cannabisnews.com: Illegal Weed Spotted in Grass Illegal Weed Spotted in Grass Posted by FoM on June 29, 2001 at 11:54:19 PT By Omar Sofradzija of the Journal Star Source: Peoria Journal Star Did someone use a patch of grass to say something about an illegal weed? That's one theory making the rounds after an unknown man mowed the number "420" in 20-foot-long digits onto a pair of Peoria hillsides flanking the McClugage Bridge and its Adams Street ramps this week. That number has been used as underground slang in reference to marijuana. State highway department officials are irked by the possibly symbolic vandalism in the shadow of the McClugage, one of Peoria's most-used gateways. "That's interesting," Illinois Department of Transportation engineer George Ryan said Thursday after being told of the drug-related meaning. "That's strange that somebody would put that sort of symbolism on our right-of-way, if that's what it's for," Ryan said. "I don't think there's any marijuana growing out there." "That's vandalism," Ryan said. "We're not real crazy about people putting up any type of signs or cuttings like that on our right-of-way. We'd just as soon they didn't. They shouldn't do things like that." The numbers are clearly visible to nearby traffic. Though the mower's identity is unknown, a Washington woman saw the numbers being cut Tuesday. "I saw a man wearing shorts with a lawnmower, and he was mowing the hill on the (Peoria) side of the bridge. The only thing I saw at the time was he was mowing a big '4,' " the woman said. "I was kind of curious as to what he was doing. I thought it was strange." The Web site for the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws labeled "420" as "synonymous in the popular culture with the celebration of personal freedom by marijuana smokers." Another site called it "an international code word for smoking marijuana . . . (used by a) vast underground (that) celebrates that term." And at least a dozen other marijuana-related sites either incorporated "420" in their names or prominently referred to "420." Ryan said the vandalism won't be gone anytime soon. "We wanted to cut (the grass) short enough to eliminate it. But it's so short, there's no way we can cut it short enough to do that." Reporter Andy Kravetz contributed to this story.Note: Mysterious mower carves out slang term for marijuana. Source: Peoria Journal Star (IL)Author: Omar Sofradzija of the Journal StarPublished: June 29, 2001Copyright: 2001 Peoria Journal Star Website: http://pjstar.com/Contact: comment pjstar.comCannabisNews - Cannabis Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/cannabis.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #5 posted by freedom fighter on July 01, 2001 at 10:57:31 PT 420 rules! 420 rules! 420 rules! 420 rules! 420 rules! 420 rules! 420 rules! 420 rules! 420 rules! 420 rules! 420 rules! 420 rules! 420 rules! 420 rules! 420 rules! 420 rules! 420 rules! 420 rules! 420 rules! 420 rules! 420 rules! 420 rules! 420 rules! 420 rules! 420 rules! 420 rules! 420 rules! 420 rules! 420 rules! 420 rules! 420 rules! 420 rules! 420 rules! 420 rules! 420 rules! 420 rules! 420 rules! 420 rules! 420 rules! 420 rules! 420 rules! 420 rules! 420 rules! 420 rules! 420 rules! 420 rules! 420 rules! 420 rules! 420 rules! 420 rules! 420 rules! 420 rules! 420 rules! 420 rules! 420 rules! 420 rules! 420 rules! 420 rules! 420 rules! 420 rules! 420 rules! 420 rules! CANNABISNEWS ROCKS THE WORLD! [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by greenfox on June 30, 2001 at 12:07:13 PT Sad, isn't it...? That they would spend all this time and money just to determine what so many stoners know..... 420 means it's time to smoke some KIND! :)-gf [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by meagain on June 29, 2001 at 22:39:00 PT Job #1 That man deserves some r&r! Maybe a good ice cold mountain dew. yuo know most people i know who drink mountyain dew smoke weed maybe its a dewmovement! [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by Island Smoker on June 29, 2001 at 18:24:20 PT Stuff like that truly inspires me. That is cool.DaM the man [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by The GCW on June 29, 2001 at 12:32:51 PT Awesome A souldier of the highest order! Promote that man to General.Just outside of Chicago, there is a little place called Illinois. Hopefully nobody shoots their brother or neighbor for mowing the grass. [ Post Comment ] Post Comment