The Two-Day Denver 420 Rally Celebrates Legal Cannabis

Kick off Earth Day weekend in Denver learning about hemp and responsible cannabis use.

(DENVER) - Organizers of the Denver 420 Rally have announced that the 2012 event will be two consecutive days, Friday April 20th and Saturday April 21st, at Civic Center Park. They will be "celebrating community, exercising constitutional rights and petitioning our government for redress".

This year’s rally will emphasize the importance of the pending legislations pertaining to the fate of cannabis in Colorado, underscored through guest speakers, local musicians, unique vendors, national artist TOO SHORT and tens of thousands of pro-cannabis activists and lovers.

The theme is Decision 2012. "We have shown the world that cannabis can be used responsibly," said Miguel Lopez, Denver 420 Rally organizer.

"This is the year Coloradans decide whether that responsibility has been recognized or whether to continue to allow out-of-state interests to control the cannabis narrative. We rally to repeal the Prohibition of cannabis. We rally to rid laws which erode our personal liberties and waste our fiscal assets on superfluous legal charges."

In the Huffington Post article “Of 50,000 Marijuana Arrests In New York City A Year, Most Are Black And Hispanic Men,” from last November, roughly every one out of seven cases that appear in criminal court are for low level pot possession.

"The Prohibition of cannabis erodes America’s trust in the Rule of Law. U.S. Attorney John Walsh’s threats to dispensaries show prohibitionist contempt for the decision of the People of Colorado to allow the medical cannabis. The U.S. Department of Injustice’s betrayal of patients’ caregivers restricts safe access to medicine. It’s time we fight for the rule of law in Colorado: Medical cannabis is Law," said Lopez.

The Denver 420 Rally’s mission is to educate the public about cannabis. "Cannabis prohibition is environmentally irresponsible. It prohibits a crop that produces a better fabric than cotton, trees for paper and has optimum nutritional value as food," Lopez added.

The fact is that hemp (cannabis) was cultivated by the earliest civilizations, including America's founding fathers like George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and used by Abraham Lincoln without any guilt or repudiation. Hemp is grown today in over 30 countries, including Australia, Austria, Canada, Great Britain, France, Russia and Spain. Was America on that list? No. Since cannabis prohibition began in 1937, Americans have been restricted from growing their own hemp though in many states, farmers growing the crop has been passed by a will of the people.

"As a true grass roots movement, we are inclusive and actively engaged with community affairs year round. The Denver 420 Rally supports equal economic and employment opportunities for all. We are committed to getting the GREED OUT OF WEED, and oppose any laws, policies and/or ballot initiatives implementing regulations catering only to big business. Average people should not be excluded from participating in the cannabis industry.

"We are against any irrational limits on adults who wish to grow cannabis for themselves. We believe that cannabis should be treated equally to other legally controlled substances, such as tobacco. We encourage everyone to educate themselves, register and vote for the best long term solution for Colorado in 2012!" said Lopez.

"420 is just around the corner! So get ready for great food and beverages at down to earth prices, art & wares from pro-marijuana-movement artists, activists and vendors. We are taking vendor applications and can accommodate anybody."

Minors are not allowed to attend without being escorted by a parent or legal guardian at all times. The Denver 420 Rally is not liable for minors unaccompanied by parents or legal guardians. Truancy officers will be in attendance. As always, this rally is permitted and the coordinators of the Denver 420 Rally work with city officials, Denver police department, Mayor’s office of Cultural Affairs and other communities to route morning and afternoon traffic during the rally.

Free legal defense for misdemeanor possession or petty distribution will be provided by Robert J. Corry, Jr. and Travis B. Simpson.