Happy 4/20!

The “Stoner’s Gazette” online reports that Congressional Representative Barney Frank (D-MA) introduced the "Medical Marijuana Patient Protection Act," HR 5842,[.pdf file] this past Friday, April 18th.

The bill was co-sponsored by Representatives Maurice Hinchey (D-NY), Sam Farr (D-CA), Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA), and Ron Paul (R-TX). The act would change federal policy on medical marijuana in a number of ways. Specifically, HR 5842 would reclassify marijuana from a Schedule I drug, which cannot be prescribed, to a Schedule II drug, which would recognize the medical value of marijuana and create a regulatory framework for the FDA to begin a drug approval process for marijuana. The act would also prevent interference by the federal government in any local or state run medical marijuana program.

In other 420 news …

Dudes, stay out of Santa Cruz today! The Man is hassling anyone coming to UCSC to partake in all the 420 herbal festivities.

According to a memo sent to faculty and staff Thursday by Executive Vice Chancellor David S. Kliger, UCSC will take numerous measures to block unauthorized vehicles from entering campus and parking, as well as parking along Empire Grade, the 1.2 mile stretch between the main and west gates.

Students also will not be allowed to have overnight guests tonight or Saturday.

The once student-only gathering to smoke marijuana in UCSC's Porter Meadow is now known nationwide, and has grown to 5,000 strong over the years as word has spread through articles in Rolling Stone and other magazines, as well as Web sites such as Wikipedia and YouTube. The spike in attendance was also closely timed with a vote by Santa Cruz residents in 2006 to make marijuana use a low-priority crime for police.

The university reminded students in an e-mail Thursday that it does not condone the gathering, which is named for the day or time of day well-known among regular marijuana users internationally for toking up. The e-mail warned students that using marijuana could land them a police citation and campus judicial write-up.

But, UCSC spokesman Barry Shiller said the campus does not intend to ramp up its police presence, and has made no arrests and issued few, if any, student judicial citations for marijuana smoking during past 4/20 events. Still, he said, "The presence of pot and large crowds of people breaking the law is not something we're thrilled about."

Some of the 4/20 Security Measures:

• West entrance will be closed to incoming traffic.

• Vehicles entering main gate will require a university parking permit or proof of legitimate reason for being on campus.

• Parking permits will be required in all campus lots from Friday evening through Monday morning.

• Metro buses will only serve the stop adjacent to the main entrance at High and Bay streets.

• On-campus shuttles will not run Sunday.

• Empire Grade will be designated as a tow-away zone.

• Students who live off campus must present a parking permit and photo ID to enter.

• Students who live on campus will not be permitted to have overnight guests tonight (4/18) or Saturday.


Celebrants of ye ole’ four and twenty aren’t strictly limited to Deadheads and other counterculture groups. Seems there’s a bunch of money to be made off of 420-related merchandising . Now if I could only find that 420 clock, the one where every hour is 4:20, that would totally make me happy. I wanted to give one to Zuma Dogg last Christmas, but could never find one.

In fact, 420 has gotten so big that some purists fear the commercialization glosses over "the reason for the season."

The reason for the season? What next … “Happy 420 Day” cards at Hallmark with the Zig-Zag man on the cover?


The Sister City suggests: If you’re going to light up, remember to please smoke responsibly, and friends don’t let friends drive baked; that’s what Pizza Man’s for, dudes -- get your munchies delivered.