cannabisnews.com: As CU Huffs, Student Pot Fest Puffs





As CU Huffs, Student Pot Fest Puffs
Posted by CN Staff on April 21, 2005 at 00:38:21 PT
By George Merritt, Denver Post Staff Writer
Source: Denver Post
Boulder - University of Colorado officials continued efforts to fight substance abuse on campus and tried to quash an annual marijuana smokeout Wednesday by turning sprinklers on the participants. But the strategy proved to be all wet.More than 1,000 students and pot enthusiasts trudged through a soggy field in the middle of campus to exhale a pungent fog of smoke at exactly 4:20 p.m. Another 200 or so spectators lined a fence around the field.
"It's a 13-year tradition," said Lindie Hepburn, a sophomore who dodged the erupting spigots. "How are they going to stop it?"But they tried. For years now, marijuana smokers have enjoyed a certain freedom at CU on April 20, or 4/20. Part civil disobedience, part if-my-parents-only-knew, the informal rally regularly draws crowds of about 1,000. Not all smoke, but many do.This year, campus officials had had enough."This whole past year, even students have taken a position on student behavior and reputations," said CU spokeswoman Pauline Hale.Wednesday morning, campus officials hung signs indicating that Farrand Field - the traditional gathering place for the ritual - would be closed at 3 p.m.Those signs were souvenirs by afternoon, and at 2:30 p.m., 30 or so students were already smoking in the middle of the field."This is just a tradition," said student Ben Horowitz. "We are all out here in a respectful and peaceful manner."CU police Lt. Tim McGraw said the April 20 crowds had just grown too big and police had planned to take action even before the renewed attention on campus to substance abuse."When you have a thousand people together, there are bound to be problems," he said.The crowd grew to about 200 or so before two campus police officers walked onto the field and passed out fliers warning students they would be videotaped and possibly ticketed.Within 10 minutes, the field was clear and the sprinklers were on.The peeved, if peaceful, crowd regrouped nearby. As 4:20 p.m. approached, they made their way defiantly back to Farrand Field. One student was cheered while raising a Jamaican flag emblazoned with Bob Marley's image up a flagpole.This time, the sprinklers could not hold students back, and police did not try to disperse them.Susan Ganster, a freshman, was among those lining the fence - some with cameras - to take in the scene. She was not impressed with the school's actions."If they let them smoke, (the crowd) would be more peaceful," she said. "Now they've just damaged our reputation further by drawing attention to it."Note: University officials trying to snuff the 13-year tradition with sprinklers are unable to stop the splendor in the grass for more than 1,000 students and marijuana enthusiasts.Source: Denver Post (CO)Author: George Merritt, Denver Post Staff WriterPublished: Thursday, April 21, 2005 Copyright: 2005 The Denver Post CorpWebsite: http://www.denverpost.com/Contact: openforum denverpost.comCannabisNews -- Cannabis Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/cannabis.shtml 
Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help




Comment #2 posted by J Christen-Mitchell on April 21, 2005 at 13:46:30 PT:
The Boulder 420 Sideshow
Boulder NORML held a successful 420 in Central Park, with over a hundred blazing-up at 420 another hundred folks in and out all afternoon. Boulder P.D. showed their usual class and simply observed. See ya'll at the May 7th March. Save The Planet-Reduce-Reuse-Recycle-Relegalize
...Jeff Christen-Mitchell
Boulder NORML
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #1 posted by OverwhelmSam on April 21, 2005 at 03:30:54 PT
Damaged The College's Reputation?
If you ask me, they just enhanced the CU's reputation. I mean really, how does a 1,000 people socializing and smoking a little weed damage a college's reputation?Overwhelm Uncle Sam
[ Post Comment ]


Post Comment