cannabisnews.com: 200 Gather to Smoke Marijuana 200 Gather to Smoke Marijuana Posted by FoM on April 21, 2000 at 09:57:25 PT By Rebecca Roybal Journal Staff Writer Source: ABQjournal People were toking and marijuana smoke hung in the air. It was a pot-smoking event called the Four-Twenty gathering. More than 200 marijuana users and supporters of legalizing the substance showed up at Roosevelt Park in Albuquerque on Thursday. The 4-20 code is used elsewhere by police as a code for a pot smoker, attendees said. The sweet and pungent odor of marijuana filled the park as toddlers played and adults sat around chatting, drumming, rolling joints and packing pipes. "It's peaceful," said student Angel Candelado. "Do you see anyone shooting heroin? It's peace-loving pot, baby." Albuquerque police Sgt. Mark Garcia said there was no use in breaking up the gathering "as long as they're mellow, having a good time." He said breaking up such an event could result in violence. "Is it worth starting a riot over?" Garcia asked. Many tokers claimed the gathering has been an annual tradition in Albuquerque for years. It grew by word-of-mouth. It was partly a political stand for the legalization of marijuana, and partly an excuse to light up in public without getting arrested or cited for the misdemeanor. When asked if there were any major problems at the rally, police officer John Guilmette replied: "Besides a park full of people smoking marijuana with their children?" Generally, he said, he arrests people if he catches them smoking marijuana in the park. But no arrests had been made Thursday after the gathering had been under way for more than an hour, and Guilmette said he hadn't handed out any citations. He said he had called the parents of a couple of minors he caught smoking pot. "We had their parents pick them up," Guilmette said. Jacque Oldfield called the gathering "a family event." "I'm trying to teach my kids how legislation gets changed at the grass-roots level," she said. Ian, a 22-year-old who refused to provide his last name, sat in a circle of about 10 people. He said he is a regular pot smoker. "Smoking a joint is not really a crime," he said between coughs and puffs. "We smoke when we drive, in parks, in bathrooms, at work. I hate to admit it. It's all true," he said. "Hippie" Jack Brashear referred to the Bible when asked about smoking pot. "The word of God gave us every herb," he said. "That makes it a sacred right." Published: Friday, April 21, 2000Copyright © 1997 - 2000 Albuquerque JournalRelated Articles & Web Sites:420times.comhttp://www.420times.com/420.comhttp://www.420.com/Pot Smokers Celebrate High Holiday http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread5469.shtmlStoner Chic Traces Origin To San Rafaelhttp://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread5460.shtmlA Teacher Asks, and Asks Again, "What's 420?'http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread1642.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #4 posted by bradon on August 23, 2001 at 00:34:27 PT: legalize it I'm 15 and smoke pot casualy infact right now it's the best herb i know and most cops dont care infact most cops i know smoke it themselves so why not legalize it. [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by mike a.k.a. hempy on March 05, 2001 at 02:16:36 PT my thoughts I fully agree with what Ian had to say.every pot smoker I and everyone I know are very peacefuland nice people. They are not criminals and should not betreated like criminals.thank you for your time. [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by 420 Boy on January 22, 2001 at 09:44:36 PT: No Doubt.... all the comments are true it should be legalized. rock on pot!!! [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by 420 Boy on January 22, 2001 at 09:42:41 PT: No Doubt.... all the comments are ture it should be legalized. rock on pot!!! [ Post Comment ] Post Comment Name: Optional Password: E-Mail: Subject: Comment: [Please refrain from using profanity in your message] Link URL: Link Title: