| A haze lifting above Denver’s Civic Center Park April 20, 2012. |
Yesterday, Colorado cannabis activist Miguel Lopez, the organizer of Denver’s annual 4/20 rally at Civic Center Park, released the schedule for this year’s two-day event, taking place on (duh) April 20 and 21. But in addition to a breakdown of happenings on each day, he also shared with Westword‘s Michael Roberts his often-negative thoughts about Amendment 64’s passage, as well as his views about continuing the fight for full cannabis legalization.
“Amendment 64 did not remove criminal penalties, nor did it make any concessions to those that are currently in jail for non-violent marijuana offenses, while ignoring the 18-21 year old community, continuing limits unlike the regulation of alcohol,” Lopez says. “Those people are still in jail, and they will still face a hard time finding a job, resorting to dealing with the black markets for survival. This includes public consumption.”
| MIguel Lopez. |
Lopez concedes that A64 proponents and opponents alike “understand that this is a step towards legalization.” However, he views the measure as “only a legislative act to create an economy and not to end a war that has destroyed thousands of lives…. In fact, it still perpetuates it. It set forth guidelines for future regulations, establishing a strong bias for those who have the means to open respected marijuana businesses while also maintaining criminal penalties for those in possession of over an ounce. Talk about dangling a carrot. It has launched a green rush, but at the same time, it has made enough restrictions so that poorer and marginalized members of society still face the same problems as [they]did before and still risk going to prison and losing their basic freedoms.
Click over to Westword.com for the rest of the story as well as more photos of annual Denver’s 4/20 protest and smoke-in.
2013 Denver 4/20 rally schedule for Civic Center Park:
Saturday April 20th 2013
9:00 a.m.-10:00 a.m.: Special Performance (Dj Arjitech)
10:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m.: Instrumental Band Artist Performance
12:30 p.m.-1:00 p.m.: Hemp Fashion Show
1:00 p.m.-1:10 p.m.: Artist Fundraiser Performance
1:10 p.m.-2:10 p.m.: Benediction
2:10 p.m.-2:20 p.m.: Artist Fundraiser Performance
2:20 p.m.-2:35 p.m.: Invocation
2:35 p.m.-2:50 p.m.: Artist Fundraiser Performance
2:50 p.m.-3:20 p.m.: Platform to the key note address John Pylka Chief Organizer to the 44th Annual National Smoke In
3:20 p.m.-4:20 p.m.: Key note Address given by Miguel Lopez, Rico Colibri (C.A.R.E) and Rob Corry
4:20 p.m.-4:35 p.m.: Artist Fundraiser Performance
4:35 p.m.-4:50 p.m.: Thank Yous Acknowledgements and Dedications
4:50 p.m.-5:00 p.m.: Special Performance (Dj Arjitech)
5:00 p.m.-5:15 p.m.: Closing speech
5:15 p.m.-6:00 p.m.: Instrumental Band Artist Fundraiser Performance
Sunday April 21st 2013
9:00 a.m.-10:00 a.m.: Special Performance (Dj Arjitech)
10:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m.: Artist Fundraiser Performance
12:30 p.m.-1:45 p.m.: Recognitions
12:45 p.m.-12:55 p.m.: Artist Fundraiser Performance
12:55 p.m.-2:25 p.m.: Benediction and Awards
2:25 p.m.-2:35 p.m.: Artist Fundraiser Performance
2:35 p.m.-2:40 p.m.: Invocation and Awards
2:40 p.m.-2:50 p.m.: Artist Performance
2:50 p.m.-3:20 p.m.: Platform to the key note address
3:20 p.m.-4:20 p.m.: Key note Address given by Miguel Lopez
4:20 p.m.-4:35 p.m.: Top Performing Artist
4:35 p.m.-4:50 p.m.: Awards
4:50 p.m.-5:00 p.m.: Closing Speech