PHOTO ESSAY: Marijuana Legalization March in Costa Rica

Marijuana advocates marched Saturday in San José to encourage legalization of the drug for medical, industrial, alimentary and recreational purposes. About 70 people marched from San José’s central park to the Plaza de la Democracia where leaders of the movement and pot users gave speeches to the crowd.

The groups Movimiento Cannábico Costarricense and Cannabis Medicinal Costa Rica organized the march with the help of other legalization supporters. Gerald Murray, director of Cannabis Medicinal Costa Rica, told The Tico Times that the group supports medical use of the plant with full liberties, including home growing, dispensary sales and use of the plant to treat diseases like stress, depression, AIDS and cancer.

“The fact that the board of directors of the Costa Rican Social Security System said recently that cannabis is medicinal is very important because now we can show lawmakers all the scientific proof there is out there,” Murray said.

Long-time users of the plant also talked about the benefits they had received from it. Others spoke of its multi-faceted potential.

“It’s very important to mention the other uses of the plant, not only its use as a drug but also its use for food and industrial purposes,” said José Trejos, a legalization supporter.