Pro-Pot Rally Draws 500 to Westwood : Marijuana: Cannabis enthusiasts mark Bill of Rights anniversary with a block party at the Federal Building to push for legalization of the drug.

A crowd of marijuana enthusiasts marked the 200th anniversary of the Bill of Rights on Sunday by gathering in Westwood to preach their doctrine of saving the world one toke at a time.

During a block party at the Federal Building, they cheered speeches favoring marijuana legalization, swayed to live reggae, picnicked in the grass and hawked merchandise. Some even smoked the illicit weed.

“I’m wearing black today in mourning of the Bill of Rights,” said Judy Osburn, a Ventura County mail-order vendor. She was among speakers who said the war on drugs, marijuana in particular, trampled on civil liberties, including the right to privacy and protection against illegal searches.

The afternoon rally drew more than 500 people who were met with an array of hemp products, including marijuana-seed trail mixes, breads and tamales. Vendors sold hemp shirts for $35, shorts for $25, hats and scarves for $10. A red, white and blue pin shaped like a marijuana leaf was $2.

Chinwe, who, like Cher, uses only one name, balanced her 11-month-old daughter, Ngozikali, as she bit into a marijuana seed tamale. “It reminds me of regular tamales I’ve had except this is more natural. It’s even got olives,” said the 32-year-old Altadena resident. “I delivered this baby by myself,” she added. “Part of what gave me the courage to do that is hemp.”

Its backers claim Cannabis sativa has a multitude of uses: fiber, protein, paper, fuel. They tout marijuana as a superior treatment for emphysema, multiple sclerosis, side effects of chemotherapy, stress, back pain, constipation, arthritis, ulcers, sinusitis, glaucoma, high blood pressure, anorexia and even AIDS.

A high point of Sunday’s gathering came when Fantuzzi, a Topanga musician who also uses one name, organized a giant circle, led a chant and blew into a conch shell five times.

“Hemp, hemp hooray!” the crowd shouted.

Event organizer Dan Ernst said he gave up a career as an assistant to an eye surgeon to promote hemp full time. “By bringing products in, by showing it’s more than just smoking, it will make these products more acceptable,” he said.

Ernst said his group, the Santa Monica-based American Hemp Council, has about 120 members. It has been active in pro-hemp demonstrations and causes since it was formed three years ago.

Many in the crowd, including junior high school history teacher Mike Lane, were just curious passersby.

“I think there are more serious problems in the world to worry about now than whether hemp is illegal,” he said. “Ten miles away from here, kids are getting shot for the very stuff they want to legalize.”