Pubdate: Mon, 22 Apr 2013
Source: Chattanooga Times Free Press (TN)
Copyright: 2013 Chattanooga Publishing Company, Inc.
Contact:  http://www.timesfreepress.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/992
Page: B8

MEMPHIS POT SMOKERS GO PUBLIC TO MARK 4/20

MEMPHIS - A police presence at a Memphis park didn't deter marijuana
smokers from gathering to celebrate an annual counterculture event
known as 4/20.

The Commercial Appeal reported the smokers blended in with other
visitors to Overton Park on Saturday. It's celebrated on April 20 each
year.

Keoka Washington and nine of her friends were in the park smoking
marijuana and keeping a low profile. Washington said she started
smoking Saturday at 11 a.m.

"We pass it. We're a group. Sharing is caring," Washington
said.

Memphis police spokeswoman Karen Rudolph said police were aware of the
significance of 4/20 and were patrolling areas where people gather,
like parks.

The scene was calmer than a massive marijuana celebration in Denver,
where shootings injured two people Saturday.

As a counter response to the pot holiday, about 200 parents in Memphis
and Millington received free home drug kits to test their children
from Rural/Metro Corp. and other organizations.

DJ Cush, a local reggae music jockey, said he prefers pot to harder
drugs.

"If you read the Bible, God gave man all seed bearing plants to use,"
said Cush, who smokes daily. "Like some people take their Prozac, we
take our herb."

The observance fell two days after Tennessee Democratic Congressman
Steve Cohen introduced a bill to create a commission to study federal
cannabis laws.
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MAP posted-by: Matt