Pubdate: Wed, 21 Apr 2004
Source: Albuquerque Tribune (NM)
Copyright: 2004 The Albuquerque Tribune
Contact:  http://www.abqtrib.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/11
Author: Ed Asher

NO SMOKING ZONE

Police Forestall Annual '4-20' Pot-Puffing Event By Closing Roosevelt
Park To All

Two officers on a hilltop surveyed Roosevelt Park with binoculars as five 
horse-mounted police patrolled its boundaries.

Patrol cars lined the park's east and west borders and a mobile command van 
was parked nearby. Streets were blocked with orange cones.

A presidential visit wasn't the reason for the extraordinary police 
presence at this quiet Southeast Heights neighborhood park Tuesday.

It was the annual April 20 "4-20" observation, when pot proponents around 
the world gather to smoke cannabis and call for its legalization.

The number 4-20 is thought to be police code to identify marijuana smokers. 
Roosevelt Park has become known as the designated gathering place in 
Albuquerque for the "4-20" event.

For the second year in a row, Albuquerque police decided to shut the park 
down for the day.

"It's not in the best interest of public safety to have a designated area 
for an open display of breaking the law," Albuquerque police Lt. Larry 
Sonntag said.

In past years, the event has drawn more than 400 people and trouble for the 
neighborhood along Coal Avenue, Sonntag said.

But at the witching hour of 4:20 p.m., there were only four University of 
New Mexico students stationed across the street from the park. One held a 
cardboard sign decorated with a marijuana leaf and the word, "Freedom."

A few passing motorists honked their horns.

"It's a good day to rob a bank; all the cops are here at the park worried 
somebody might smoke some weed," said Ben Tucker, 25, a UNM student who 
said marijuana should be legalized.

Some neighbors of the park weren't happy about it being closed either, but 
for different reasons.

"I'd like to cross the street and have lunch under the trees. If they want 
to prevent people from smoking pot, they can have a police presence. But 
this is ridiculous," said Cora Kammer, 25, an Albuquerque Technical 
Vocational Institute student who lives across the street from the park.

"They don't need to keep citizens from enjoying a public park."

Sonntag said he was happy there were no incidents to report.

"It's a nice day; it's a nice breeze," he noted. 
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MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart