Pubdate: Thu, 18 Apr 2013
Source: Denver Post (CO)
Copyright: 2013 The Denver Post Corp
Contact:  http://www.denverpost.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/122
Authors: John Ingold and Sadie Gurman
Page: 4A

DENVER OFFICIALS EYE 4/20 EVENTS WITH CARE, DREAD

Ahead of what organizers say will be one of the largest 
marijuana-themed celebrations in the world, a number of officials in 
Denver are looking to this weekend's events with something between 
wariness and dread.

Take, for instance, the city's police department, which plans to have 
extra officers on hand to monitor the large, marijuana-puffing 
gathering in Civic Center park known as the "420 Rally." Although 
public marijuana consumption remains illegal in Colorado, a 
department spokesman says the beefed-up presence will nonetheless try 
to maintain a low profile.

"Our biggest goal is to ensure everyone is safe in this environment," 
Denver police spokesman Sonny Jackson said. "We'll have the necessary 
number of officers to ensure the safety of the public."

The rally takes place every year on April 20 - a day marijuana 
enthusiasts regard as a cannabis holiday they call 4/20. It could 
draw tens of thousands of attendees this year, as the first major 
public event around marijuana in Colorado since voters legalized use 
and limited possession of the drug last year.

Rally organizers are expecting so much interest in Saturday's event, 
they included Sunday this year, and a number of other 
marijuana-centric concerts, exhibitions, tours and events will also 
take place in the city throughout the weekend.

At last year's rally, police took a mostly hands-off approach, making 
54 arrests , 49 of which were for misdemeanor possession of 
marijuana. Four others were arrested for having drug paraphernalia 
and one for drinking in public.

""We will exercise our discretion in the enforcement of public 
consumption," Jackson said. "Officers have discretion as to how they 
enforce it."

A spokeswoman for Denver Health Medical Center wrote in an e-mail 
that the hospital is not anticipating a rush of patients experiencing 
marijuana-related problems. But others have different worries about 
the problems the events may cause.

The head of Arapahoe House, one of the state's biggest drug-treatment 
providers, said parents should talk with their kids ahead of the 
event, fearing that the public celebration of marijuana will send the 
wrong message. Arapahoe House has created an online guide to 
discussing marijuana's dangers with kids.

"Parents may think their kids are immune to the landscape, but it's a 
risk that shouldn't be ignored," Arapahoe House CEO Art Schut said in 
a statement. "They are going to be curious."

Meanwhile, Denver City Council member Charlie Brown has another 
concern about the rally: It's treatment of Civic Center park's grass. 
With the ground likely to be squishy from this week's snow, Brown 
fears rally attendees could tear up the turf.

"There's going to be some cost involved, and I don't think the 
taxpayers should have to bear that cost," Brown said.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom