Apr 20, 2013

Today, April 20 or 4/20, is embraced by marijuana smokers nationwide as a celebration of cannabis culture. By and large, observance has remained underground given pot’s classification as an illegal substance by federal law. This year, though, things have changed, with voters in Colorado and Washington deciding in 2012 to decriminalize marijuana within state borders.

In Maryland, lawmakers opted not to decriminalize pot, but the General Assembly authorized a medical marijuana program. In recent years, Baltimore prosecutors have been easing up on marijuana possession penalties. (For contrast’s sake, D.C.’s first medical marijuana dispensary is set to open this month.)

: Cannabis and ingredients for making infused cannabis are displayed during a Cannabis cooking class in Denver, Colorado, on Thursday, April 18, 2013. The cannabis is mixed with Everclear alcohol and then it is boiled until the alcohol no longer remains. (Werner R. Slocum/MCT Photo)

: Frank Nuccio wears a “pothead” button on his jacket while attending a cannabis cooking class in Denver, Colorado, on Thursday, April 18, 2013. (Werner R. Slocum/MCT Photo)

: Cannabis-infused trail mix is mixed up and distributed into containers for participants in a cannabis cooking class to take with them as they wrap up the class in Denver, Colorado, on Thursday, April 18, 2013. (Werner R. Slocum/MCT Photo)

: An employee of Ganja Gourmet in Denver, Colorado, re-stocks “top shelf” medical marijuana in the business’s retail space on April 17, 2013. (Dustin Bradford/MCT Photo)

: Individually-packaged and labeled products offered by Ganja Gourmet in Denver, Colorado, include marijuana-infused baked goods, seen here in the business’s retail space on April 17, 2013. (Dustin Bradford/MCT Photo)

: Ganja Gourmet in Denver, Colorado, is where licensed patients can purchase marijuana-infused edibles, including the company’s specialty, baked goods. (Dustin Bradford/MCT Photo)

: A sign requests that would-be shoplifters identify themselves on a small sign seen here in the at Ganja Gourmet in Denver, Colorado, on April 17, 2013. (Dustin Bradford/MCT Photo)

: Marijuana plants thrive in a Seattle dispensary where pot is grown and distributed for medical needs. Officials are debating whether to tax and further control medical pot. (Mike Siegel/Seattle Times/MCT Photo)

: In Washington’s marijuana policy hothouse, where views are balkanized, pot advocates are divided about what – if anything – needs to be done about medical weed. (Mike Siegel/Seattle Times/MCT Photo)

: A sign outside of Capital City Care, a medical marijuana dispensary, describes the rules for entering the store and guidelines for patients’ use of marijuana in Washington, DC, on April 15, 2013, prior to the store’s opening. Three years after DC legalized medical marijuana, three stores are set to open allowing patients with HIV-AIDS, cancer, glaucoma and multiple sclerosis, to purchase up to 2 ounces of marijuana every 30 days. (Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images)

: Capital City Care, a medical marijuana dispensary is seen in Washington, D.C., on April 15, 2013, prior to the store’s opening. Three years after DC legalized medical marijuana, three stores are set to open allowing patients with HIV-AIDS, cancer, glaucoma and multiple sclerosis, to purchase up to 2 ounces of marijuana every 30 days. (Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images)

: A marijuana leaf is displayed at Canna Pi medical marijuana dispensary in Seattle, Washington. Fifty-two percent of Americans support legalizing the use of marijuana, the first time polls have shown most Americans back legalization, a Pew Research Center poll showed April 4, 2013. (Anthony Bolante/Reuters)

: A customer rolls a joint made of half marijuana and half tobacco to smoke inside of Frankie Sports Bar and Grill in Olympia, Washington in this December 9, 2012 file photo. Fifty-two percent of Americans support legalizing the use of marijuana, the first time polls have shown most Americans back legalization, a Pew Research Center poll showed April 4, 2013. (Nick Adams/Reuters)

: Marijuana plants grow at the plantation of the Sibaratas Med Can association in Mogan on the southwest coast of the island of Gran Canaria. The plants grow from cuttings for approximately two months and then blossom before being harvested, dried, stored in jars for a month and later processed to be consumed on site. Spanish law prohibits the possession of soft drugs like cannabis in public and its growth to be sold for profit is illegal. But the law does tolerate growing cannabis for personal use and its consumption in private. Dozens of private marijuana smoking clubs operate across Spain that take advantage of this legal loophole that serve cannabis users who do not want to get their drugs from the streets. (Desiree Martin/AFP/Getty Images)

: A member of the Sibaratas Med Can club dissects dried marijuana flowers before storing them in a jar at the plantation of the association in Mogan on the southwest coast of the island of Gran Canaria. Spanish law prohibits the possession of soft drugs like cannabis in public and its growth to be sold for profit is illegal. But the law does tolerate growing cannabis for personal use and its consumption in private. Dozens of private marijuana smoking clubs operate across Spain that take advantage of this legal loophole that serve cannabis users who do not want to get their drugs from the streets. (Desiree Martin/AFP/Getty Images)

: Andres Ibarra, the 40-year-old gardener and president of the Sibaratas Med Can club, takes cuttings from a cannabis plant at the plantation of the association in Mogan on the southwest coast of the island of Gran Canaria. Spanish law prohibits the possession of soft drugs like cannabis in public and its growth to be sold for profit is illegal. But the law does tolerate growing cannabis for personal use and its consumption in private. Dozens of private marijuana smoking clubs operate across Spain that take advantage of this legal loophole that serve cannabis users who do not want to get their drugs from the streets. (Desiree Martin/AFP/Getty Images)

: Dried marijuana flowers are stored at the plantation of the Sibaratas Med Can association in Mogan on the southwest coast of the island of Gran Canaria. The plants grow from cuttings for approximately two months and then blossom before being harvested, dried, stored in jars for a month and later processed to be consumed on site. Spanish law prohibits the possession of soft drugs like cannabis in public and its growth to be sold for profit is illegal. But the law does tolerate growing cannabis for personal use and its consumption in private. Dozens of private marijuana smoking clubs operate across Spain that take advantage of this legal loophole that serve cannabis users who do not want to get their drugs from the streets. (Desiree Martin/AFP/Getty Images)

One Comment

sonny howard
Apr 26, 2013 @ 17:50:38

whats taking so long for Florida to legalize Cannabis? my doctors are all for it especially mental health

Marijuana makes strides toward legalization as 4/20 celebrated

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