MassCann to the Man: Put it in Your Bong, Smoke it

[Ganjarden]

A husky haze blanketed Boston Common on Saturday Sept. 20th, as thousands of students, sight-seers and stoners sprawled across the grass to celebrate their last dance with Mary Jane.

Hosted by The Massachusetts Cannabis Reform Coalition, also known as MassCann, the Boston Freedom Rally hoped to celebrate the use of the cannabis plant and persuade others to support its legalization as the Massachusetts ballot approaches.

On Nov. 4, Massachusetts voters will have the chance to pass a ballot initiative decriminalizing the possession of small amounts of marijuana. If a smoker has less than an ounce of the herb on his or her person, jail time is no longer an option. This initiative will officially appear as Question 2 on the November ballot in Massachusetts.

Under current Mass. law, people charged with marijuana possession face criminal penalties of up to six months in jail, a $500 fine and a Criminal Offender Record Information report is filed.

However, William Galvin, the secretary of the Commonwealth has officially given the marijuana decriminalization initiative proposed by the Massachusetts-based Committee for Sensible Marijuana Policy a name and place on the ballot.

Emersonians found their way over to the reefer madness recounted the atmosphere on the greens. Sophomore, Daniel Tiffany said he was experiencing a sensory overload at the scene.

“It’s the biggest collection of hippies I have ever seen,” the theatre studies major said. “Tie-dye, dreadlocks, Jamaica and the smell of bong water are in the air. I was woken up today by Led Zeppelin being blared out here.”

Although the ganja gala attracted all walks of life, attendees felt everyone was brought together through the smog.

Freshman Timothy O’Brien described the countdown until the clock struck 4:20 p.m., a significant number in pot culture popularized in the 1980s by the Greatful Dead. He said the build up was incredible and he couldn’t believe how much smoke was in the air by the time it was over.

“At that point, everybody on the Common it seemed had blunt or a bowl or a joint or something they were smoking. They all lit up and an ocean of weed-smoking erupted from the ground. It was wonderful,” the sophomore film major said. “I think even if you weren’t smoking at that point, you were probably high.”

Sophomore Jared Diamond said the Freedom Rally came at a great time for college students in Boston to unite before the weather turns.

“It’s good to be outside before it gets too cold,” the marketing communications major said, “I’d say everyone from Emerson is here. If you live in Piano Row or the Little Building, I don’t see how you couldn’t just walk over here.”

Some attendees commented on the police enforcement, or lack thereof. Tiffany said he was surprised people weren’t being arrested all over the place.

“There are cops all around and I’m wondering, are they just turning a blind eye to all the pot that is going around? I see the cops and I see the stuff and part of me doesn’t even know what the hell is going on,” the acting major said.

At the same time, he said he was not surprised at the number of people at the hash happening based on his knowledge of the recreational activities his peers take part in as college students.

“Knowing a lot of my friends’ views on marijuana, ganja, cannabis, whatever you want to call it, I expect there are a lot of Emersonians out here,” he said. “It’s definitely hard not to notice it this year.”

Jonathon Sanders, an Allstoner and Boston University alumus, said this was his first time attending what is commonly known as Hemp Fest and he was surprised by the lack of police coverage at the event.

“I thought this was kind of like a loophole in the law. Everyone looks pretty stoned. Either they came here stoned or they’re smoking now and we just can’t see them,” Sanders said. “I figured there would be huge security detail here but I think it’s one of those days where they just let it slide.”

Among the students and the smoke, a man dressed as McGruff the Crime Dog, complete with doggie mask and a throaty accent, paraded about the hills of haze in support of the use of marijuana. The cartoon character McGruff, created by the National Crime Prevention Council in 1980, was originally used to help spread crime awareness among children and encouraged them to “take a bite out of crime,” according to McGruff.org. But to Ian Maxwell MacKinnon, a resident of Cambridge who played the part for the festivities, the crime lies in the criminalization of pot. MacKinnon said his former employment as a crime fighter has helped him to realize he had been living a lie.

“I used to work for the Department of Justice for 20 years and I was the emblem of the drug war, especially for kids,” he said. “I was taught to scare kids into not doing drugs and to uphold the law. I mean I did some good stuff, but they also made me tell a lot of lies. I just decided to come out here because people are always losing their pot. This is my penance for telling a lot of lies to kids. I brought down the whole bloodhound name.”

While characters like MacKinnon, held signs and actively spoke out for the dogma against the drug, others supported the cause simply by being present.

Steve Aiesi, a resident of Cotuit, Mass. said he came to the rally to smoke and support the legalization of marijuana.

“We’re just kind of here for a celebration for people to get together and do what they do, care free,” he said. “If you look at the scene here and imagine if this was an alcohol rally and everyone was drunk, what would be going on? But everyone is stoned sitting around pretty peacefully and I think that’s a good reason to support marijuana.”

Nicholas Lederer, a European history major at Suffolk University, said he was excited to see the range in age groups at the pot party because of the recent issue for the decriminalization of the drug.

“I’m surprised to see a lot of older people,” he said. “Today has helped me to see that the sixties generation is not so different from us and it’s great.”

Ruth and Robert Peters, hailing from Philadelphia, said they were visiting Boston for a weekend trip and noticed the commotion on the Common. The married couple of 52 years commented on the variety of activist groups at the rally and compared the youthful fervor to that in Washington during the Vietnam War.

“I think kids think it’s so simple,” Mrs. Peters said. “Hand them a flower and they’re gonna love ya. They feel like pot is a freedom that they should be allowed and that’s something that should be discussed. I personally wouldn’t want to see my kids or anybody do it but I’m not against it. If they do legalize it, so be it. Things are happening, Boston’s a great town and let’s face it, some people are just in it for drugs, sex and rock and roll, and others will change the world.”

But for the young and the restless of college campuses smack in the middle of the rally, it may be hard to pass up the joint.

“It’s kind of your choice as to whether or not you want to come out here,” Tiffany said. “It’s definitely an experience and that’s why I’m out here. How often is there a big pot festival in your back yard?”




News Hawk- Ganjarden http://www.420Magazine.com
Source: The Berkeley Beacon.com
Author: Kelly Smith
Contact: Email
Copyright: The Berkeley Beacon
Website:MassCann to the Man; Put it in Your Bong, Smoke it