|
Saturday, April 19, 2008
|
420
|
[Photograph of Pot Plants by Barbara Doduk 2001]
Oddly I have lived several portions of my life with pot heads, 2 of my significant others were daily tokers, oddly they were also both born on the same date. (Thank god Paul is just a boozy Brit ;) Growing up in Vancouver though, there has never been a shortage of the green around, with our large hippie community it isn't any wonder.
April 20th is 420 day and any stoner knows that number.
Although many diverse theories exist to explain the origin of the term, one central root of the phrase stems from a group of teenagers at San Rafael in San Rafael, California in 1971; the teens would meet after school at 4:20 p.m. to smoke cannabis at the Bradner Elementary statue. The term became part of their group's salute, "420 Louis!", and became popularized in the late 1980s by fans of The Grateful Dead. Many North American cannabis users continue to observe 4:20 as a time to smoke communally. By extension April 20 ("4/20" in U.S. dating shorthand) has evolved into a counterculture holiday, where people gather to celebrate and consume cannabis. In some locations this celebration coincides with Earth Week.
Welcome to Vansterdam
Cannabis Culture is hosting a march on April 20th starting at the Vancouver Art Gallery downtown, and another one on May 3rd (Global Marijuana March) and one on July 1st (Canada Day aka Cannabis Day) to show their pot pride.
A common belief is that marijuana is legal in British Columbia. That is a myth. Although Vancouver's police and the justice system tend to turn a blind eye to marijuana use, tourists should be advised that possessing any amount of marijuana is illegal in all of Canada without a government-issued medical exemption (the legality of possession is, however, currently under dispute by the Supreme Court). However if you are caught with a small amount of cannabis in Vancouver it is extremely unlikely that you will be charged, in the vast majority of cases the police will simply ask you to move somewhere out of sight to finish up, or ignore the fact altogether.
"Vansterdam" is an area in the 300 block of West Hastings that includes various coffee shops where marijuana is openly smoked. The shops however are "Bring your own bud". It is easy to simply share some marijuana with a local for a few dollars, or even for free. Stoned people are very generous. The British Columbia Marijuana Party's headquarters and bookstore is in this area, as well as many seed shops and head shops.
[Photograph of Pot Plants by Barbara Doduk 2001]
So if you got it smoke it, tomorrow Sunday April 20th @ 4:20 PM.
Labels: Vancouver |
pre-written & posted by Barbara Doduk & scheduled to publish @
2:42 PM
 
|
| |
|
-
Now all that's left to do is see how far people actually march on 4/20.
-
-
-
No marching on 4/20, that is saved for the Global Marijuana March. Tomorrow is all about music, friends, speeches about prohibition,Bill C-26 and the BC3, product booths, and of course, sharing the sacred herb. I will be there(at my little cookie booth)...come say high ;)
-
|
|
| << Home |
|
|
|
|
|
♥
The Love Blog by Vancouver Blogger Barbara Doduk
♥ |
A personal view of the world from a hopeful human being longing for a world of love, for an earth called Unity. Barbara Doduk was born in and resides in Vancouver British Columbia Canada and writes about her life, her city and her views on the world.
|
|
|
|
|
♥THE LOVE BLOG♥
presents:
♥THE SPREADER OF LOVE♥
♥AWARD♥ |
|
Now all that's left to do is see how far people actually march on 4/20.