For those of you who do not follow the marijuana crowd, you might not realize that Tuesday is “420,” or the day that people openly smoke marijuana in public. This internationally recognized “holiday” has evolved over the past 30+ years, from a simple gathering of kids getting high on school grounds to becoming a legalization rally of sorts in the United States. This year’s 420 has already had some interesting events leading up to the actual day.
Over the weekend, approximately 15,000 marijuana enthusiasts attended the first “International Cannabis and Hemp Expo” in Daly City, CA. According to CalCoastNews.com, the expo took years of planning to obtain all the necessary permits in place, and provided participants a venue to purchase bongs for $500 as well as other marijuana-related products. And in New York, NORML (or the National Organization to Reform Marijuana Laws) will have an electronic billboard in Times Square showing the rate of marijuana possession arrests in New York City over the past 20 years.
Some schools are already warning their students to not smoke the banned substance on campus property. Skidmore College, for example, has warned their students that lighting up on Tuesday will result in them being arrested. Their statement reads:
Last year the report of a gathering on our campus—which appeared in the Saratogian newspaper—had far-reaching and negative consequences for the entire Skidmore community. In particular, this event and the media coverage created a negative image of who our students are. Even given our collective positive impact on the greater Saratoga Springs community, the actions of a small number of individuals were able to undermine our standing. The experience of last year is a good reminder that—even when we do not intend it—we represent the communities to which we belong. As student members of the Skidmore College, your actions will always represent the entire student body (indeed, the entire College community). We are fortunate that in great measure you have all been our best ambassadors.
This brings me back to the article I wrote in May 2009 about changing the legal status of marijuana from a Schedule I drug to a Schedule II drug. It would still be illegal for someone to grow and sell the drug, but it would make it legal for companies to grow/develop the drug and for hospitals distribute it as medication. It will be the same as medication such as Vicodin (another Schedule II drug). That change would make some of the silly events such as 420 seem unappealing. After all, how many unofficial holidays do we see where college kids get together in public to pop a Vicodin pill?
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