Perspectives on the Denver "420" Disruption
It was not the kind of day those three people or their friends had planned, and that's the most important thing to keep in mind. It was also not the kind of day that thousands attending including many who traveled from afar had planned either. It's lucky there were no trampling injuries, at least no serious ones, apparently.
Without forgetting what's most important -- the people most directly affected -- it's also worth noting that this is obviously not the kind of headline that legalization advocates wanted. The story had the top spot on Google News for a time last night, and continues to hold front page placement as I write this. That's an unfortunate accomplishment, particularly after the grim and violent week we just lived through. But does it hurt the cause?
After looking through news reports, I don't think so. The only criticism of the idea of the rally was from a Colorado anti-marijuana group, appearing well toward the end of the article. Most of it was sympathetic reporting about the victims, about organizers cooperating with police, police looking for information on the suspects, who the musical acts were, how police even before Amendment 64 passed had focused on crowd safety rather than marijuana enforcement during Denver's 420 events. I have not yet seen any quotes suggesting that marijuana use had any connection to the violence, though I've not done an exhaustive search.
Of course there's an opportunity cost from this unfortunate story replacing the story we'd hoped for of legal marijuana becoming a mainstream, accepted reality. And it's hard to know whether the coverage reflects maturation on the part of the media's treatment of the marijuana issue, vs. the violence forcing things into perspective. But I lean toward the former, and there's some comfort from seeing marijuana reformers and public safety personnel so clearly on the same side. At least that's how it looks from a distance. Our movement is part of larger society, and we are vulnerable to all the same dangers.
Let's hope the victims' injuries are no worse than reported, and for their swift recovery.
One fine day in the near future.
oogabooga oogabooga oogabooga!
Bleeorg? Weeeeee! Hey maaaaaan...I think somebody got shot. puff puff pass. Yeah? Yeah.
oogabooga oogabooga oogabooga!
did somebody get shot? puff puff pass. What? Huh? puff puff pass. Let's buy another joint, man. Yeah. And screw that crappy legal crap, man. I don't want to pay no Government tax, man. I can dig it. Let's hit up George for another bit o' that super kind kush, man. Yean maaaaaan.
oogabooga oogabooga oogabooga!
Idiot ^^
derrrr derrrr who did I bang last night? I was 2 drunk 2 remembr... derrrr.... guess it's time to beat the wife again derrrr... man i got a hangover...
Every single anti-pot argument can be turned right back in their faces.
It's time to stop the politically correct BS and publicly humiliate the prohibitionists.
I appreciate the efforts here, but it's time to step it up. If we don't step it up, the prohibitionists will ruin millions more lives.
First let me say there are normally shady people in that park
Your comment is too long ,I
That problem will be solved by next year's 420
As the regulations are set for legal selling and the licenses are given out, and people can buy from legal stores, there will be less people selling on the street (or park), and anyone who does sell will neither be selling to that many people nor making much of a profit, so they won't be defending any kind of turf in an intimidating way.
Glad to see that post from a CO resident.
ANY idiot prohibitionist needs to be slammed for even invoking the sort of logic that would blame cannabis legalizaion for a gang-related shooting. Prohibition fuels gang activity in the first place.
Also, these idiot prohibitionists needs to be asked, "How about we ban marathons now, since disaster could happen? Better yet, how about we happily give up our right to public assembly since there could be a disaster. How about schools? We can't protect our children from crazed murderers going on rampages..."
Get in their faces. It's time to put up or shut up. But please keep it non-violent.
And as a Christian, I would love to become a force against these ministers who twist the teachings of Jesus. This is too much for me to bear.
I think in the long run
I think in the long run, this unfortunate incident won't have much impact on the movement... although most news outlets did try to make Marijuana users look bad with some of the quotes they reported... like the "anxiety" guy, that was somewhat embarrassing.
My conspiracy theory
Did you notice that the Boston Marathon bombing occurred exactly 20 years minus 4 days after the April 19, 1993 Waco fire massacre? Well timed to put the threat of violence over the first triumphant 4/20 celebration, and produce gunshots which could be blamed on cannabis somehow in the media. AND, days later, an unexplained fire and deadly explosion near... WACO, to underline the connection for anyone who missed it?
Gun culture
America has a serious problem.When a pro pot rally is the scene of a shooting,a serious problem.Violence is the last thing I want to have anything to do with when I smoke.Then again,the Afghans toke in lulls in the fighting all the time.It used to confuse the hell out of the Canadian guys over there.Not that this had anything to do with pot.Unless some pro prohibition looney was trying to make a point?Like the guy that shot at the WH.When there are more guns than people and they are easy to get your hands on.How long till someone in a bad mood or a rage gets down and shoots someone else?Prohibition and guns go together like white on rice.
Post new comment