yesterday, urging Government to legalise marijuana.

Although the turn-out was tiny, Mr. Mohatma Shiloh Mahdi insisted his Young Progressives group has "thousands'' of members, and thousands more supporters.

"We encouraged people not to leave their jobs'' to attend the demonstration, he said. "We did not want a crowd.'' But Attorney General Mr. Walter Maddocks said: "I've never seen any really serious pressure or process to legalise marijuana. I don't really think there's any realistic possibility at this stage.'' As his brother banged a drum and hoisted the red, blue, green, and gold emblem of the 24-year-old group, Mr. Mahdi handed Parliament's Sergeant-at-Arms one set of "orders'' and one set of "recommendations'' to distribute to MPs.

"Marijuana is not a drug and it shall not be classed as a drug,'' the documents said. "Marijuana is a food to be eaten as an herb, like parsley.'' Mr. Mahdi ordered that marijuana be decriminalised.

"Housewives shall grow marijuana and farmers shall plant marijuana, and the governments upon the whole earth that oppose the command of God shall perish.'' He also ordered that the Bermuda Government and all others release people jailed for marijuana offences.

He recommended Government pay refunds to those who have been fined for marijuana crimes and compensate ex-prisoners for time spent in custody.

Mr. Mahdi, who was once charged with possession of the drug in Jamaica, said he was confident MPs would vote unanimously to repeal Bermuda's marijuana laws.

Until now, "they have never as yet understood God, God's creation, and God's revelation'', he said.

Mr. Mahdi politely obliged when a Police officer asked him to step away from an entrance to the Sessions House.

GRASSROOTS MOVEMENT -- Mr. Mohatma Shiloh Mahdi, High Priest of the Young Progressives, marched on the House of Assembly yesterday to demand that marijuana be made legal. With Mr. Mahdi are Mr. Robert Marshall and Mr. Buff Smith, his brother.