The University of Colorado in Boulder is famous for its annual “4/20 smoke-out” however, the school has issued a warning this week that students who participate in the event will face serious consequences. Full story after the jump!
The University of Colorado in Boulder issued a warning this week that students who participate in the annual “4/20 smokeout” could get a $100 ticket and further sanctions by the school.
Thousands of students and marijuana smokers traditionally gather in a large field near campus dormitories on April 20th for a “smokeout.”
In an effort to try to curtail the weed party, officials said there will be strict enforcement of a campus ban on medical marijuana, $100 tickets to people caught with pot, and possible arrests. CU said students who do face legal consequences will have their name posted on the campus police website’s daily crime log.
Officials also cautioned there would be limited parking space and heavy traffic. That’s because they said they’ll be strictly enforcing parking rules, enhanced patrols by state police, and said they expected traffic jams along Broadway and near all entrances to campus.
The student government has officially endorsed this effort to crack down on the 4/20 party.
“4/20 damages the reputation of the university and of every student enrolled here,” said CUSG Vice President for External Affairs Brooks Kanski in a statement. “Do any search online of CU-Boulder and what will invariably pop up is an image or video of 4/20. Questions about 4/20 plague CU graduates in job interviews. It’s time for all of this to end.”
But CU-Boulder doesn’t want to be a total buzzkill; They’re putting on a free concert by Wyclef Jean, an artist who has songs with lyrics which endorse legalizing marijuana.
“We are asking students to support us in the effort to protect the reputation of our institution – and do it by attending a great free concert,†said Carly Robinson, CUSG vice president for internal affairs.
The crackdown hasn’t been popular among Colorado students. Memes poking fun at the new policy have been spreading online. The school is known as a top party school where marijuana enjoys fairly broad popularity.
The most recent polling of Coloradans shows support for legalizing marijuana and regulating it like alcohol. Medical marijuana is currently legal in the state. A ballot initiative in November will decide whether the state should legalize cannabis in Colorado.
Check out last year’s smokeout below: