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Blazing It Up At Hash Bash 2016

Blazing It Up At Hash Bash 2016

Culture

Blazing It Up At Hash Bash 2016

April is probably the most important month on the stoner calendar, and Hash Bash is one of the first big marijuana celebrations to kick off the 420 season.

Hash Bash is a huge marijuana protest that takes place every year at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. And this year’s event is happening today.

The tradition first started back in 1972. Since then it’s grown to become a big-time pot rally attracting hundreds to thousands of people from the Ann Arbor region and beyond.

The primary purpose of the event is to engage in a little civil disobedience in order to speak out against anti-marijuana laws specifically and anti-drug laws more generally.

But Hash Bash isn’t only political. It’s also basically grown to become a giant party, a celebration of all things cannabis.

The most important part of Hash Bash happens at the stroke of noon, when Hash Bashers all light up and smoke some ganja right out in the open. Along with the giant smoke sesh, Hash Bash includes speeches, live music, and a street festival.

Although the event has established itself as a mainstay on the University of Michigan campus, it still exists in a legal gray area.

“It’s not legal to be smoking or possessing marijuana on the at this event,” University Police spokesperson Diane Brown said.

“It’s exercising of free speech, but at the same time, the University and the police and DPSS don’t condone the use of illegal drugs or the public consumption of alcohol on our campus.”

Hash Bash 2015:

https://youtu.be/NuuBkvt1Lqg

But even if cops do decide to bust somebody, odds are it won’t really be a big deal.

That’s because marijuana has been decriminalized in Ann Arbor. Worst case scenario for a person caught with marijuana is a small civil infraction that carries a $30 fine.

This year’s Hash Bash is scheduled to go from noon to 2 p.m. on campus before moving off campus for the Monroe Street Fair. One of the headlining speakers is cannabis cultural icon Tommy Chong.

Today is a big day for marijuana events and activism around the country.

Along with Ann Arbor’s Hash Bash, a group of activists are staging what they’ve called the biggest “smoke-in” ever in Washington, D.C.

At that event, protestors plan to gather in front of the White House. At 4:20 p.m., everyone will light up.

The event was organized largely as a response to President Obama’s announcement that he would not focus on cannabis laws during his last year in office.

(Photo Credit: Twitter)

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