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 Ahh, 420. The day that’s the launchpad for a million awful, awful jokes and a million more killed brain cells.
If you don’t know, 420 is slang for weed smoking and has sold more lame Spencer’s posters than any other number. April 20 is celebrated as an unofficial “Marijuana Day”, although the slang originally came from a group of high school kids who used it as a time they’d light up, i.e. 4:20 p.m.
That being said, I’d like to honor my chemically-altered and hungry readers today by publicizing an event taking place on Saturday on the Parkway. PhillyNORML, the local branch of a group for the reformation of marijuana laws, is holding a vigil for victims of the ban on medicinal marijuana on Saturday at 8 p.m. at the Ben Franklin Parkway.
Eleven states have legalized the wacky weed for people whose doctors recommend it, which include people with MS, cancer and AIDS. Even though those states have legalized it, the federal government reserves the right to prosecute smokers. (Fun fact: There once was an official government medical marijuana program, and there’s about seven smokers left grandfathered in. It’s true!)
I know there’s some junk science about marijuana out there and not everything is conclusive — which is partially the government’s fault, ahem — but the Philadelphia Will Do Stance™ is this: If you’re unlucky enough to have AIDS, MS, cancer, etc., you should be allowed to light up.
Full release after the jump.
PhillyNORML
420 [Snopes]
Feb. 2: These kids noawadays and their ‘pot bongs’
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PhillyNORML to hold Third Annual Candlelight Vigil for Medical Cannabis Users
Dateline: 26 March 2006
PhillyNORML will host a Candlelight Vigil for Victims of Medical Marijuana Prohibition to be held on the Ben Franklin Parkway and 21st streets Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on April 22, 2006 at 8:00pm. We will then march to thet North side of City Hall where speakers will address the issue of medical cannabis prohibition and a moment of silence will be observed. PhillyNORML members will light candles for people such as Steve Kubby, Cheryll Miller, Montel Williams and his MS foundation, etc…
The candlelight vigil commemorates deceased Medical Marijuana patients; those living in prisons and jails, on parole and or probation, and the families divided by the drug war. The Vigil raises awareness by informing the public of the medical benefits of marijuana, which is now legal in 11 states. On January 3, 2006 Rhode Island became the 11th state to legalize medical marijuana. Maine,
Vermont, Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Montana, Nevada, Oregon and Washington allow marijuana to be grown and used for medicinal purposes. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled June 6, 2005 that people who smoke marijuana because their doctors recommend it can still be prosecuted under federal drug laws they did not overturn any State Laws. Federal authorities have conceded they are unlikely to prosecute most individual medicinal marijuana patients.
Other interested parties across the nation including groups in California, West Virginia, Indiana, Hawaii, and more will be lighting candles across the in support of medical cannabis patients and their families.
For more information about last years’ successful Candlelight Vigil
check out http://www.universalarts.net/candl.html.
For more information: http://www.phillynorml.org/vigil.html
Contact: treasurer@phillynorml.org
Phone: 267-xxxx-xxxx
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Although much debated, I belive your comment about the origin of 420 is true. I was recently at a concert and I met someone that knew the group of kids that coinded the phrase. Anyways it always 420 over here!!