cannabisnews.com: CU’s 4/20 Pot Smoke-Out Draws Crowd of 10,000





CU’s 4/20 Pot Smoke-Out Draws Crowd of 10,000
Posted by CN Staff on April 20, 2008 at 20:09:54 PT
By Vanessa Miller 
Source: Daily Camera
Colorado -- “Nine, eight, seven ... ” A crowd of about 10,000 people collectively began counting down on the University of Colorado’s Norlin Quadrangle just before 4:20 p.m. today.Yet the massive puff of pot smoke that hovers over CU’s Boulder campus every April 20 — the date of an annual, internationally recognized celebration of marijuana — began rising over the sea of heads earlier than normal this year.
“Oh forget it,” one student said, aborting the countdown to 4:20 p.m. and lighting his pipe early. He closed his eyes, taking a deep, long drag.“Sweet.”Although it’s become an annual and renowned event at CU, this year’s 4/20 celebration was different in some ways than in many previous years: The crowd was so large it migrated from the long-traditional site of Farrand Field to the larger Norlin quad; festivities kicked off earlier than normal with daytime concerts; and CU police handed out zero citations.“At this point, none are anticipated,” said CU police Cmdr. Brad Wiesley.Officers in the past have gone to great lengths to catch people in the illegal act of smoking pot on 4/20.In 2006, CU police dispatched undercover photographers to snap pictures of smokers. Photos of 150 alleged offenders then were posted on the department’s Web site, and witnesses were offered $50 to positively identify the suspects — who then were ticketed. Another year, smokers on Farrand were doused with sprinklers.“We can’t do the same thing year after year,” Wiesley said hours before today's smoking began. “So I doubt we’ll do anything like the pictures. ... There’s no way our 12 to 15 officers are going to be able to deal with a crowd of 10,000. We just can’t do strong enforcement when we’re outnumbered 700 or 800 to one.”About 15 CU officers and a half dozen deputies with the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office had a presence today among the mass of pot smokers, who bounced giant balls and tossed Frisbees through the haze. CU police did handle four medical-related calls for health issues including dehydration; two people were taken to Boulder Community Hospital.Closer to downtown, a more “adult” 4/20 gathering also took place at Boulder’s Central Park for non-students looking to avoid the CU foot traffic. But that event had a much smaller turnout and was mostly uneventful.The crowd size at last year’s CU gathering was rumored to have topped 5,000, Wiesley said, meaning this year’s gathering drew about double.“I guess it’s not like they had to cut a 4 p.m. class to go do it,” Wiesley said, speculating as to why so many more people showed up. “People are not all that busy at 4:20 p.m. in the afternoon on a Sunday.”From the steps of Norlin Library, some of the thousands present said the turnout appeared comparable to that of a peace march or protest.“You guys need to go stand on those stairs,” one girl shouted to her friends, who were seated in a circle on the quadrangle grass. “You don’t even understand.”Smoke-out participants — thousands of whom wore green or T-shirts promoting pot — climbed trees, played the bongos, snapped pictures and had miniature picnics.That, of course, after they sparked the weed they had come to smoke.CU freshman Emily Benson, 19, of Kansas City, said she thinks the decriminalization of marijuana will become a hot topic in the upcoming political season, and said she felt part of something bigger than just a smoke-out today.“We’re at the starting point of a movement,” she said. “This is a big part of the reason I applied here — for the weed atmosphere.”Although CU junior Max Lichtenstein, 21, isn’t into marijuana or smoking, he also felt today's event was a chance to do something “bigger” than himself. He passed out 126 Rice Krispies treats with messages attached asking that they act out against the injustices in Darfur.“Tomorrow, when you’re sober ... call the White House at 202-456-1414,” the note read.“I just like being generous and doing nice things,” he said. “I’m like a good Samaritan.”CU senior Tyler Molvig, 24, said that rather than condemning the smoke-out, CU and the city should embrace it as a money-making opportunity.“I mean, it’s gonna happen regardless,” he said.Entrepreneur Barrett Betz, 20, conceived of the potential financial benefit 4/20 holds earlier this year, and sold peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, Hostess snack cakes and bottled water for a $1.“Peanut butter and jelly!” he screamed to passersby who were parched and eager to satisfy their munchies. “I’m doing very well.”One woman was hopeful Betz’s treats were charged with some special ingredients.“Are these magical?” she asked, only to be disappointed. “Why aren’t you selling magical ones? I mean, it’s cool — but c’mon.”Note: Police issue zero tickets during annual marijuana celebration.Photo Gallery: http://dailycamera.com/photos/galleries/2008/apr/20/420-day-boulder-and-cu/9890/Source: Daily Camera (Boulder, CO)Author: Clay Evans Published: April 20, 2008 Copyright: 2008 The Daily CameraWebsite: http://www.dailycamera.com/Contact: openforum dailycamera.comCannabisNews -- Cannabis Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/cannabis.shtml
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Comment #44 posted by FoM on April 27, 2008 at 17:56:49 PT
Ekim
They are replaying it now on CNN. Maybe others will catch it too.
