University Of Colorado, Boulder Plans Crackdown On 4/20 Campus Weed Party

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.

Footage from The Daily Camera of students at CU Boulder's campus:

Also on HuffPost:

Comments

[TheImpossibilityOfReason]

06:33 PM on 04/17/2012

Some people will say its a stupid idea to celebrate weed on some random day. I say there is a really good reason its on April 20th, but no one remembers why.

[Sanna Anselm]

03:44 AM on 04/14/2012

If the administration were concerned about the 10 year slide of this school's reputation it might begin by recruiting fewer mediocre students from out-of-state willing to (over)pay to come to CU for precisely this type of event. I acknowledge the tough situation CU has been in with funding, but its "business" minded fixation on rebranding the school and attracting "customers" with things like luxury dorms while neglecting things like full faculty and the talented in-state population to whom they should be responsible has resulted in its rankings and reputation crisis. Harvard administrators don't seem especially concerned about what the Primal Scream tradition of running naked during reading period is doing to their reputation.

[theschneider92]

11:28 PM on 04/09/2012

By this article saying they are focusing on this specific day isn't it kind of ruining the schools reputation. It makes it seam like they don't try for the rest of the year just the one day that involves massive smoking. If I was a parent I would prefer a school for my kid that focuses on more than just one day a year. Not that I'm against marijuana I'm just thinking about what my parents would think.

[profideous man]

09:39 PM on 04/09/2012

Soooo... Smoking weed and, at worst, buttressing yoru local economy through the purchase of mass quantities of fast food gives your university a reputation so bad, that the school has to come down hard. But being one of the top party schools in that nation - factoring in excessive alcohol abuse which typically results in alcohol poisoning and drunk driving incidents is behavior that we ought to protect the right to engage in. Interesting, CU student senate. Very interesting...

[BradleyH]

08:32 PM on 04/09/2012

The 'war on drugs' is impossible to win, the foundations of capitalism will always undermine enforcement, especially when all you need is a seed and some free time.

[profideous man]

09:40 PM on 04/09/2012

It's the one thing the libertarians and I agree on.

[gbrindel]

04:07 PM on 04/09/2012

so absurd. the video i saw was a peaceful public gathering. having cops giving tickets for pot is just wrong. the cops should be there to keep the peace. only high school kids and/or non CU students should get harassed over pot. if you want to bring down the hammer on people, bring it down on those who are violent for some reason--zero tolerance on that. if students try to do this more than one day a year, then push back, but one day ain't gonna kill anyone. CU is a fine place and this event won't stop anyone from receiving a fine education. if someone actually inquires about this event in a job interview, it's probably a good sign you don't want to work there, as it is immaterial to one's qualifications.

[average dude]

02:47 PM on 04/09/2012

It seems to me that posting their names on that web page is the same as public shaming. how is this possible?

[bigdaddygenius]

01:09 PM on 04/09/2012

no one has killed marijuana for thousands of years of human existence - CU boulder ain't gonna do it either lol. Boulder is a "green" city - you knew that when you signed up for school there. if you don't like it - go to school in colorado springs and learn about jesus riding a dinosaur.

[profideous man]

09:40 PM on 04/09/2012

God gave us weed. CU admins = blasphemers!

[NC1165]

10:00 AM on 04/09/2012

I wonder how many resumes get passed over when these grads go out and apply for a career in their field of study.

[Kailuabred]

11:52 AM on 04/09/2012

Probably none. Although noted as a party school, it also has an excellent reputation in the academic world. Weird dichotomy, but true.

[profideous man]

09:41 PM on 04/09/2012

Weed promotes thinking outside the box.

[bigdaddygenius]

01:11 PM on 04/09/2012

that's a lame and well-tread argument. No one gets passed over because they went to a party school......except unqualified people who don't have the necessary skills employers are looking for.

