Freedom Rally

History of Freedom Rally

• First held in 1989 in North Adams
• Second rally on dock beside USS Constitution
• Third rally in front of Massachusetts State House
• Fourth rally in 1992 at Boston Common
• Moved to current location on Carty Parade Field in 1995

Organizers

• Organized by Massachusetts Cannabis Reform Coalition, Inc. (MassCann)
• MassCann is the state’s longest-standing marijuana advocacy group

Purpose of Freedom Rally

• Celebrates change in Massachusetts’ marijuana law in 2016
• Aims to educate the community on marijuana-related issues
• Keeps marijuana issues in the public forum
• Some attendees rally to lessen restrictions on public marijuana consumption
• Public consumption of marijuana still banned, with violations leading to a US$100 fine

Attendance at Freedom Rally

• Held annually on the third Saturday in September
• Second largest annual gathering for marijuana law reform in the U.S.
• Traditionally smaller than Seattle Hempfest
• Provides opportunity to shape Massachusetts’ marijuana regulatory framework
• Viewed as a celebration of the state’s evolving legal policy towards cannabis

References

• Boston Freedom Rally 09/19/20. www.thebostoncalendar.com
• Hilliard, John (21 September 2019). Years after Mass. made pot legal, Boston Freedom Rally rolls on. The Boston Globe
• Boston Freedom Rally History | MassCann/NORML. 10 August 2012
• Hempfest is coming. And it’s going to be a little different this year. www.boston.com

Freedom Rally Data Sources