“America first” floated into a cloud of marijuana smoke.
A marijuana-themed protest of Donald Trump’s inauguration went off as planned on Friday, with several thousand (sort-of-legal) cannabis joints distributed and at least several hundred smoked four minutes into Trump’s first address as the nation’s chief executive.
As much less mellow protesters burned trash cans on K Street and President Donald Trump’s triumphant Inauguration Day parade trundled past empty bleachers, activists with DCMJ—the organization behind the successful 2014 ballot measure that legalized marijuana possession and cultivation in Washington, D.C.fulfilled their vow to mark the occasion with a protest smoke.
Pro-weed group @DCMJ2014 handed out 8,400 joints in Washington today, then they all lit up 4 mins 20 secs into Trump’s #Inauguration address pic.twitter.com/Sfs7xefxNE
— Jessy Edwards (@jessythejourno) January 20, 2017
At exactly 4min 20 seconds into President Trump’s speech, over a 100 cannabis activists lit up on 17th St. #Trump420 #Inauguration #MAGA pic.twitter.com/Us2EcK6LSR
— DCMJ (@DCMJ2014) January 20, 2017
Though marijuana use is legal in the District, it remains illegal on federal property—of which there is quite a bit in the seat of the federal government.
That said, there were no arrests of marijuana protesters that DCMJ knew of, the organization tweeted at midday Friday.
Friday’s #Trump420 demonstration had been in the works since December. Frustrated with a total lack of clarity as to what Trump planned to do about America’s widening experiment with marijuana legalization, DCMJ announced Trump, attorney general nominee Jeff Sessions or another decider on Team Trump would have to inform the nation that cannabis would be left as-is.
If not, the inauguration party would have a smoking section.
And to date, Trump himself has said nothing about marijuana. And Sessions, in his Senate confirmation hearings, said very little aside from stating the obvious: that marijuana is federally illegal, and if he’s confirmed as attorney general—as looks likely—it’s his job to enforce the law.
Not exactly encouraging, and more than enough reason to take to the streets with other activists upset with America’s prospects under its new president.
DCMJ originally promised to roll and distribute 4,200 joints—you know, 420 times 10—among Trump supporters gathered on the National Mall.
By midweek, the tally was upped to 5,500 joints, and on Friday morning, organizers said they had 8,000 joints ready to distribute. That’s… a lot of weed.
Illegal smoke in the air but #Trump420 protesters don’t care. Hundreds wait at DuPont for free weed pic.twitter.com/ZFHzyMO0GX
— Nona Tepper (@ntepper90) January 20, 2017
According to organizers, a line “hundreds” of people deep lined up at Dupont Circle to grab a joint before a planned march toward the Mall. On the way, organizers distributed the protest joints in the crowds of Trump supporters assembled to celebrate the transition of power.
True to their word, it was a nonpartisan affair, with plenty of star-spangled happy Americans accepting the gift of free weed.
Cannabis reform is not a partisan issue, it’s an American issue! #Trump420 #Inauguration #MAGA pic.twitter.com/BInDmkvxJt
— DCMJ (@DCMJ2014) January 20, 2017
DCMJ didn’t quite gain access to an appropriate spot within smelling distance of the Capitol steps, where Trump sat flanked by past presidents and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Nonetheless, smoking marijuana in public in D.C. is still illegal, so it still counts as an act of civil disobedience.
We are hanging out on 17th St. between the WWII Memorial and the Washington Monument! #Trump420 #Inauguration #MAGA pic.twitter.com/7n6RwL3tZ5
— DCMJ (@DCMJ2014) January 20, 2017
And that was that. Meanwhile, elsewhere in America…
Current view from Post HQ. pic.twitter.com/HttOvO96Hp
— Ryan Carey-Mahoney (@thegoodcarmah) January 20, 2017
As we’ve said, cannabis reform is almost certainly far down the list of recent accomplishments Trump and his crew want to undo. At the same time, there’s much at stake and plenty of progress on drug policy to lose.
Today’s DCMJ action was peaceful. Whether it’s the start of real agitation depends on the current administration. Your move, Donald.
You can keep up with all of HIGH TIMES’ marijuana news right here.
from
http://hightimes.com/news/politics/toke-grenades-dc-activists-pull-off-marijuana-fueled-trump-protest/
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