Legalization fans, administration lock horns anew over pot on campus

Apr 19, 2012

Valerie Richardson / The Colorado Observer

April 20 is a date fraught with meaning for a number of reasons: It’s Hitler’s birthday. It’s the date of the Columbine High School massacre. And it’s the annual marijuana smoke-out day known as 4/20.

There’s not much that can be done to alter the perception of the first two. But there’s a movement afoot in Colorado to change the public’s view of the third.

Throughout the state, county governments, community groups and the University of Colorado are attempting to redefine 4/20 by discouraging public and underage pot-smoking. Lest they be seen as party-poopers, they’re offering a tempting buffet of alternative activities.

Officials at CU-Boulder stunned the stoner contingent earlier this month by announcing that they would cordon off the campus to outsiders on 4/20 and issue trespassing tickets to non-students. Those who do manage to sneak in will find that Norlin Quad, the event’s usual gathering spot, has been covered with fish fertilizer.

The announcement drew national attention in large part because CU-Boulder has become the unofficial epicenter of 4/20. Look up “420” on Wikipedia, and there’s a photo of the Boulder campus flooded with participants at the 2010 event.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Colorado has weighed in against the restrictions, arguing that the gathering is a protest against anti-drug laws and that the university is stifling the smokers’ right to free speech. So far university officials have refused to budge. …see full story by The Colorado Observer

The Colorado Public Advocate welcomes your views. Post comments below by logging onto Facebook, or visit our Facebook page.

Tags: 4/20, American Civil Liberties Union, CU, legalization, pot, smokeout, University of Colorado