A day after Denver’s Civic Center went up in smoke, only small cotton-ball size puffs hovered above the few hundred people who turned out Saturday for a continuation of the annual marijuana celebration.
Supporters say the rally, which attracted about 5,000 people Friday, is a protest against what participants believe are unjust marijuana laws. On Saturday, some lit up at 4:20 pm just like the day before — despite the fact that it was April 21.
“It’s OK to be who you are!” shouted the emcee on the stairs of the amphitheater. “It’s OK to be free!”
The freedom to get high, however, did not apply to everyone. When Denverites John Caraway, 21, and Nick Novitsky, 24, sparked a joint, seven Denver police officers on bicycles stopped in front of them. Both men — but not their female friend — got tickets for public consumption of marijuana.
“I don’t know why they picked us out,” Caraway said. “This is a peaceful protest in a peaceful public space.”
Organizers of the event told the men that they would help them fight their tickets in court.
Booths lining the walkways of the park sold everything from bongs to roach clips. But it was the food booths, ready for those who got the munchies, which were clearly the most popular.
“It’s going great,” said Tarique Genaro, 35, whose booth was selling soda and individually-wrapped Hostess cupcakes. “People keep buying.”
Genaro said Saturday’s crowd was a bit different from those who attended the big rally the day before.
“People don’t seem to be as affluent. They seem to be more stragglers here today,” he said.
The ecclectic group encompassed everyone from high school kids to curious passer-bys to parents with children in strollers. Some people were taking pictures of the event. Others had on pot-centric T-shirts: “Baked,” read one. “We can always grow more,” said another.
“This is a great life,” said Deserray Marrujo, 49, of Denver, who wore strands of green beads around her neck. “This is what it’s all about.
Karen E. Crummy: 303-954-1594 or kcrummy@denverpost.com
