Video posted on social media Saturday show Secret Service blocking marijuana legalization activists from carrying a 51-foot inflatable joint to the White House to protest for cannabis reform.
Protesters chanted “Free the tree for PTSD,” as they carried the prop to Pennsylvania Avenue, where a slew of Secret Service and D.C. Police officers prevented their entry.
The protest was scheduled for 2 p.m. ET in front of the White House. It was organized by D.C. Cannabis Campaign, which wants to convince President Obama to decriminalize marijuana by removing it from the Schedule I controlled substance list. The federal government defines substances on the list as having no medical use and a high potential for abuse.
Even before the event began, the group admitted in a statement that it did not seek a permit from the National Park Service to demonstrate.
“It is our constitutional right to peacefully gather and demand Obama stop being hypocrite” the group said, because he “smoked cannabis and became the president of the United States, and while he might think cannabis is a bad habit, does he seriously think it’s on par with heroin, nicotine, or alcohol?”
The demonstrators made their way to the White House, but the giant prop joint was deflated and rolled before it was allowed to pass security. The Secret Service cited security concerns about the inflated prop, said protest organizer Adam Eidinger, the Associated Press reported.
While many of the protesters smoked marijuana at the protest, which is legal in D.C., but not allowed in public, no arrests were made, U.S. Park Police Sgt. Anna Rose told the Associated Press.
51 foot joint made it outside the white house, but in a rather sadder state. #rescheduleMJ pic.twitter.com/IWb8AJLENS
— Rachel Sadon (@Rachel_Sadon) April 2, 2016
