by Ian | Sep 25, 2009 |
Thanks to WMUR for coming out and broadcasting this story (click for the video, I have no idea how to embed it) live from today’s 4:20 celebration in Keene’s Central Square:
KEENE, N.H. — About 80 people rallied in Keene on Friday, as they had earlier in the week, to advocate for decriminalizing marijuana.
The rallies this week began at 4:20 p.m., a time popularly associated with using marijuana. Police kept their distance, deciding to let the protests play out without arrests or confrontations.
Many of the demonstrators in the town’s central square were smoking cigarettes, cloves and, in some cases, what appeared to be marijuana. (more…)
by Ian | Sep 25, 2009 |
Despite rumors of a crackdown, thus far no one has been arrested this week for smoking cannabis in Central Square. I just wanted to thank Keene police officers for using their discretion and leaving peaceful people be. Please continue this behavior in this and other situations, and you’ll be well on your way to restoring respect for your profession if all you are doing is pursuing real criminals who have harmed another. Respecting the choices of peaceful people will in turn earn their respect.
by Ian | Sep 25, 2009 |
Thanks to the Keene Sentinel’s Casey Farrar for this story:
What began earlier this week with two friends smoking marijuana in Keene’s Central Square has become a steadily growing group that drew a crowd of more than 70 people Thursday afternoon.
Some of those gathered called themselves protestors for the legalization of marijuana, others said they just showed up to join in and smoke marijuana. Several said they plan to be back on the square this afternoon — at 4:20 p.m.
The number 420 is used in the drug subculture to represent marijuana smoking.
The crowd Thursday began trickling in shortly after 4 p.m. Several people carried handmade signs in favor of legalizing marijuana with phrases such as “My body my choice: Legalize drugs,” and “Leaf Us Alone.”
At 4:20 p.m., (more…)
by Sam Dodson | Sep 25, 2009 |
MoCo Arts is a non profit, community-based, family-centered organization sharing the gift of dance primarily with children in the community. Their building was overdue for an exterior remodel, and they settled on this mural: 
The City of Keene decided to lend a hand by threatening fines and tax liens initially. Ordinances are the ordinances, and the city acted quickly to ensure compliance. All work was halted until MoCo could hire an attorney and spend weeks working through the government courts.
Why would the city bureaucrats be so generous? The mural, for the dance studio, has dancers on it. While many of you may be underwhelmed by such an egregious violation on MoCo’s behalf, the city council has an ordinance regulating signs, and ordinances are ordinances. They claim the mural became a sign when they decided to paint a dancer. Wouldn’t it be earlier if property owners were free to paint their buildings the way they thought best?
Needless to say, after weeks in court they are doing their best to finish before winter. Can you help out?
Details on volunteering can be found here, and I’m inviting Free Keene readers out tomorrow, Saturday the 26th of Setptember, from 12pm-5pm. This is a total volunteer effort, so wear your panting clothes and bring supplies if you have them. Hope to see you there!
by Ian | Sep 25, 2009 |
It’s happening again today at 4:20pm! Thanks to Melanie Plenda at the Union Leader for this article:
KEENE – With the flick of a Bic and the bull-horned battle cry of, “Smoke ’em, if you got ’em,” nearly 75 people gathered to protest drug laws by lighting up, once again, in downtown’s Central Square. Marijuana rights advocates have been gathering daily for the past week each day at 4:20 p.m. to smoke pot in protest of drug laws. The number 420 is a code used by police officers to indicate the presence of marijuana.
Yesterday afternoon was no exception, but the crowd was much bigger in the wake of a New Hampshire Union Leader story that ran Thursday about people gathering to smoke on the square
Dozens of people streamed into the square and set up camp until precisely 4:20 p.m., when several members of the group could be seen lighting what appeared to be marijuana cigarettes and glass pipes and passing around brownies they said contained marijuana. (more…)
