Pubdate: Tue, 20 Apr 2004 Source: Globe and Mail (Canada) Copyright: 2004, The Globe and Mail Company Contact: http://www.globeandmail.ca/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/168 Author: Gloria Galloway Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?420 (Cannabis - Popular) POTHEADS READY TO ROLL ON DAY THEY CALL 4:20 Day marks occasion of celebration and protest among marijuana users in North America It may seem like just another Tuesday, but today -- called 4:20 by those in the know -- is a high holy day for North America's dedicated pot smokers. To some, April 20 is a good day to light up a joint and celebrate marijuana with friends. To others, its a time to protest against the fact that, despite moves toward decriminalization, the drug is still illegal in both Canada and the United States. "It's Pothead New Year's. That's what I like to call it, anyway," said Abi Roach of Roach-O-Rama, a store in Toronto's Kensington Market area that caters to marijuana users. It's also a time for political activism. The spirit of the annual commemoration is "everybody unite and show your true colours, come out of your grow closets and let everybody know that you smoke and not to be embarrassed of it," said Ms. Roach, a pseudonym she has adopted to protect herself and her family from harassment. She expects an "all-day celebration" at her store. Rallies and parties will take place across Canada today, particularly in the bigger cities where the marijuana culture maintains a more visible presence. Young people will skip class to smoke up with their friends. Movie cinemas will hold special 4:20 showings. And a marijuana boat cruise will set sail in Vancouver. But the most dramatic event may be the "smoke-out" on Highway 420 in Niagara Falls, Ont., that is being planned by a group called Cannabis in Canada. Supporters of legalization will gather beside the highway where it meets the Rainbow Bridge leading into the United States and light their joints. Marco Renda, an advocate for medicinal marijuana, is on the list of speakers. "We're going to be out there doing a peaceful protest, basically making the public aware of marijuana being for medical and other uses," Mr. Renda said. The federal government is considering a bill that would decriminalize the possession of 15 grams or less -- about 15 to 20 joints - making the offence punishable by a fine of $150 for an adult or $100 for a youth. But, unlike last summer when the laws were in limbo and the drug was smoked freely on the streets, police are aggressively laying marijuana charges. So, those who take part in public 4:20 events will be risking a brush with the law. Robin Ellins of the Friendly Stranger Cannabis Culture Shop in Toronto said 4:20 celebrations have existed for about six years in Canada and the United States. "This has been flying under the radar of parents for a long time," he said. "I find that kind of interesting because it's huge within the culture, everybody knows about it." The origins of the 4:20 tradition are part mystery and part urban myth. Some say it is the number of a police call used in California during the 1960s. But "the most believable [explanation] that I've heard is that three guys that went to university in California would meet up at 4:20 for a joint between classes and that started a trend," Ms. Roach said. Regular users say 4:20 p.m. -- or a.m. -- is traditionally the perfect time of day for lighting up. Doing it on April 20 compounds the experience. "All of the different cannabis-related businesses usually do something on this day," Mr. Ellins said. "It's definitely a North American phenomenon. It's gone so far that there's rolling papers [with 4:20 on them] and it's embroidered on T-shirts." Scott Hearty, the manager of Blunt Brothers, a marijuana cafe in Vancouver, said he expects an extraordinary number of customers today. April 20 is special to marijuana users, Mr. Hearty said. "Everyone has their own strains to sample and they get together and generally have a smoke-out." As to whether it's a social or a political event, he said it's both. Some people "look forward to spending the day smoking spliffs and enjoying life. Truly, it should be more political," Mr. Hearty said. But "there's different ways to acknowledge the day. It doesn't matter if you are sitting at home, as long as you're thinking, frame-of-mind-wise, about what's going on and how you can help." - --- MAP posted-by: Josh