MILLENNIUM MARIJUANA MARCH IN ZAGREB WITHOUT MAJOR INCIDENTS

ZAGREB, May 6 (Hina) - Some 500 advocates of marijuana decriminalisation gathered for the second Millennium Marijuana March in Zagreb's central square late on Saturday afternoon. The March was simultaneously held in 150 major cities around the world, mostly in the United States, where the first such gathering was held three years ago. The main goal of this world action is the legalisation of light drugs, the initiator of the Zagreb rally, Radio 101 DJ Sergio Stifanic said, adding Croatian smokers would be happy even with decriminalisation. The next step is collecting signatures to return a bill on the decriminalisation of light drugs on parliament's agenda, he said. The Zagreb march was watched by police in uniform and plain clothes. A police spokesman said some 200 people had turned up and that there were no major incidents. Fourteen people were apprehended for substance abuse. An offence charge will be pressed against Stifanic for not reporting the rally. He failed to do so knowing the police would prohibit it, he said, adding there was no official organiser. During the rally, several volunteers from associations for the protection of families and addicts distributed leaflets warning about the consequences of marijuana smoking. Last year the Zagreb Millennium Marijuana March gathered 2,000 people and passed without incidents. (hina) ha