I had heard of 4/20 in past but never witnessed. Well, today was the day. Students and other pot smokers gather in fields in CU at 4:20 pm on Aptril (4) 20th each year to smoke pot. It is supposed to be a "political statement".
Below is a headline news in ColoradoDaily today.
420 nearly 86ed
By JOSEPH THOMAS and STEPHANIE OLSEN Colorado Daily Staff Writers
Neither rain nor sprinklers could extinguish marijuana smoking at the University of Colorado at Boulder Wednesday.
For almost a month, the campus has been dealing with school policy on the celebrated "4/20" marijuana holiday. In years past, the university has been criticized for not strictly enforcing local laws and campus policies concerning drugs and contraband on April 20.
This year CU, to the chagrin of many students, took a proactive approach and tried to deter the pot smokers.
Cat-and-mouse conflict
"We have tried to discourage illegal activity (today) while not escalating the situation," said CU spokesperson Pauline Hale before a backdrop of 200 of marijuana smokers congregating in the parking lot of the Leeds Business School.
Traditionally the celebration is held on Farrand field, but this year police blocked the field off. Without access to their traditional meeting place, marijuana smokers moved to both the business school field and the observatory area adjacent to the Coors Event Center.
At approximately 3:30 p.m., minutes after the pot protesters flooded their new location, the university answered by turning on the sprinkler system.
Students fled to the safety of parking lots where they were out of the range of the sprinklers.
"No one can rain on the nug parade. All the sprinklers in the world will not stop what goes on at this school," said Alley Gordon, who was giving away face paint on the business field when the sprinklers initially were set off.
"I came to school to smoke weed," she continued.
Gordon said her home is in Chicago and she heard about the 4/20 celebrations even before she came to CU.
After the sprinklers were turned on, Mason Tvert, executive director of Safer Alternative for Enjoyable Recreation (SAFER), a group that has lobbied CU to make school penalties for smoking pot equal to those for drinking, shouted to the crowd via a bullhorn saying, "CU can shuffle people around, but they can't make people go home."
The crowd filled the Leeds Business School parking lot, almost to the point where vehicles could not exit or enter.
A little less than an hour before 4:20 p.m., the climax of the event, smoke could be seen rising from the crowd in the parking lot.
"It's a day event, and University of Colorado Police Department will not make a difference ... yeah, I am smoking a joint, it is a political statement," said Jon Knox, a CU student.
While students were partying in the parking lot, police roamed the crowd taking pictures of all participants.
Students left the parking lot and charged Farrand field, where police stood waiting at the entrance, acting as a human blockade. Students flanked the police and jumped the small chain-link fence that surrounds Farrand field.
Smoke got in their eyes
Thousands of onlookers, in dorm-room windows, on balconies, the street and along the perimeter of Farrand field just outside the fence watched as approximately 2,000 participants celebrated the climax of the holiday while dodging sprinklers.
"I came here last year for 4/20 and there are many more people here this year despite the University's efforts because of all the press it has been getting," said Theo, a CU student who was holding a sign that read, "Nervous?" and on the flip side, "I will C.U. in Hell."
Soon after 4 p.m. the sprinklers were turned on at Farrand field as well.
Hoots and hollers emanated from the crowd as flocks tried to avoid getting wet.
Many students tried to disarm the sprinklers by kicking or stomping on them. One reveler even put a Nalgene bottle over one to cover the spray.
One ambitious student named Steve grabbed a gray plastic trash can from the dorms, set it over a sprinkler centrally located in the crowd and sat on it as he shouted, "Don't worry, you can keep on smoking." The crowd cheered as participants lit up fresh joints.
Isaiah Lechowit, chair of the CU College Republicans, acting on his own behalf as a "concerned student," toted a sign, reading "Junkies with the munchies? - We got what you want!"
Lechowit said he was trying to sell chips, but was stopped by the police - who claimed it was illegal because he did not have a permit.
"I think these people out here are crazy," said Lechowit. "We want to capitalize off of their stupidity by selling chips."
There were other entrepreneurs in the crowd as well. Brady Johnson was selling T-shirts reading, "CU - Best seven years of my life," after the rally for $10 a piece.
One partygoer even offered to barter for one of the shirts.
"I will give you a few nugs for a T-shirt," he said.
Johnson declined the offer.
Students protest
Before the pot-smoking festivities officially started, students gathered with SAFER leaders to condemn the university's actions to ignore the recently passed student marijuana referendum, which asked university officials to consider making marijuana penalties no greater than alcohol penalties.
"For the school to come out and make such a big deal about one day sends a negative message," said Tvert.
Students joined SAFER to protest the university's actions against the referendum and against the crackdown on the 4/20 celebration.
"I wouldn't be here protesting if it wasn't for the university and the police," said Benny Kaplan.
Many seemed disgruntled by the lack of communication surrounding the marijuana celebration. Some seemed confused and didn't know Farrand field was closed down.
"The university did a poor job of communication with the students about Farrand field," said Tvert. "When you take a bunch of students who don't know what is going on, and mix in a bunch of cops, you are asking for trouble."
After all the confusion and chaos of the day, one student characterized the marijuana celebration as a reflection of the drug war.
"The drug war doesn't work," said David Cox, a member of the Students for a Sensible Drug Policy. "It just goes to show you people will do as they please."
