4-20: Not Just The Birthday of Mein Fuhrer

On April 20th 2010 while Aryan extremist groups blew out candles, and residents of Littleton, Colorado placed flowers on 13 graves, thousands of people got high. 4/20 pronounced four-two-oh has become the unofficial holiday of pot smokers across the world. For Empire State NORML (The National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws) 4/20 was a day of protest. The organization held a rally in Union Square, in which chants of legalize it now were chanted through loud speakers, and marijuana rights cards were handed out to spectators informing them of their legal rights should they be implicated with carrying an illegal substance.

Contrary to myth and legend 420 is in fact not a police code of drug violations. Police departments across the country are knowledgeable enough to not use such a well known code in correlation to the very offense it pertains to. According to High Times a publication that caters to the toking community, 420 came in to being by Steve Waldo, who used the expression "420 Louie" in high school. 420 stood for 4:20 pm the actual time of day in which waldo reminded his friends to meet for smoking sessions at the Louis Pasteur statue in San Rafael, California.

"420 is a big counter cultural celebration for people who use marijuana, and feel that the marijuana laws are unjust and inhumane, and that's why were here, to change the laws" said Doug Greene director of legislation for Empire State NORML. According to Greene Empire State NORML is currently working towards having medicinal marijuana legalized in New York State. "It's the cutting edge right now at least in terms of New York State. 14 other states and the District of Columbia have passed medical marijuana, but despite it passing for the past two years in the New York State [Assembly], we still don't have medical marijuana laws" said Greene.

The rally was a lively event featuring musical guests the Ashy Elbows, as well as several speakers including Greene. As a precaution several dozen NYPD officers were scattered throughout the plaza. One could assume they were posted in the case of the event getting out of hand granted the attendees gained a stint of drive and initiative. A communal "snack" was encouraged at 4:20 pm of brownies, cookies and cupcakes with questionable ingredients. Dana Beal a scruffy white haired man stood in the foreground of the event ominously. Beal is the founder of Cures not Wars, a organization that lobbies for medicinal marijuana to be leagalized. He declined a interview simply passing me a small flier, uttering a single word "here". His group will be organizing the New York City branch of the World Wide Marijuana March the first of which occurred May 1st. Strong supporters of the cause however need not worry as a second march is scheduled for this Saturday, May 8th. Sieg heil!



The Ashy Elbows Performance

The Ashy Elbows at 420 Rally from Aulistar Mark on Vimeo.