The Burden of 4/20

While the reaction to 4/20 being rather unanimous in the cannabis using subculture, the situation out there concerning cannabis as a substance intended for recreational use was much more mixed. While the cannabis users celebrate every 20th of April, and drug law reformers on college campuses use the occasion to raise awareness on this social issue, many voting citizens in this nation are frowning upon the yearly tradition and the use of cannabis altogether. But for what reason?

In this article, originally published on the Daily Camera, a Colorado University representative was quoted saying "It's an event we don't like. We don't sponsor it or support it. We inherit it." And all I want to reply to him is : "Oh my God, what a burden!" In what way has 4/20 become such a difficult holiday to celebrate as a cannabis non-smoker? Are people loud? Are people being hateful? Are people becoming violent and aggressive? No. Because that is not what marijuana does to you. How does a pot-smoking crowd threaten the safety of an entire campus?

In comparison, I have chosen St. Patrick's Day, a well known drinking holiday on all college campuses all over the United States. Now, from experience, I can tell you that the day after St. Patrick's Day, the college campus can be unrecognizable in some areas. On the morning after St. Patrick's Day, it wouldn't be surprising to see a floor getting cleaned because of puke, it wouldn't be surprising to see posters torn off the walls because of drunk people, and it definitely wouldn't be surprising to see a line of twenty people buying Advil at the campus convenience store. Long story short, drinking has a very high social cost.


Well what about marijuana holidays like 4/20? With zero deaths a year attributed to marijuana, I can say with a certain amount of confidence that St Patrick's Day is a much more dangerous celebration than 4/20 is. And yet, campuses throughout the United States encourage St. Patrick's Day as a cultural holiday, when every one knows that most college students see it as an occasion to drink. And what do people do when they drink in excess? Sometimes they are loud, sometimes they can get aggressive, and often, if driving, they can become deadly.

Then where is the burden of having a bunch of people smoke pot? What do people do, when under the influence of marijuana? Generally, effects mentioned include relaxation, peacefulness, and those famous munchies. Which causes people to do what? Buy a lot to eat. Isn't that exactly what we are trying to get Americans to start doing?!? SPEND!!! Get high, and spend!

Do you see where I'm getting at? Shouldn't we encourage people to celebrate 4/20, for the economy's sake, for medicine's sake, and for freedom's sake? A celebration that never hurt or killed anyone, gets a whole bunch of people to be happy all together, and gets people to spend should be encouraged and subsidized by this government, not reprimanded and criminalized!