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Comment #43 posted by FoM on April 27, 2008 at 17:54:44 PT
ekim
Different is not deficient. What a message. He was really funny too.
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Comment #42 posted by ekim on April 27, 2008 at 17:48:49 PT
just on NPR 
they are talking about Harold and Kumar -- escape from gutonomo bay -- sorry if i misspelled the names--just caught the ending-- sounds funny and was a great review of the movie --Yes FoM i watched the Rev on CNN -- very interesting hearing the Rev talk about how we are the same but do things differently--
the comparison of music and its cadence was fascinating.
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Comment #41 posted by FoM on April 27, 2008 at 17:30:30 PT
I Must Say This
I hope it doesn't offend. I just watched Reverend Jeremiah Wright  on CNN speaking to the NAACP in Michigan. It was absolutely amazing. I hope others saw it too. 
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Comment #40 posted by FoM on April 27, 2008 at 16:44:23 PT
Hope
Times are changing right before our eyes. I have been waiting for this time to come back for a long time and it's happening. They are fired up and ready to go.
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Comment #39 posted by Hope on April 27, 2008 at 16:37:06 PT
Is it just me?
Or are we seeing something we've never seen before? Is this payback for all those one step forward and three steps backwards times we've trudged through? It's pretty amazing.There seems to be more going on than I can even nearly keep up with. That's good. That's very good.Or is just me?Dare we dare to believe it? Could dawn be coming? It's been such a long, long, dark and dangerous night.
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Comment #38 posted by Hope on April 27, 2008 at 16:11:06 PT
Cheers and Huzza Huzza for CU 420'ers
Freedom Fighters. Heroes. Long may you live! Or some other good blessing or whatever you need.People who care about the devastation and destruction caused by the Drug War. At least ten thousand of them. They could have stayed home. They could have stayed comfortably and out of harm's way in whatever closet, wherever. But they didn't. They cared. That's powerful and that's good.Thank you, so much, CU Boulder 420'ers. Power to you and many, many blessings.
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Comment #37 posted by Hope on April 27, 2008 at 16:01:56 PT
Josh Howard Poll
More than twenty six thousand people have voted.Nearly two thousand comments!http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3368139&POLL335=10000000000
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Comment #36 posted by FoM on April 27, 2008 at 12:06:38 PT
My Favorite Disney Movie Ever
I have time to surf around today and I found this video. Alice in Wonderland was my favorite Disney movie ever. I particularly was fascinated with the Hookah Smoking Caterpillar. A-E-I-O-U LOL!Alice In Wonderland - White Rabbithttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2g0MDjrl32M
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Comment #35 posted by Hope on April 26, 2008 at 22:06:57 PT
Ooops... forgot the url!
http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v08/n430/a02.html?397
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Comment #34 posted by Hope on April 26, 2008 at 22:03:36 PT
"The public air"?
