Protesters in NYC Call for Legal Marijuana in New York

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Hundreds of demonstrators rallied in New York City's Union Square on Saturday to call for the legalization of marijuana in New York State.

NYC Cannabis Parade organizer Troy Smit told NBC News the annual event, first held in 2012, aims to "end the war on drugs, release the medicine, free the prisoners, heal the sick, and unite the nations."

Colorado, Washington, and Alaska have already legalized the recreational use of marijuana. In February a law went into effect in Washington, D.C., that made carrying small amounts of pot legal. Oregon voters passed a law legalizing pot that is set to take effect July 1.

Jack Cole, Co-Founder of Law Enforcement Against Prohibition and a retired New Jersey state police officer and undercover narcotics detective, told the crowd, "When I retired, I felt very bad about my role in implementing this drug war because it's destroyed so many people."

Deacon Fiirst...

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URL: 
http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/legal-pot/protesters-nyc-call-legal-marijuana-new-york-n352726