Pubdate: Mon, 21 Apr 2014
Source: Denver Post (CO)
Copyright: 2014 The Denver Post Corp
Contact:  http://www.denverpost.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/122
Author: Jeremy Meyer
Page: 15A

LIKE ROLLOUT OF LEGAL MARIJUANA SALES, 4/20 WENT JUST FINE

As trip-hop music played through booming speakers, sun-drenched
parkgoers on Sunday sauntered through Civic Center with the pungent
smell of marijuana hanging in the air.

And you know what? Everything was fine.

Just as the rollout of legal recreational marijuana sales on Jan. 1
went smoothly, Denver's 4/20 rally - a two-day event this year- also
went off without much of a hitch.

This was the weekend many in city government dreaded-the first 4/20
celebration of the new pot age.

City officials had threatened to deny a festival permit after
organizers appeared to promote open pot smoking. Councilmembers spent
months discussing how police should react when confronted with pot
smoking and feared the violence of 2013 would return.

Some officials worried the nation's press would flock to the rally and
photos from the big smoke-out would become the iconic image of Denver.

But fears were put to rest during the two-day event with tight
security, controlled access into the park and a general sense of
orderliness.

As of 5 p.m. Sunday, Denver police had written 47 marijuana
consumption citations. On Saturday, they issued 22 pot tickets.

Though signs warned against smoking and organizers instructed people
not to puff up, the predictable cloud of marijuana smoke arose like
clockwork at 4:20 p.m Sunday.

The world didn't stop. Denver did not become a laughingstock. And
police didn't barge into the crowd to write $150 citations to anyone
and everyone they could nab.

Clearly, the laws that specifically forbid pot smoking in the park
were not being enforced.

And that is how it should be at a pot rally with tens of thousands of
people.

In 2007, Denver voters decided to make marijuana offenses the lowest
law enforcement priority.

In 2012, Colorado voters legalized recreational use, though still
banning public consumption.

This was the biggest test so far. The measured reaction by police
should be applauded. A more zealous response would have been a disaster.

Earlier on Sunday at the police command center, Deputy Chief David
Quinones watched a video feed on a wall of monitors from 24
surveillance cameras in Civic Center. Though the crowds had yet to
arrive, Quinones remarked about how normal things appeared.

"You see the food booths, the entertainment, it's more like the
traditional festival," Quinones said.

The event heralded as a rally for marijuana rights was really a
celebration. Activists still believe there are matters to protest
surrounding pot, even with legalization. But few who came to the park
on Saturday and Sunday seemed to have activism in mind. This was a
victory dance.

"Give us this one day," said Lily Berryman, 18, of Fort Collins, who
sported marijuana leaf sunglasses.

"Weed smokers aren't the type to get up all in your face," she said.
"We do it at home or behind closed doors. So we just want this one day
to smoke and have fun."

The event was similar to other festivals like A Taste of Colorado, the
People's Fair or Cinco de Mayo. But this one was skunkier and with
heavier music.

"It's extremely successful," said Miguel Lopez, the event's organizer,
from the stage before the 4:20 p.m. countdown. "Everyone is completely
proud."

It's likely the event will remain controversial. But it will also
likely continue.

Denver shouldn't worry so much about the 2015 event. The city's
reputation is not in tatters.

The police department's reasonable response and the structured
organization of the event show the state's largest city is maturing
with the pot issue.
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MAP posted-by: Matt