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Thousands Light Up On Boston Common To Push For Legal Marijuana

BOSTON (CBS) - Tens of thousands of marijuana lovers lit up on Boston Common Saturday as part of the annual Freedom Rally.

The event almost didn't take place as the city tried to block the festival, but a Superior Court judge granted an emergency order on Friday allowing the rally.

"Every year the city does whatever it can to try and stop us," said William Downing of the Massachusetts Cannibas Reform Coalition (MassCann).

"The judge unfortunately ruled yesterday that the vendors, who have been there all summer long and will be there all fall, have to go on the outside and this group can bring their own vendors in," said Boston Mayor Marty Walsh.

"It's a day to end prohibition against marijuana," one visitor told WBZ-TV.

This was also a political rally as voters will decide in November whether to legalize marijuana for recreational use in Massachusetts.

MassCann is supporting Ballot Question 4.

Read: I-Team Pot Or Not

Walsh has spoken out against legalizing recreational marijuana.

"The target is children. The target is not adults. It's very similar to candy bars and the names are similar, so I get concerned about the devastation that edibles can do."

The Boston Freedom Rally will continue for one more day on the Common Sunday.

WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Karyn Regal reports

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