Thanks to the Keene Police for Using Discretion

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.

Front Page Sentinel Story on Yesterday’s 4:20 Smoke Out

Thanks to the Keene Sentinel’s Casey Farrar for this story:

Toking
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…)

Union Leader Reports on Yesterday’s Mass Smoke Out in Keene’s Central Square

It’s happening again today at 4:20pm! Thanks to Melanie Plenda at the Union Leader for this article:

4:20

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…)

Union Leader Reports on Mass Cannabis Smoking in Central Square

UL PhotoApparently my information was a little incorrect yesterday. It was the Union Leader, not the Sentinel that sent a reporter to cover the mass smoke out happening at Central Sq. Though the Sentinel is now aware and reporter Anika Clark called this morning to comment on a story she’s writing for today’s Sentinel. Thanks to the Union Leader’s Melanie Plenda for this story:

KEENE – As city councilors debate a resolution to decriminalize small amounts of marijuana, a small group has quietly taken matters into their own hands — lighting up on Central Square.

“Every day at 4:20 p.m., we get together to smoke pot in the square,” Noah Wood, 19, of Keene said yesterday. “Everyone smokes it. Well maybe not everyone, I’m sure, but a lot of people smoke it and so why keep it a secret? Why keep it illegal? It should be out in the open.” (more…)