Pubdate: Thu, 14 Apr 2016
Source: Westword (Denver, CO)
Column: Ask a Stoner
Copyright: 2016 Village Voice Media
Contact: http://www.westword.com/feedback/EmailAnEmployee?department=letters
Website: http://www.westword.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1616
Author: Herbert Fuego

DEAR STONER: WHAT'S THERE TO DO ON 4/20?

Dear Stoner: I want to celebrate Denver's biggest unofficial holiday 
on 4/20. Do you have any advice?

Gone Ganja

Dear Ganja: Our day of gathering is upon us, but 4/20 in Denver has 
become much more than a simple day of heavy blazing now that 
Colorado's economy has gone green. While many of us will be enjoying 
a blunt bigger than Dikembe Mutombo's fingers, it's important to see 
through the dabs and kush smoke to celebrate responsibility and not 
forget what it took to get here - and how far we still have to go.

Still, with so many concerts, conferences and rallies going on all 
week, I've created a 4/20 travel guide to help the planning impaired 
before the real impairment kicks in:

You probably know about the annual Official 4/20 Rally at Civic 
Center Park, which is free to attend and has featured some serious 
headliners in past years. Event organizers weren't able to secure an 
event permit on April 20 this time, but at least the April 16 date is 
a Saturday, making it a great start for the holiday weekend. 
Headliners of the rally's concert are Lil Wayne and Wiz Khalifa, who 
occasionally mention their love for the plant in their lyrics. Also 
kicking off early is the Denver 4/20 Fest, a three-day expo running 
April 15-17 at the Glitter Dome Event Center, with concerts by Lil 
Flip, DJ and comedian sets, and pot-friendly shuttles to and from the 
event - and anyone with a valid industry badge gets in for free!

Once 4/20 finally rolls around on Wednesday, show support as a 
cannabis user by attending the Capitol Hill Cannabis Activists 
Assembly, also at Civic Center Park, at 2 p.m. (note that the venue 
and time have changed from the planned 10 a.m. at the State Capitol 
Building). While spliffs are passed around, activists will be loudly 
voicing their concerns about proposed limits on THC in retail 
products, social-consumption bans and reduced plant counts. If you're 
more interested in learning the law than in lighting up, attend the 
University of Denver Sturm College of Law's marijuana summit at noon. 
After fighting for your rights, head to the Colorado Cup, a contest 
at Rigs 4 Us. Colorado growers, caregivers and dispensaries can 
submit flower and hash for judging from 2 to 11 p.m. on 4/20. 
Admission is free, and attendees (21+ only) get a free dab. It's $40 
to enter your weed, $35 to judge.

Remember, just because you love to smoke pot doesn't mean everyone 
else has to. Respect that by not being the asshole who blows smoke in 
every pedestrian's face just because it's 4/20. Denver police can't 
arrest everyone, but they still handed out more than 200 citations 
for public consumption last year.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom