Celebrating 4/20 at the UofA

Rolling — pun intended — into my 9:30 AM lecture, I pick a seat in front of a whole row of guys talking rather loudly and throwing discretion out the window. They go on and on about the “fat bowl” that they smoked 20 minutes ago. They then spend the rest of class laughing at absurd things. I’m not surprised whatsoever. Hey, its college, right? I have definitely walked home at night and passed by a group of co-eds standing in a cloudy circle passing around a left handed cigarette.

Being from Colorado, I am no stranger to the topic of marijuana use and all of the debates that arise from it. I’ve come to realize people at university don’t really care about the repercussions of its use, whether it is legal in their state or not. They’ll smoke in their dorm room with a towel rolled under the door — which doesn’t work by the way, you can always tell because the hallway reeks of the devil’s lettuce.

With the the notorious “holiday” of 4/20 here, I have no doubt people will be celebrating with clouds and coughs. Perhaps there will be a sharp rise in Dorito sales at the union. I would not even be surprised if there is a haze over Coronado. I’m sure we could all see that happening.

Is this a sign? Is the millennial generation of Arizona ready to legalize and decriminalize? As a result of legalization, there have been great benefits in states like Colorado. Millions of dollars in cannabis taxes are being pumped into the education system. However, before jumping in and pressing forward with legalization in Arizona, there are other things to consider.

In my beautiful green home state (green as in the nature), the crime has not stopped, only changed. On the ground level, the consumers are no longer technically engaged in a criminal activity. However, this doesn’t mean that they are not contributing to crime. Only a week ago, the Denver Post covered a breaking story about illegal growing operations, a two-year investigation, and huge repercussions. Who was buying the illegal product? How can someone tell if what they are buying from a “reputable provider” is legit?

There are people who might be surprised to learn that real criminals are still benefitting from a now regulated industry. This isn’t a judgment, or a condemnation on anyone’s choice to blaze, but simply a call for awareness. Consider all the facts and make an informed decision about your laws based on more than just your love for the ganja. Celebrate how you wish, roll your blunt or take a fat rip, I won’t judge. But the same way we should think about everything we buy or consume, consider who it is benefitting, and if it is a compromise you are willing to make.