph Goldberg, of Tucker, Ga.

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