ACLU sues Indiana county on behalf of pro-marijuana group

LAFAYETTE, Ind. (AP) - A group that supports legalizing marijuana is suing a northwestern Indiana county over its rejection of their request to hold a rally outside the county's courthouse.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana sued Tippecanoe County on Thursday on behalf of Higher Society of Indiana Inc. The suit says county commissioners rejected the group's request to rally outside the courthouse in Lafayette under a "closed forum" policy that allows them to decide who uses that space.

ACLU legal director Ken Falk says that's unconstitutional. He says the First Amendment "simply denies government the power to pick and choose which groups it allows to gather on public property."

Commissioners President David Byers told the Journal & Courier (http://on.jconline.com/1PMqiCX ) the suit comes as commissioners were already considering changing the policy.

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Information from: Journal and Courier, http://www.jconline.com