[420 Girl]

Supporters of legalizing marijuana for medicinal purposes gathered in front of the Ogden Municipal Building under tarps, applauding speakers and listening to acoustic guitars.

The rain on Saturday did not dampen spirits as the 30-plus supporters cheered the speeches and waved to honking vehicles.

"If marijuana was legalized for medical purposes, it could actually help a lot of people," said Codey Collier, 19, of Ogden.

Collier admitted he smokes marijuana occasionally.

Those who want to legalize marijuana say it eases the pain and symptoms for people with cancer, glaucoma, AIDs and other illnesses.

Andrew Morrill, 53, of Salt Lake City, told those at the rally he came out of the closet eight years ago and let members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints know he smoked marijuana to help ease his pain.

"In eight years, we've come a long way," Morrill said.

The group was one of about 300 across the nation rallying in front of city, state and federal buildings demanding a change in the laws in hopes of "Cures not Wars," said Happy Gorder, 27, of Ogden.

Gorder was one of the organizers of the Ogden rally.

She had hoped 200 to 300 people would come, but was pleased to see the 30 supporters who braved the downpour.

A petition was passing among those attending, seeking signatures in support of placing an initiative on the November ballot asking voters to decide if marijuana should be legalized for medicinal purposes.

"We just want an option to be able to use marijuana for medicinal purposes," Gorder said. "Studies have shown it is better than pills to stop pain. People should have a choice."

Dr. Ken Larsen, a retired genetic researcher and associate professor at the University of Utah, has been working for years to have marijuana legalized.

"Nowhere in the Constitution is there any justification for the government to prohibit marijuana," Larsen said.

Those who oppose legalization say marijuana is a gateway drug, he said. But forms of opiates are prescribed daily to patients suffering from pain, he said.

Larsen, in an interview, discussed the back-and-forth of other objections to marijuana:

* Opponents claim marijuana is addictive. Larsen agrees, and points out caffeine is, too.

* Opponents claim marijuana inebriates a person so they cannot safely drive. True, Larsen says, but so does beer that is sold legally in grocery stores.

* Opponents claim marijuana is toxic. Larsen agrees, but points at tobacco, which is sold legally and shown to cause lung cancer.

"You should tolerate people's rights to be stupid," Larsen told the group. "That's called the pursuit of happiness, and as far as I'm concerned, you're all heroes."

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