I’ve been trying to think of fun ways to be civilly disobedient, get a lot of media coverage, and stick it to “The Man” right where it hurts: the pocketbook. What do you think of this idea?
Gather dozens or hundreds of people at the steps of City Hall or the State Capitol. Prior to the protest, every participant is given a quarter ounce baggie of “Wizard Smoke” – you know, the fake pot that you see advertised in “High Times”? – and a pre-rolled joint of “Wizard Smoke”. Make sure everyone getting a baggie knows it’s fake pot and that they are breaking no law.
In the press release, point out that one dozen marijuana activists are each bringing a quarter ounce of marijuana to the event and will smoke it openly at 4:20pm to protest the marijuana laws. Point out that the dozen plan to be arrested by police for their civil disobedience.
Assemble the crowd, give a speech, tell everyone that one dozen brave activists are going to jail today for the simple act of smoking a joint. At 4:20pm, tell everyone to light them up. Everybody in the crowd – not just a dozen – whip out baggies of what looks like pot and everybody begins puffing on what look like joints.
Now for the kicker: nobody really has any real pot. Or maybe only one person has a roach and smokes it to nothing to put the scent in the air. The point is to show the police wasting their time sifting through a hundred or so baggies of “Wizard Smoke” to try to find those dozen real baggies they think will be there.
So long as you’re not too close to a building to violate an anti-smoking ordinance, should be a good time all around. I don’t know that they wouldn’t haul everyone down to the station, but once they analyzed the “Wizard Smoke”, what are they going to charge you with?
I’ve actually got plans for using this already, to introduce it into the global marijuana march, in bellingham, WA. contact me for info or the website
Fantastic idea to bamboozle the boobies in the legislature and the troglodytic law enforcement personnel that do their bidding. I would also suggest the old faux pot of the sixties: catnip. Arrested for possessing a feline hallucinogen. Keep up the good work Russ!!!
I believe it is against the law in TN to possess fake controlled substances. Check your local jurisdiction before trying this out. Simply calling something marijuana, might make it “fake marijuana.” You may also be arrested for filing a false report if you contacted the police directly about the civil disobedience. Gathering outside your city hall unannounced at 4:20 might make news, but most of the bureaucrats here leave work at 4:30 and might not even notice.
I like it, have to some research for other thing they could get you for before I try it.
Hi Russ,
New Zealand NORML in Auckland had something similar to this. They called the non-marijuana NOPE. As in… “Just say nope” and it frequented their weekly 4:20 smoke up and protest in downtown. Good times.
Definitely an idea I could get behind, and certainly something I would enjoy getting involved in.
I’m sure my commander would have a shit over that one.
April 20th sound good to you, Russ?
http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&q=tucson%20city%20hall&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wl