Pubdate: Sun, 16 Mar 2014
Source: Denver Post (CO)
Copyright: 2014 The Denver Post Corp
Contact:  http://www.denverpost.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/122
Author: Larisa Bolivar

4/20 RALLY ORGANIZERS HOPING FOR PERMIT OK

Things are moving forward for the Denver 4/20 Rally. After rescinding
a letter that appeared to the Denver City Council to be a threat to
promote public consumption of marijuana, rally organizers have
clarified that they will promote the message that they have always
promoted: Smoking marijuana in public remains illegal, and possession,
consumption and distribution of marijuana to people under 21 is
strictly forbidden.

In a letter to chief organizer Miguel Lopez, the city of Denver has
instructed the executive director of Parks and Recreation to work with
rally-goers, including adding special conditions to the permit prior
to issuance.

In moving forward with the permit, there are important facts to
consider regarding the cultural, historical, political and economic
significance that the 4/20 Rally has in Denver.

April 20 is an international marijuana holiday. People have been going
to the rally for nearly 20 years by the hundreds, and sometimes
thousands, even before the rally was issued a permit. Since it has
been permitted, the event has become world-renowned. Now that
Amendment 64 passed, legalizing recreational marijuana, it is a safe
assumption that Denver will become a mecca for 4/20 celebrations for
generations to come.

The economic implications of this are huge. People coming to Denver
from within and outside of the state to participate in 4/20-related
events will be injecting a tremendous amount of money into the economy
of Denver and surrounding cities by spending on lodging, food and
entertainment. The rally has the potential to provide a consistent
revenue flow for Denver and the state.

These are changing times, indeed. Sixty-six percent of Denver
residents voted for marijuana legalization, and the result is less
party and more business. Since the end of Prohibition, alcohol has
grown to become a $400 billion industry. Marijuana is also projected
to be a $100 billion industry, and that is not considering ancillary
market growth. This is nothing to be ashamed of, and something to
instead steward responsibly. Part of that is ensuring public safety
during gatherings, such as the Denver 4/20 Rally.

In fact, public safety is a huge consideration for the Denver 4/20
Rally. A permitted event gives accountability to the organizers, who
can provide the infrastructure necessary to ensure as secure an event
as possible with thousands of people in attendance. This year's
security budget is over $100,000 and will include fencing, security
checkpoints, and armed guards protecting rally-goers and maintaining
order.

Finally, and most important, the 4/20 Rally is a political event that
reaches out to thousands of marginalized voters. The rally is the
single largest annual gathering of potential minority voters in the
state. Through voter registration drives and educational political
speeches, rally-goers have an opportunity to learn how to be civically
engaged.

While the rally does provide entertainment that celebrates the
marijuana culture, it is and always will be a political event that
fights for drug policy reform as well as human and civil rights.

The Denver 4/20 Rally organizers expect that the permit will be issued
this year. It has been a rough road for everyone in getting used to
these new marijuana laws, and rally organizers understand the concerns
of Denver city officials and look forward to the show going on as planned.

Larisa Bolivar studies marijuana policy at Regis University and
is press secretary for the Denver 4/20 Rally.
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MAP posted-by: Matt