Campus Chatter

April 20 is that special time of the year when students from all ethnic and economic backgrounds get together and, well…smoke marijuana. On some CU campuses, like Boulder, it is celebrated like a holiday. Although not recognized by all, there are many UCCS students who have already made plans for their 4/20.

Matt Wood

Senior, biology

What does 4/20 mean for you?

For me it doesn’t specifically mean anything, but I know it’s the pot smoker’s holiday.

How do you feel about students who do celebrate 4/20?

I suppose it’s their decision. If it had a derogatory effect on those who decide not to partake, then that would not be cool. It happens; like in Boulder, they set off the entire quad. Everybody knows what is going on, so nobody goes near there.

What are your 4/20 plans?

Well what day is it? It’s just a normal day for me.

Nik Herring

Junior, computer science/mathematics

Are you aware of the 4/20 holiday?

Yes, 4/20 seems to be the day that everybody celebrates their constitutional right to smoke weed.

How do you feel about students who celebrate 4/20?

I think that if someone wants to smoke weed, just like I want to smoke cigarettes or drink, then that’s my decision as long as it doesn’t harm anyone else. People have a right to decide what goes into their bodies.

Could celebrating 4/20 be dangerous?

No. I think it’s the same thing as Cinco de Mayo for drinking. You know as long as people are being responsible, then they should be able to pursue whatever makes them happy or whatever is fun for them.

How do you feel about the massive celebration that happens in Boulder?

The big smokeout? I think it’s a good way to push policy in the direction that people are trying to push it. It’s a good way to raise awareness for it and make people realize if a bunch of people are all together smoking weed and nothing bad happens, then maybe it will make some of the people who think that weed is evil change their opinion on it.

Allyson Grooms

Freshman, nursing

What does 4/20 mean to you?

It means smoking a lot of weed in a short span of time.

Do you have plans for this year’s 4/20?

I’m actually going down to Boulder.

How would you feel about a celebration like Boulder’s happening at UCCS?

Dude, that would be wicked. I wouldn’t have to spend gas money, [and] I wouldn’t have to worry about driving. I’d be down for that.

What’s your most memorable 4/20?

We were sitting up on the bluffs here actually, and we were hiking back down. I guess we had smoked an indica, which is not a fun high when you’re hiking, and so me and one of my friends started freaking out on the hike back down, and literally, a half hour hike took us two hours to get back down. It was a good time. I’m a stoner through and through.

Andre Houston

Freshman, game development and design

What does 4/20 mean to you?

It’s a celebration. It’s a protest to legalize marijuana completely; it 100 percent should be legal.

Have you ever celebrated 4/20?

No. This will be my first year, I’ll confess that now. Either way, I’ll celebrate it this year.

So should such a holiday exist?

It definitely should. Somebody started, so we just kind of continue it.