WARSAW — A large crowd gathered at the courthouse in Warsaw Saturday, Aug. 6 to rally for the legalization of cannabis.

The rally, held by Higher Fellowship, was the ninth out of 92 rallies to be held in Indiana. Warsaw resident Breon Jones co-hosted the event.

“This turnout shows that we are fighting for something,” said Jones. “I had so many people tell me that Warsaw was never going to be behind it, so keep showing up. Keep pushing for it because we can do this.”

The majority of the ralliers were very clear that they supported the legalization of cannabis because of the health and economic benefits, not because of recreational benefits. Five different speakers spoke to the crowd about the health and economic benefits that could stem from legalization.

“You don’t need to support cannabis, but you should still look at the facts and see why it should be legalized,” said Nick Dovellos, founder of the Northwest Indiana Chapter of the National Organization for the Repeal of Marijuana Laws.

“Show them you’re not a hippy,” said Bobbie Jo Young, executive director of Higher Fellowship. “Show them you’re not a statistic. Encourage people not to be afraid to start a conversation. There’s no reason that the most useful plant in mankind should be illegal.”

The ralliers encouraged everyone in attendance to become more educated about the plant and the endocannabinoid system in the human body. The speakers also urged everyone to research which politicians support their beliefs so they know who to vote for in the upcoming election.

At the end of the rally, Kosciusko County residents were welcomed to speak to the crowd about why they support the legalization of cannabis. Four different residents spoke about their own medical issues and how cannabis helps them in their daily life.