[blackpolarbearnmbh]

11:54 PM on 04/08/2012

though i agree that marijuana does indeed deserve its day in court and that it does deserve a greater public opinion beyond that of "hey man it'll get us money and its a good smoke

now bear in mind that i wouldnt mind mentioning the amount of things that could be done with the uses of the leafy green plant....the medicines the ointments the products, the industries....to be fair this is a very useful plant and it is a very useful tool i believe the first motion to fix would be ending this public general argument ... its a good smoke kind of argument , regardless of the actual argument thats all people actually hear when they see legalize marijuana signs theyh dont think geez i could make millions of dollars in industries

they'll never think that and thats a problem but then again that has always been an issue whenever people see something they never actualy get the right opinion about it most of the time its a hippie beatnick looking outfit that speaks volumes rather than the doctors and nurses and other professions that wouldnt mind having use of the extrordinary plant

[yerstressinme]

02:25 PM on 04/11/2012

You really like bears. Both in your name and your post.

[mangez merde]

11:24 PM on 04/08/2012

As a biologist let me define what a weed.

A weed is a plant that has no intrinsic value. A resource is something that man uses and has commercial value.

For example, Canadian Thistle used to be used to card wool and was a resource. Now it is a weed since it is no longer used for any commercial process.

Weed is not a weed, but a very valuable resource. Making a very valuable resource illegal is like making steel illegal. Not a sound idea.

[blackpolarbearnmbh]

11:56 PM on 04/08/2012

perhaps its because it earned the name weed rather than a decent name like "North American Thistle"

[WiscFighter]

10:00 AM on 04/09/2012

It earned that name because people were ignorant and decided to give it an absurd stigma all so it wouldnt interfere with people's profits, which were ALOT...

[mavalos]

06:17 PM on 04/10/2012

"A weed is a plant that has mastered every survival skill except for learning how to grow in rows."
Doug Larson

Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/d/doug_larson.html#Cm4FBSwSCCoiFrHw.99

[mangez merde]

11:02 PM on 04/10/2012

I like that one.

[mangez merde]

11:20 PM on 04/08/2012

A $100 dollar fine ???? Hell, most students pay $200 for 1/8 of an ounce.

[JProducer Wignz]

07:55 AM on 04/09/2012

where u getting ur smoke from haha i'll sell you 1/8 for 200

[mangez merde]

06:55 PM on 04/09/2012

Half way around the world prices are different.

[bigdaddygenius]

01:12 PM on 04/09/2012

lol- love those trust fund boulder kids :)

[mjeffn]

08:59 PM on 04/08/2012

"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."

I AGREE. IT'S JUST WEED. It's time to legalize and end persecution.

[Underabridge]

01:06 PM on 04/08/2012

Let them have their little celebration.... Let them be happy before they hit the unemployment line. Is Boulder even a top 100 college? lolllll

[Jarrod Putnam]

10:45 PM on 04/08/2012

Does it matter if it is in the top 100? You don't need to attend Princeton to be educated and successful.

[JProducer Wignz]

07:56 AM on 04/09/2012

yes yes it is

[Bradley Marsoobian]

09:37 AM on 04/08/2012

Yet, more fear. 10,000 people gathered together consuming alcohol would be a problem, but as demonstrated last year, 10,000 people gathered together getting baked cause very very few problems.
I agree to a point this is only one day out of the year guys come on let it be a holiday give them the day off ever think of that then they would have no reason to gather on campus and smoke and go to school! Anyway hippies, Stoners, or potheads are usually the ones that succeed in life create technology and much more!~

[blackpolarbearnmbh]

11:27 PM on 04/08/2012

usually but is smoking pot the top reason for success or is it just the actions of the successful that had included smoking pot

[WiscFighter]

10:11 AM on 04/09/2012

I believe smoking can be a contributing factor to success. People who know better would agree that smoking can cause you to become more open-minded, thus allowing you to explore other possibilities in any way you wish. There are a lot of open users out there that are successful, even more that are not open about it due to the legal stigma.

[Bradley Marsoobian]

01:19 PM on 04/09/2012

I agree with WiscFighter It opens peoples minds not only that but it has been found if grown right to have hi omega counts which helps stimulate your brain and helps skin similar to fish oil! Not only that but very smart people are more likely to go crazy or snap because of what they know also another reason why cannabis helps people in success!