Philly420: Events in Philly on 4/20, 'National Marijuana Day'

No need to board a plane to Denver to celebrate America's marijuana holiday on Monday April 20th, there are plenty of local events where you can get your green on.

Marijuana possession is now largely treated as a civil offense in Philadelphia. Arrests have declined more than 80 percent. Instead of handcuffs and holding cells, those caught with up to 30 grams of weed face a $25 fine for possession and a $100 fine for public smoking. So this will be the first 4/20 under the new decriminalization policy.

Festivities begin early this year with two events on Saturday 4/18.

PhillyNORML, the local cannabis legalization group, will hold a fundraiser at Connie's Ric Rac, 1132 S. 9th Street in the heart of the Italian Market. Doors open at 7 p.m.and goes until 2 a.m.. The celebration will feature live music from Bong Hits for Jesus, I Yahn I Arkestra, Allie Carroll and the Heroes, Laura Cheadle Family Blues Band, and Pool of Thorns. Local cannabis activists will deliver speeches between acts.

Also on 4/18, Ode to Earth will be held at the One Art Community Center, 1431-39 N 52nd Street. The event starts at 2 p.m. with workshops (including an update on local marijuana activism) fire spinning, live painting and vendors. Then the event kicks into 12 hours of music with 15 acts from jam bands and hip hop to electronica.

On 4/20 The Community College of Philadelphia will feature a day dedicated to cannabis information. From 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. a series of seminars called "Marijuana, The Law and Society" will take place in Room C2-28 on the 2nd floor of the Center for Business and Industry Building at 1700 Spring Garden Street.

There will be Continuing Legal Education (CLE) credits offered to attending attorneys. Moderator Kathy Smith, Esquire will lead panelists including Theodore Caputi, Vice Chair, Bucks County Drug and Alcohol Commission; Philadelphia Deputy Assistant District Attorney, Juvenile Division, George D. Mosee, Jr. and Philadelphia Deputy Police Commissioner, Patrol Operations, Kevin J. Bethel.

Professor Rick Frei will present the results of a citywide survey on marijuana and PhillyNORML (and this writer) will present an overview of the history of prohibition and changes in local laws.

At Independence Mall National Historic Park, local activists  plan on holding signs at 5th and Market Street in the Free Speech at 4:20 p.m. on 4/20.

Over at Penn Treaty Par,k activists from the East Coast Cannabis Coalition are holding the "City of Brotherly Bud 420 Celebration" from 3pm to 6pm on 4/20. The event will feature speeches, a picnic and a countdown to 4:20 p.m.

Across the river, NJWeedman is building on the success of his recent rally events by holding "The 420 Festival: #LegalizeNJ" in Trenton. The event has three main courses: a protest, a march and a concert. From 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. they will gather and hold signs in front of the New Jersey State House; from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. there will be a march and then the live music concert will begin at Mill Hill Park.

As always, delicious munchies for the stoner palate will be available at many local restaurants and bars. At the South Philadelphia Tap Room, desserts will include fried PB&J, Apple-Ricotta Donuts with a hard caramel sauce and Warm Chocolate Brownie covered in dulce de leche.

If you are wondering about the history of 420, where the phrase originated and how it turned into a national holiday check out this interview with Steve Bloom of CelebStoner.com and the author of Pot Culture: The A to Z Guide to Stoner Language and Life.