At 4:20, a crowd of an estimated 8,000 participants lit up to celebrate the April 20 holiday. (CU Independent/Danielle Alberti)
Although 4/20 is an unsanctioned event, it still continues to draw thousands of partakers who openly participate, protest and profile Boulder’s most infamous affair.
Federal law says possession of marijuana is illegal, but Colorado legalized its medical use in 2000. According to Molly Bosley, UCPD spokeswoman, possession is a class 2 public offense punishable by a $100 fine .
Even though a cautionary e-mail from Chancellor Philip DiStefano had been sent out on Apr. 15, Bronson Hilliard, CU spokesman, said the occasion drew about as many people as it had last year.
“Well, I think it was about the same as last year, I think we had about 8,000 people,” Hilliard said. “Up to this point we got 12 medical transports, everything from lacerations to seizures, and there have been a number of citations, so it’s been fairly peaceful so far and people seem to be dispersing and no major problems that I’m aware of.”
According to DiStefano’s e-mail, police procedures and safety protocols during the day ranged from parking limitations to prohibiting the selling of merchandise or food. According to the e-mail, “CU students who violate the alcohol or drug provisions of the CU Code of Conduct…are also subject to penalties from CU-Boulder’s Office of Judicial Affairs.”
Bosley said the CUPD ticketed anyone they saw participating in illegal activities. As of 3:45 p.m., 12 summons and issues had been given out.
A fully grown Marijuana plant is held aloft in front of the Colorado state flag just prior to 4:20 p.m. Tuesday on Norlin quad during the annual 4/20 celebration. (CU Independent/Patrick Ghidossi)
“We will not be targeting 4/20 participants at Norlin Quad at the time of the annual smoke out,” Bosley said. “But if we do witness a person buying or selling marijuana or engaging in illegal activities, they can be subject to citation anytime on campus.”
The sheer numbers of people that show up mean that there isn’t much the police can do by way of stopping thousands of people from lighting up in public, she said.
“We don’t want to create a larger issue by causing a confrontation with our limited resources at that time,” Bosley said. “We just want to make it clear to students, although it is not a sanctioned event, it’s not a free pass to engage in an illegal activity on campus.”
Cody Frost, an 18-year-old Golden resident and a veteran of 4/20, said he started smoking at 10 a.m.
“I’m not worried about being ticketed; they can’t ticket everyone,” Frost said. “They can’t single one person out.”
Despite the threat of a police citation, cheers reverberated across the quad as people checked their watches and phones and saw it was officially 4:20 p.m.
Some said what drew them to the 4/20 gathering at CU is the fact that multitudes can assemble and unify in a peaceful congregation.
Jeffrey Moskowitz, a 22-year-old 5th year senior geography major, said 4/20 is meant to be one particular day when anyone can partake in the use of marijuana as a substance.
“I’m only here because it’s like, this event, and it’s like this gathering of people and it’s this one thing that brings them all together,” Moskowitz said. “It also sort of unifies them, as a large scale social gathering.”
Hawkeye Gross, a 64-year-old Boulder resident of forty years, 4/20 newcomer and author of the book “Drug Smuggling: The Forbidden Book,” said the event is a way to defend his opinions on drug legalization.
(l. to r.) CU graduate Justin Hoffenberg, Patrick Dechlefs of Evergreen, Colorado and freshman psychology major Robert Collins of Patrick Dechlefs and Friends play music during the 4/20 celebration on Norlin quad Tuesday afternoon. (CU Independent/Lee Pruitt)
“Sixty (billion) to 80 billion dollars could be generated from selling marijuana if it were legalized,” Gross said. “That’s healthcare for everybody. That’d be a tremendous financial boom. It’s ridiculous to have this underground economy when it could be benefiting the public.”
Gross said he used to be a drug smuggler out of Colombia and Jamaica, and although he doesn’t smoke marijuana himself, he said he encourages it.
“I’d rather have my kids smoke marijuana than drink a fifth of vodka,” Gross said. “As a parent of a kid that goes here, I support this.”
Emily Poulos, a 22-year-old senior Spanish major, said she feels the casual use of marijuana made its recent medical legalization less important .
“It’s just a friendly gathering of people, but I don’t think it’s a good recreational thing,” Poulos said. “It’s making the legalization of it less convincing.”
After the clock ticked past 4:20 p.m., tendrils of smoke drifted over the field as people tossed Frisbees, hula-hooped, listened to live music or just sat on the steps of nearby buildings as spectators to Boulder’s lawless but peaceful gathering.
A marijuana-themed American flag waves above a sea of 4/20 celebrants on Norlin quad Tuesday afternoon. (CU Independent/Lee Pruitt)
Even for those not smoking weed, 4/20 seemed like a celebration. Tina Phenix, a 21-year-old Boulder resident, said this was her third year at the Norlin Quad 4/20 gathering.
“Everyone’s sharing and having fun,” Phenix said. “I’m definitely on the outside because I don’t smoke, but it’s still fun seeing everyone having a good time. Happy four twenty!”
Contact CU Independent Staff Writers Sheila V Kumar at Sheila.kumar@colorado.edu and Mary Rochelle at Mary.rochelle@colorado.edu.