"The majority rejected the Crown's argument that no search took place because the dog was only sniffing the public air and tipped off police to a trouble spot, giving them reasonable suspicion to believe that drugs were present."That sounds like a new obfuscation. Wow. 
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Comment #33 posted by Hope on April 26, 2008 at 21:43:26 PT
Goodnight, FoM
That plant skit was so funny, I thought. I know people who are skittish or kind of afraid of plants. Horror movies involving plants have a great effect on some people. It seems funny.
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Comment #32 posted by FoM on April 26, 2008 at 21:18:36 PT
Hope
I am really glad to see this young generation standing up for what they believe. Change was stalled for decades but the young people of today are waking up and that makes me feel good. They are kind, polite and focused. I'm really tired so calling it a day. Have a good night.
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Comment #31 posted by Hope on April 26, 2008 at 20:58:29 PT
This cat skit makes me remember
the original Doctor Who and other early sci-fi.
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Comment #30 posted by Hope on April 26, 2008 at 20:52:56 PT
Innocent
We thought we were going somewhere... and quickly. We, people who were "The Youth" then, have 'gone somewhere' and 'come a long way'... but there have always been and likely always will be many obstacles along the way and many of them harder to get past than we ever could have imagined. 
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Comment #29 posted by FoM on April 26, 2008 at 20:45:06 PT
Hope
It was an innocent time. A time at least for those three days that people felt really free. We turned on SNL. I like Christopher Walken. He is so weird he's good.
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Comment #28 posted by Hope on April 26, 2008 at 20:44:18 PT
Lol!
Christopher Walken is so funny.
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Comment #27 posted by Hope on April 26, 2008 at 20:40:14 PT
Christopher Walken
rerun Saturday Night Live.A good one.I love it when there is an entire family of Walkens... all talking like Christopher Walken.That was well done.
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Comment #26 posted by Hope on April 26, 2008 at 20:37:55 PT
It was a good one.
It was a long time ago. We were so young. I'm still that young inside in many ways. The good ways. The ways that are worth keeping.Doesn't he look like he ought to be riding or hauling a skateboard?That's funny.He was so sweet. A lot of that time was sweet... and well worth remembering.
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Comment #25 posted by Hope on April 26, 2008 at 20:32:26 PT
The Poll pertaining to Josh Howard.
Nearly 25, 000 people have voted.I think that's a lot!
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Comment #24 posted by FoM on April 26, 2008 at 20:26:28 PT
Hope
I really like that video. The guy tipping his toupe cracked me up.
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Comment #23 posted by Hope on April 26, 2008 at 20:26:18 PT
Josh Howard Story. There's a Poll. 
Excerpt: Mavericks owner Mark Cuban said before Friday's game against the Hornets that any punishment from the club will be meted out "internally.""We won't make it public," Cuban said. "But we'll deal with it."We'll do what we need to do and deal with it internally and then that's it." (I love your idea about that, by the way, Sam... The Sam that you am.)After the game, Howard was contrite."I'm sorry things have gone the way they are," Howard said. "I never meant to hurt nobody's feelings. ... It's over with now. I'm trying to talk about basketball."Howard had insisted before the game that the fallout from his interview "hasn't been a distraction," thanks in part to the support of teammates. He was then cheered supportively by Mavericks fans during pregame warm-ups and again when he converted a first-quarter layup for his first basket.http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3368139&POLL335=10000000000
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Comment #22 posted by Hope on April 26, 2008 at 19:38:56 PT
Of coure.... Watching the video...
I want to wash that fruit eating toddler's face...as soon as he's finished. :0)I carried a damp washcloth in a little Tupperware container everywhere I went in those days, to deal with those situations.I love sweet little children hugs and kisses... and I like their sweet little faces and hands to be glowing, happy, and clean.Woodstock, necessarily, got a bit grimy ... not to mention a mud bath, at times.
