Though he’s a longtime cannabis advocate whose reggae-focused music has been influenced by the plant since the ‘90s, celebrated his first 4/20 much like you probably did: Listening to music in his college days. It was about 15 years ago and he was hanging out with a few friends in upstate New York.
“All we listened to was ‘Legalize It’ by Peter Tosh,” the former Fugees member said.
Even back then he said he didn’t have a doubt that one day 4/20 would be a publicly accepted holiday, as it is in Colorado.
“It took too long,” Wyclef said. “The quicker they legalize it in all 50 states, the more people will be employed and the less crime they have.”
More than a decade after his first 4/20, Wyclef returns to Colorado to once again celebrate the holiday, which is now a widely observed event throughout the state. With recreational marijuana now legal to buy at dispensaries, he’ll headline Denver’s 4/20 Rally in Civic Center.
Itap billed as the biggest weed rally in the world and, along with a cloud of smoke, more than 80,000 people are expected to attend the free event.
“When you look at the world, every time there’s a revolution it comes from a different place,” he said. “Weed being legalized in Colorado is important because it sends a message to the rest of the country to get on the boat. Itap all love.”
On 4/20 this year, Wyclef said he’ll hang out and smoke the bong with protesters and go to Red Rocks to catch Snoop Dogg, whom he considers the leader of weed culture.
“Snoop Dogg represents the culture. He represents universal smoke to everyone,” Wyclef said, adding that weed plays the same role in modern hip-hop and reggae music that it did in Bob Marley’s music.
An appreciation of dub and laid back attitude is something that Colorado has always had — even before the state legalized marijuana, he said.
“When we’re out here in Colorado the vibe of reggae is so appreciated,” he said. “The minute I see an opening in these dispensaries, you never know, you might have to let me into town baby.”
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