DENVER (AP)--once the province of activists and Stoners, gone legalize the traditional pot holiday of April 20 mainstream in the first State in the nation to recreational marijuana.
The Colorado-cannabis topics solid gathered tens of thousands for a weekend and entertainment of a marijuana industry Expo called the cannabis Cup to a trade center north of downtown, to 4/20-themed concerts at the legendary red rocks Amphitheater--file something Stoopid and Snoop Dogg --included a massive Festival in the shadow of the State Capitol where clouds of cannabis smoke is expected to blow at 4:20 MDT Sunday.
The Festival in Denver's Civic Center Park is the most visible signs of the transformation. It began as a defiant gathering of marijuana activists, but the event to enable a municipality, has organized events this year by a management company and selected stalls selling funnel cakes and Greek cuisine in addition to kiosks hawking hemp suckers and glass tube.
Gavin Beldt, one of the organizers, said in a statement that the event is now a "Celebration of the legal status for the use in Colorado" and our launch a new experience for the participants
Denver is just one of many cities across the country where celebrate 4/20 marijuana Sunday planned are. Elsewhere, San Francisco Police Chief Greg Suhr said his officers on illegal parking, camping, drug sales, alcohol consumption and open alcohol containers and Golden Gate Park would be hippie Hill to crack down. Officials should not the unofficial pot holidays Easter Sunday interfere with activities in the Park.
On Saturday, the first day of the two-day Festival in Denver, just a few people a Roman amphitheatre remained on the stairs where marijuana activists angry said banning the drug in other countries. Thousands instead music was blasting from the sound stage on the wide lawns of the Park, hip hop and enjoy the fresh, to listen, even if marijuana-scented air.
"It is much softer this year," said Cody Andrews, 29, of Denver. "There is a place more now. More manufacturer-y."
Event of last year was marred by an unsolved shooting that wounded three. This year a fence rings in the Park. Security personnel in protective equipment roam the grounds, and all participants are weapons checks.
Earlier this year there were tensions, if some organizers is officially a 16:20-Sunday Smokeout wanted to sanction, but the city pointed out, that public consumption of marijuana is still illegal in Colorado. By Saturday night, Denver police said they spent at least 17 quotes to the public pot smoking.
However, expect the participants on Sunday, light also happens to be Easter Sunday. Many were not 4/20 right wait till. On Saturday, 25, Aurora, the lawn has been carefully a thick joint roles with friends, including one who sat Jairin GENUNG.
"Light", no matter what we go upwards, said GENUNG. "If you can smoke at the 4/20 rally not, it only makes sense."
The whole scene was wonderfully surreal for Bud Long, 49, from Kalamazoo, Michigan, who recalls his first 4/20 protest participation in 1984.
"Nationally there will be decriminalized," he predicted, "and we will do so in every State."
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Thus associated press writer Terry Chea in San Francisco contributed to this report.
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