University police break up group smoking
marijuana
Laughter, coughing and clouds of marijuana smoke drifted over
the lawn between Janss Steps and Bruin Walk on Wednesday afternoon
as around 50 students gathered to light up at 4:20 p.m. in honor of
April 20, the unofficial marijuana user’s holiday.
University police officers on bicycles broke up the groups after
just a few minutes. Some students wandered off to find other places
to smoke, but found that police officers were also stationed in
other places on campus in anticipation of the event.
Lydia Smith, a fourth-year comparative literature student, was
among those smoking on the lawn but said she wasn’t worried
about being cited.
“People do it every year, and we had, like, $5 or less
worth of weed between the three of us, so it’s not a big
deal,” Smith said, referring to herself and two friends she
was with.
Director of UCPD Police Community Services Nancy Greenstein said
Tuesday that she did not anticipate any major problems on April
20.
“Sometimes people gather and then they may disperse
““ I don’t know that there’s ever been a
particular problem,” she said. Greenstein could not be
reached for further comment late Wednesday afternoon.
There were no students smoking in Meyerhoff Park on Bruin Walk
at 4:20 p.m. Wednesday, though more than 100 gathered there in
2001.
Compiled by Xandi Staines, Bruin contributor.