The Millennium Marijuana March wound through Seattle's streets in the sun-drenched afternoon of May 6. The procession, guided by hundreds of green balloons buoyed above the marchers' heads, was but one contingent of a grander procession marching through some 100 cities worldwide, Adelaide to Zagreb.

Sallying from Volunteer Park on Capitol Hill, the thousands of joyfully solemn citizens were expertly and courteously guided through the streets by officers of the Seattle Police Department. Wafting down the hill, the march was greeted by curiosity and enthusiasm, perhaps most noticeably by some guys working high overhead on the Convention Center expansion.

Drumming and chanting, the celebrant processional roared through the shoppers' paradise of Westlake, then picked its way through torn up Second Avenue, to conclude with a rally at City Hall park.

The rally's speakers made clear that the Millennium Marijuana March, while celebratory, was serious in purpose.

There are too many people in our prisons. Too many of them are there as a result of the "drug war." Despite legalization of cannabis for medicinal use in some states, harsh federal penalties are brought down on medical users of marijuana. Entrepreneurs dealing in perfectly legal hemp products, like paper and cloth, are subjected to government harassment. The drug war tramples civil liberties without the slightest success in its stated aim.

The march was a celebration of the people's power--responsibility even--to stand up and speak out for freedom. To stand up, not just in the streets, but in society. "It's about being responsible for yourself. It's about having family and community, and we have that. That's why we are strong," said Vivian McPeak, of the Seattle Hemp Coalition. "Critics say that this march is just an excuse to legalize pot. Well, they got that right. We are here to legalize pot, to legalize cannabis for medicinal, industrial, spiritual and recreational purposes. No excuses."

The Seattle Hemp Coalition, organizers of the march, are putting their attention on Seattle Hempfest 2000, scheduled for August 20 in Myrtle Edwards Park. More info can be found at www.thehempcoalition.org, or by calling 206-781-5734.