April 20, known better as 4/20, the unofficial time or day for
smoking marijuana, is a holiday for pot smokers.
But any idea that university police will also go on holiday and
give a high five and a big grin to those openly smoking on campus,
should go up in smoke.
In past years, some students have used the day to hang out on
UCLA’s green lawns with a little grass of their own, and this
year is expected to be no different.
Jamie Strowbridge, a third-year music student, said he’s
going to drop by Meyerhoff Park at the end of his day.
“I’m gonna go check it out, and I might be
equipped,” Strowbridge said, noting that he heard smoking at
Meyerhoff Park on 4/20 was somewhat of a UCLA tradition.
“I’m not sure whether or not I’m going to be a
participant,” he added.
Police don’t want students to get the notion that the day
of 4/20 provides them with protection; students still face
consequences.
Police say they have been working with the Center for Student
Programming in preparation for the day.
“We don’t want students to break the law, so we are
taking steps to educate them on the consequences,” said Nancy
Greenstein, director of police community services for UCPD.
The Center for Student Programming will be handing out flyers
about the consequences students may encounter by smoking pot,
Greenstein said.
Members from the center can also take names of students caught
smoking, and that those students may be subject to student judicial
processes, she added.
Police have the authority to issue citations to students who are
caught smoking, Greenstein said.
While Strowbridge doesn’t know whether he will risk
smoking on campus tomorrow, he said he’ll definitely
celebrate with friends in the privacy of his home.
He said his plans for the day include smoking at both midnights
““ Â to bring in and close out the holiday.
Contrary to popular belief, 420 is not a police code for the
possession of marijuana. In fact, 420 is a penal code regarding the
obstruction or prevention of entry over public lands.
The term 4/20 was reputedly started by a group of high school
students in Marin County who called themselves “The Waldos in
1972.” The term 4/20 referred to the time of day that they
were going to smoke, and it became a code that they and others
began using synonymous with smoking pot.
The health and safety code for marijuana is 11357b.