Philadelphia marijuana activist N.A. Poe walked out of federal court Dec. 13 with a big smile on his face. "Today is a victory for free speech," he proclaimed after being sentenced on three charges he's faced since May.
One of the organizers of Smoke Down Prohibition rallies, which have taken place in Philadelphia's Independence Hall over the last year, Poe (nee Richard Tamaccio) was arrested at the May 18 protest and charged with the obstructing a federal officer, possessing marijuana on federal property and resisting arrest. In July, the charges were reduced from felonies and misdemeanors to citations.
On Dec. 14, the judge on the case fined Poe $805 and placed him on one-year's probation.
Poe, who's a comedian and works with The Panic Hour, told Derrick J. Freeman of Peace Now News after the sentencing: "Today is a victory for free speech… Walking away with a year probation is a victory, especially when the government was asking for three years, 100 hours of community service, disassociation with The Panic Hour and disassociation with the rest off the people that are organizing these events. So I'm very happy… For a year I have to stay away from Smoke Down Prohibitions… For one year I can suck it up… I ride this out and I have the rest of my life to cause havoc."
