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No Smoking Zone 
Posted by CN Staff on April 21, 2004 at 10:14:49 PT
By Ed Asher, Tribune Reporter
Source: Albuquerque Tribune 
Two officers on a hilltop surveyed Roosevelt Park with binoculars as five horse-mounted police patrolled its boundaries. Patrol cars lined the park's east and west borders and a mobile command van was parked nearby. Streets were blocked with orange cones.A presidential visit wasn't the reason for the extraordinary police presence at this quiet Southeast Heights neighborhood park Tuesday. It was the annual April 20 "4-20" observation, when pot proponents around the world gather to smoke cannabis and call for its legalization.
The number 4-20 is thought to be police code to identify marijuana smokers. Roosevelt Park has become known as the designated gathering place in Albuquerque for the "4-20" event.For the second year in a row, Albuquerque police decided to shut the park down for the day."It's not in the best interest of public safety to have a designated area for an open display of breaking the law," Albuquerque police Lt. Larry Sonntag said.In past years, the event has drawn more than 400 people and trouble for the neighborhood along Coal Avenue, Sonntag said.But at the witching hour of 4:20 p.m., there were only four University of New Mexico students stationed across the street from the park. One held a cardboard sign decorated with a marijuana leaf and the word, "Freedom."A few passing motorists honked their horns."It's a good day to rob a bank; all the cops are here at the park worried somebody might smoke some weed," said Ben Tucker, 25, a UNM student who said marijuana should be legalized.Some neighbors of the park weren't happy about it being closed either, but for different reasons."I'd like to cross the street and have lunch under the trees. If they want to prevent people from smoking pot, they can have a police presence. But this is ridiculous," said Cora Kammer, 25, an Albuquerque Technical Vocational Institute student who lives across the street from the park."They don't need to keep citizens from enjoying a public park."Sonntag said he was happy there were no incidents to report."It's a nice day; it's a nice breeze," he noted.Note: Police forestall annual '4-20' pot-puffing event by closing Roosevelt Park to all.Source: Albuquerque Tribune (NM)Author: Ed Asher, Tribune ReporterPublished: April 21, 2004Copyright: 2004 The Albuquerque TribuneContact: letters abqtrib.comWebsite: http://www.abqtrib.com/Related Articles:4:20 is High Time for Pot Users Worldwidehttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread18697.shtmlNORML Hosts 4/20 Rally in Support of Pothttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread18694.shtml'Faded on Farrand Field'http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread18693.shtml
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Comment #2 posted by Virgil on April 21, 2004 at 12:21:10 PT
Who is they?
"I'd like to cross the street and have lunch under the trees. If they want to prevent people from smoking pot, they can have a police presence. But this is ridiculous," Ah, the self-centered. The big injustice is not important, but not being allowed in the park is ridiculous. Me, me, me and only me.
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Comment #1 posted by FoM on April 21, 2004 at 11:11:00 PT
Reefer Madness DVD Review from The Seattle Weekly
DVD OF THE WEEKReefer MadnessFox Home Entertainment, $14.98 April 21 - 27, 2004  Sadly, the colorized reissue of this 1938 antipot propaganda film (on disc April 20) doesn’t include the one bonus feature that would make it a genuine Sensurround experience. Though there’s nary a joint tucked away in the box, the DVD’s inspired commentary tracks—indispensable if you don’t want to nod off midfilm— are reason enough to give this misguided cautionary tale another look. Originally titled Tell Your Children, Madness chronicles the short lives and fast times of a handful of high schoolers (actually thirtysomething actors in sweater vests and schoolgirl skirts) seduced by the “demon weed.” Early on, we watch as innocent Ralph is roped into the weed-selling operation of a bourgeois couple, Mae and Jack. The tokin’ trio’s aggressive recruitment of the aforementioned “teens” sets off a chain reaction of manslaughter, attempted rape, third-degree murder, and spectacularly bad dancing, all glimpsed through a constant, multihued wall of marijuana smoke. Thank the people at Legend Films for the colorful puffs; they had the surprisingly tough (and unsurprisingly fun) job of adding vibrant, over-the-top shades of John Waters–worthy color to a classic piece of Americana, heretofore seen only in black–and-white. The colorizing team contributes an instructive, hilariously laid-back commentary track; during a dull scene, they audibly uncork a bottle of wine. For pure laff value, it almost rivals the alternate track featuring former Mystery Science 3000 host Mike Nelson; his wisecracks punctuate the very real boredom of watching a film whose production values and acting lie just south of your average junior-high play. Skip the other extras, which include a droningly preachy short, Grandpa’s Marijuana Handbook. An earnest stoner with senior-citizen cred, Grandpa is more than happy to rave about his 37-year habit, but I’d choose Nelson’s wonky satire over the old man’s plodding pedantry any day. http://seattleweekly.com/features/0416/040421_film_dotw.php
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