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Comment #21 posted by Hope on April 26, 2008 at 19:15:28 PT
Somewhere... on one of these threads
Someone, FoM, I think, posted a Woodstock era video of Arlo Guthrie singing "Coming Into Los Angeles".It was so cool! That was fun. Thank you.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qsnUu71Viyo
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Comment #20 posted by The GCW on April 26, 2008 at 09:25:58 PT
US CO: PUB LTE: A Post-4/20 Way to Protest Drug La
US CO: PUB LTE: A Post-4/20 Way to Protest Drug Lawshttp://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v08/n428/a14.html?397Pubdate: Mon, 21 Apr 2008Source: Daily Camera (Boulder, CO)Author: Alexandra BerkowitzA POST-4/20 WAY TO PROTEST DRUG LAWS I agree with the students of the University of Colorado NORML chapter that there are many effective ways to change the laws regarding marijuana and other drug policies. In support of the educational events on April 20 organized by CU NORML, we here at Students for Sensible Drug Policy would like to suggest one more way students can help to end destructive drug prohibition policies. Right now, Congress is deciding whether or not to repeal a federal drug penalty that revokes college financial aid from students with drug convictions. Students who want to actually help overturn this harmful and unfair penalty can visit www.ssdp.org/call and enter their zip code to get the name and phone numbers for legislators who represent us in Washington, D.C. All it takes is five minutes to call your two senators and one representative and let them know how you, the constituent, feel about this issue. If we don't speak up about this anti-student drug penalty, who will? Alexandra Berkowitz Students for Sensible Drug Policy Washington, D.C. 
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Comment #19 posted by philw on April 23, 2008 at 12:18:07 PT:
CU Boulder 420 2008 Photos
10,000 people. Zero Leaders. Zero Tickets. Zero Arrests.See PHOTO PAGES:
http://www.ThirdTablet.com/2008/CU-420/
CU Boulder 420 2008 Photos
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Comment #18 posted by ripit on April 21, 2008 at 13:55:25 PT:
hope
 on tv this morning the only one that i found that had anything to say about 420 was on the cw's daily buzz! i didn't see anything on any of the other networks. hopefully this link works! http://www.dailybuzz.tv/features/KeepingHonest
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Comment #17 posted by FoM on April 21, 2008 at 13:38:28 PT
PennyWhistle 
Thank you for the picture link. I hope everyone had a great time.
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Comment #16 posted by PennyWhistle on April 21, 2008 at 12:51:33 PT:
Even billionaires celebrate 4/20...
So...Mary Wells celebrated 4/20 in Vancouver yesterday - and made a photo essay to prove it:
http://www.wowowow.com/photo-essay/Cannabis-Vancouver-April-20-marijuana-art-gallery?page=1
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Comment #15 posted by tintala on April 21, 2008 at 10:27:30 PT:
IF there was alcohol involved imagine the assaults
Imagine how many assaults there would have been if it was alcohol that ppl were celebrating. HOw many types of assaults at that?
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Comment #14 posted by FoM on April 21, 2008 at 09:11:52 PT
museman
Being raised a Catholic smoke was important in worship. When I saw all the smoke rising in that video that is what came to my mind.
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Comment #13 posted by museman on April 21, 2008 at 08:53:11 PT
where theres smoke..
...there's hope.In answer to this prayer I have only one thing to say;AMEN!
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Comment #12 posted by Hope on April 21, 2008 at 08:38:18 PT
Couldn't get the entire video to play...
but I did get to hear that wonderful cheer from the participants, too.It's about freedom and an end to a hideous persecution. It's wonderful.A peaceful, sweet revolution against an overbearing and domineering government. These people are a part of a historical happening. They are patriots and rebels against wrong laws exactly like the participants in the Boston Tea Party were.I'm honored to stand with them in spirit.My heart is so gladdened at the sight of these young people for standing up against injustice.I'm sure Heaven itself is rejoicing at their good courage.
