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UK: Everyone was smoking weed in Bristol's parks on Thursday afternoon, here's why

Krishan Davis

Bristol Post

Thursday 20 Apr 2017

It is possible you didn’t even notice the marginally higher number of people sitting in the city’s parks smoking cannabis on Thursday afternoon.

At precisely 4.20pm – without a policeman in sight – a loud cheer could be heard creeping through the plumes of smoke and reggae music at Castle Park: “Happy four 20!”

The same was happening in green spaces all over Bristol and indeed the world.

But why?

The concept of 420 – pronounced four twenty – is an Americanism that has crossed the Atlantic and embedded itself in British culture – becoming the main day of celebration of the weed-smoking sub-culture in itself.

“Smoking weed brings people together,” said Ayla, 24. “There wouldn’t be this many people here today in Castle Park if it wasn’t 420.

“Marijuana promotes unity which is something that is becoming increasingly rare.”

Last year, a government survey on “drug misuse” showed that more people smoked cannabis in the South West than anywhere else in the country – with broadcaster Vice calling Bristol the UK’s weed smoking capital yesterday.

There are several theories about where and when the term 420 was first coined, but what is not in doubt is that it originated in the USA.

Some people believe that it first came about in 1971 when five Californian high school pupils used the term in connection with a plan to search for an abandoned cannabis crop that they had learned about, based on a treasure map made by the grower.

They apparently set their meeting time to start their search at 4.20pm in the afternoon outside the school.

Another theory says a group of high schoolers from Denver, Colorado, would simply meet at 4.20pm every day to smoke together.

Four 20 is the today’s date across the pond: The 20th day of the fourth month is written as 4/20 in the States.

As the clock strikes twenty minutes past four on April 20, smokers everywhere gather to indulge in some marijuana.

An international day of pro-cannabis events is also held as a nod to the term.

The global protest calls for governments around the world to decriminalise cannabis as a harmful drug – a protest that has had some success in both California and Colorado while the fight in the UK goes on.

Today in the UK teens and other smokers use 420 as a code word for consumption and circulation of the Class B drug.

In fact the saying is so popular that hotels have reportedly gotten rid of room number 420 because weed enthusiasts keep swiping the signs .

A spokesman for Avon and Somerset Police said: “We will always consider the most appropriate action when dealing with drug crime and offenders.

“Anyone caught in possession of cannabis is breaking the law and will be dealt with in one of a number of ways including prosecution, police caution, or offered other intervention such as educational programmes.

“We recognise the harm drugs do not only to those who use them but to communities as a whole and value greatly the intelligence the public give us about suspected cannabis cultivation sites.

“Neighbourhood officers regularly patrol throughout the city and anyone with concerns about drug use or anti-social behaviour is urged to raise them directly with them or call 101.”

http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/everyone-smoking-weed-bristols-parks-30794

 

 

 

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