420 2016 review

Yesterday, the weed festival was in full swing in English-speaking countries, just as Newsweed was celebrating its first anniversary. We saw two different approaches: those paying tribute to the movement’s founders by lighting up a mega-spliff at 4:20 p.m., and those who believe that this day—blessed as it is—should involve a marathon of getting high, from morning till night.

In Australia, people gathered in Melbourne for the sixth consecutive year. Still advocating against prohibition, Australian cannabis users want to emphasize that they are part of civil society and that drug addicts are in the minority. The message The organizers' position is clear «We’re not here to celebrate the benefits of cannabis; we’re here to show that good people are being excluded by prohibition.» Since drug dealing is severely punished in Australia, the participants brought their own gear. A few thousand people demonstrated peacefully by occupying Melbourne’s Flagstaff Garden.

In England, as it does every year, the pro-cannabis rally took place in London's Hyde Park. This year, the organizers reached an agreement with the police to create a «weed zone». This kept children away from the cloud of cannabis smoke emitted by the thousand or so people in attendance. Outside this «weed zone» and in cases of conspicuous drug use, police were authorized to intervene. Only 11 arrests were made yesterday, compared to 50 last year. The anonymous podcaster from Dopefiend, a British pro-marijuana activist and blogger, accuses the authorities of exaggerating the effects of cannabis on the body. In his view, «smoking a joint is like drinking a pint—whether it’s skunk or a pint of whiskey, the effects are similar, except that we’re breaking the law.»

Stuart Harper of the «National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws UK» laments the British authorities« lack of economic foresight: »Right here alone, there may be millions going up in smoke.”Let’s not exaggerate—few people walk around carrying 1,000 pounds of cannabis on their person. The demonstration therefore took place without incident, but attendance was ten times lower than last year.

The American Show

In Canada, the events take on a whole new dimension. Gone are the picnics and laid-back gatherings in the park… 4/20 turns into a full-fledged festival. In Vancouver, the event is set for Sunset Beach. A huge park bordering a beach where you can clear your head and take a dip, blazing sunshine, and—above all—a festival with 25,000 people right in the middle of the afternoon. According to some Canadians in attendance, 4/20 is moving away from its protest roots and transforming into a celebration honoring weed.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BEc71WFPuJg/

In Montreal, the movement brought together several thousand people on the outskirts of Mount Royal. No incidents were reported despite the combination of alcohol and cannabis. Around 4:00 p.m., the organizers asked everyone to roll their own joints so they could light them all together at 4:20 p.m. A giant outdoor water party.

The only incidents worth noting were minor clashes between pro-legalization activists and law enforcement officers outside the Parliament building in Ottawa.

At the same time, the Canadian government was proposing its Plan to legalize «marijuana» in the spring of 2017.

Does it lose its meaning once it becomes legal?

As a reminder, This movement began in 1971, a time when repressive measures were the norm. The rallies that followed—growing ever larger—protested this repression and called for drug legalization as well as a break from the establishment. These demonstrations, which once drew a few hundred smokers, have now evolved into a massive festival-style event.

There are reports of hundreds of paid events in Colorado centered around weed. Special “smoker buses” are chartered to serve partner dispensaries. These same dispensaries are competing with each other through aggressive sales promotions. Huge concerts are being organized around Red Rock, featuring rappers such as Joey Badass, Collie Buddz, and Method Man.

The main rally, held on the University of Denver campus, drew just over 10,000 smokers. A second rally was held at the Civic Center Park in a cloud of THC.

In Oregon, too, the holiday is losing its meaning and the marketing aspect is taking over: some dispensaries are slashing the price of mid-range weed to 4.20$ per gram in the blink of an eye.

What about the celebrities?

As for the celebrities, they’re happily smoking and showing it off without any hesitation. Thanks, Miley Cyrus, for setting such a great example for your very young fans! Wiz Khalifa also did his part to celebrate 4/20 in style. .

https://www.instagram.com/p/BEan_0THdm-/?taken-by=mistercap

https://www.instagram.com/p/BEcUx5PQzKV/?taken-by=mileycyrus

Theo Caillart