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Comment #11 posted by fight_4_freedom on April 21, 2008 at 08:10:33 PT:
What an amazing scene Christen
And I thought our hash bash crowd of 2,000 was a lot of people.The movement is truly growing.Hope you all had a wonderful 4/20. Now it's time to overgrow the government.God Bless
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Comment #10 posted by FoM on April 21, 2008 at 07:49:03 PT
Hope
That short video said a lot.
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Comment #9 posted by Hope on April 21, 2008 at 07:44:17 PT
The video
Yes it did cut out very soon into it. I'm trying to force it further on the scale. I'm getting a few more pictures. YouTube has done that to me quite a bit lately.But I can see enough to make my heart rejoice at the sight of free people... right here in the USA. It's wonderful.That smoke... it was a cloud of sweet freedom rising into the heavens. How beautiful. How utterly beautiful.
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Comment #8 posted by FoM on April 21, 2008 at 07:36:38 PT
Hope
The video was a little over a minute long. Did it cut out before that?
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Comment #7 posted by Hope on April 21, 2008 at 07:31:08 PT
ChristenMitchell
Something is wrong with my YouTube connection. It only shows a little bit then goes to Replay. But I can see enough to know that it was amazing wonderful! Thanks!
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Comment #6 posted by Hope on April 21, 2008 at 07:26:03 PT
I was especially grateful for this....
“We’re at the starting point of a movement...”That's just so wonderful to hear from this generation.
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Comment #5 posted by FoM on April 21, 2008 at 07:20:25 PT
ChristenMitchell 
Thank you for the video link. That was amazing!
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Comment #4 posted by Hope on April 21, 2008 at 07:19:01 PT
Civil Disobedience on a truly grand scale!
This ought to be in the news media all over the world.It's truly historic. It's beautiful. It's grand. It's sweet. It's a people standing up for what is right.But of course... it won't be big news... just like the amazing benefits of the plant have been covered up and ignored. The media will ignore it or just slide on by it.This is Civil Disobedience on a scale many of us have always dreamed of. Ten thousand people!It's not right to persecute and prosecute people over this plant.Ghandi would smile at this, I think. Instead of getting out there and finding the facts and promoting freedom for mankind... the media has always been a dutiful puppet for prohibitionists. Shame on the mainstream media for most usually being a part of the dangerous prohibition of a plant.I'm grateful that the police didn't harm them at all. That increases my respect for them, greatly.
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Comment #3 posted by ChristenMitchell on April 21, 2008 at 06:57:43 PT:
1,000 Bowls & 1,000 Cameras
Cu Boulder 420 - My first YouTube post.  http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6431900145722506212&q=420+08+&ei=G5wMSOqaIYW0lgTc79XGBQ
Hemptopia - Our Greener Future
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Comment #2 posted by FoM on April 21, 2008 at 05:31:58 PT
Denver Post: This Bud's for You
By William Porter, Denver Post ColumnistApril 21, 2008The afternoon breeze was snapping, the better to ferry the pungent aroma of a certain recreational herb across the expanse of Denver's Civic Center. It was Sunday in the park with weed, thanks to the annual 420 pro-marijuana rally. Organizers hoped 2,000 people would show up to celebrate pot as medicine, sacrament and just the thing to get one through some of the more interminable Grateful Dead jams. "This is the first 420 rally the city has ever issued a permit for," said Holly G. Conrad, an organizer who uses pot to bring relief from muscular dystrophy. "We're not promoting its use, we just want to educate the public." A few feet away, a guy was hacking after taking too big a hit off a joint. Which I supposed counts for getting schooled. Organizers hoped for a peaceful rally, mainly on the premise that unlike alcohol, pot is a mellowing agent. Think Woodstock versus Cancun at spring break. As of 1 p.m., there wasn't a cop in sight — at least in uniform. Denver voters recently passed a referendum making marijuana a low priority for law enforcement. It was an eclectic crowd, a mix of the deeply politicized and the utterly baked. Complete Article: http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_8996259
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Comment #1 posted by Yanxor on April 20, 2008 at 22:47:37 PT
There's magic in the air
“Why aren’t you selling magical ones? I mean, it’s cool — but c’mon.”
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