Freedom Rally

The Boston Freedom Rally is an annual event in Boston, in the U.S. states of Massachusetts. Held on the third Saturday in September, it is traditionally the second largest annual gathering demanding marijuana law reform in the United States, after the Seattle Hempfest. It is organized by the Massachusetts Cannabis Reform Coalition (Mass Cann), the Massachusetts state affiliate of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws also known as Mass Cann/NORML.

The first Freedom Rally was held in 1989 in North Adams, Massachusetts. The second was on the dock beside the USS Constitution. The third was held in front of the Massachusetts State House on Beacon Street and the fourth, in 1992, was held on Boston Common at the Parkman Bandstand. In 1995 the Freedom Rally moved to its current location across the Common on the Carty Parade Field.

Since 1992 Mass Cann/NORML's Freedom Rally has been held on Boston Common. The city of Boston, led by Mayor Thomas Menino, has tried to stop the Freedom Rally by denying Mass Cann/NORML permits.

Mass Cann/NORML won an injunction forcing the City of Boston to issue a permit for their 1997 rally after many years of difficulty from parks officials regarding the permitting process. The city had been imposing demands for cash and limits imposed on MASS CANN/NORML not normally required of similar events, such as a limit of 10,000 attendees and 8 food vendors. In granting the injunction Judge Belvin Perry described Mass Cann/NORML's attempts to get permits as a "... tortured history."

Later in 1997 the City sued Mass Cann/NORML and its president for $17,000 for compensation regarding damages to the Common and fines. Mass Cann/NORML had already paid an amount the city had previously asked for, approximately $2,000, to clean the Common and had not asked for the additional $17,000 before proceeding to a lawsuit. Mass Cann/NORML counter-sued, claiming that the City's suit was prima facie evidence of the City's continued interference despite the injunction. Both suits were summarily dismissed.

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