Photo: GettyImages
Today, April 20, marks a day that has managed to become something of a global holiday in the face of official condemnation. 4/20 is the infamous holiday when pot smokers from all over the world gather in celebration.
In Denver, stoners from across the state will gather at Civic Center Park for 4/20 to smoke in demonstration for an ongoing plea for the legalization of marijuana. While the idea of socially active potheads may seem rather oxymoronic, the event is a huge success every year.
The Denver 4/20 rally has evolved into a movement meant to educate the community on current marijuana laws and other popular issues. The event connects attendants with public speakers, local businesses, musicians and attorneys associated with the medical marijuana community. At exactly 4:20 p.m., smokers light up and raise a hazy cloud of smoke over the downtown area.
The rally’s efforts seem to have finally paid off now that the Colorado Marijuana Legalization Initiative will be on the November 6 ballot. Started by the Legalize 2012 campaign, the measure is a constitutional amendment that would legalize marijuana for recreational use in the state.
Given that medical marijuana has been legal in Colorado since 2000, after Governor Bill Ritter signed a bill into law, the new initiative may not seem so radical. However, 59 percent of the state rejected a similar amendment in 2006 that would have legalized the possession of up to one ounce of marijuana for those 21 or older.
Then, in December 2010, Colorado State Representative Claire Levy introduced legislation that would set a marijuana-impairment standard for drivers. It moved through to the Senate despite evidence that proved the limit was too low and could lead to the incarceration of drivers who use marijuana on a regular basis, such as medical marijuana patients, even though they would be in no way incapacitated.
The circumstances in Colorado make this the perfect time for a long overdue conversation about legalization. In the failed war on drugs, there are countless economic incentives and other human issues that any logical person could point to as proof of the need for legalization. However, those of us engaged in the debate tend to focus on the reasons why marijuana should be legal and, all too often, we don’t stop to consider some of the reasons why it shouldn’t be illegal.
Many are still unaware that marijuana was outlawed by deliberately misinformed lawmakers. In fact, the very first federal vote to prohibit marijuana was based entirely on a documented lie on the floor of the Senate. The history of marijuana’s criminalization in America has been fueled by racism, yellow journalism and the protection of corporate profits.
When marijuana was outlawed in California, it was partially due to growing tensions between farmers and Mexican migrant workers felt during the Great Depression. Many of these Mexican immigrants smoked marijuana, and then, suddenly, California passed a law outlawing “preparations of hemp, or loco weed.”
Similarly, when marijuana was outlawed in Texas, a senator used racist testimony in support of the plant’s prohibition, claiming that “all Mexicans are crazy, and this stuff is what makes them crazy.”
This November, voters in the several states considering legalizing the recreational use of marijuana should consider the legitimacy of marijuana’s criminalization before casting their ballot.
About Felipe Diaz
Hell yes!
Si.
yes no doubt about that
Wait.… it’s not legal?
Not.
For medicinal purposes. It can help patients with debilitating chronic illnesses.
Who cares
Legalize the 520 instead. If you know what I mean.
Yes please..
I don’t smoke pot but if the government legalizes pot and taxes it and regulates it. Its will probably solve some of the major problems it is causing while it is illegal. Just my thought.
The next question, do you release or exonerate all those incarcerated for possesion charges now?
It should be legal regardless of whether it has medical uses because it’s a freedom taken from us for no reason, but I don’t smoke it and I hate how easy it is to organize for potheads to fight to legalize weed, but how few people would stand up for something like not having a holiday for the murderer that is Christopher Columbus or for not celebrating a false history of Thanksgiving.
Hell yea
Decriminalize, it’s a plant. Raw milk, marijuana, raw cheese,…bad. Pharmaceuticals with long lists of side effects and the catalyst for “lone gunman”,…..good. Wtf?
hoy ah fumar pa mahattan en la calle solo hoy hoy es el dia de la marihuana
No Brainer YES!!!!
No thank you,there are more important issues to worry about like the imigration laws and that stupid Stand your ground law that should be revised.Weed is not an important issue,its just something that the majority of its users use to ‘deal’ with stress.
Yes, absolutely
of course….
It is over due already. Give people there freedom of choice back!
Yes. We need the taxes, and to save money in unnecessary arrests and incarcerations. Besides, I understand NOBODY has ever died from a marijuana OD.
Yes besides regulating and taxing it, will help those who uses it medical wise. Stop putting people in jail including the medical users who uses and grows it.
State of Colorado just passed it this week for it to be legal but till Congress makes it legal, there’s still a risk of the Feds, DEA and the police arresting those who uses or grows it for medical purposes. People get arrested and put in prison for a small amount everyday and NYC is proof of that.
Here in NJ Governor Christie, won’t pardon a man who was sentence to 17 years for growing and using his own for medical reasons which is MS. Even though it was passed before Christie was in office, he’s holding up for it to move forward and having strict restrictions on it. Also towns in NJ is fighting against dispensaries knowing it could help their towns.
In my small town in South NJ, they arrested people cos “someone” smelled pot who was in their own place. I would like to use it myself for the many health issues I have instead of using all the legal drugs that poisons my body more than marijuana would.
Oh Elidania I bet you think the countless lives taken in an unnecessary drug war are “not an issue”
Heck I’m sure the Zetas would love to “not be an issue”.
And even the race issues behind the illegalization of cannabis, (which was put in place specifically against Latinos) weren’t a big issue…
Puff…..,puff…away!
No. Drunk people are bad enough, but people who are drunk and high at the same time? You think DUIs are bad now, imagine weekend nights then.
Americans are lazy enough these days, the last thing they need is another excuse to be lethargic.
It’s pretty embarrassing that a page for Latin culture even recognizes a fake holiday made by pot heads.