4/20 Vancouver, 2009

Yesterday was the annual 420 event, Cannabis Day as some call it, a holiday for the counterculture you might say. Regardless of whether you smoke ganja or not, I hope you'll admit that this is a fantastic expression of free speach and a rally call to governments all over the world to end the prohibition on the world's safest substance, cannabis, a natural and medicinal plant.

Each year in Vancouver one of the world's largest 420 rallies takes place at the Vancouver Art Gallery, smack-dab in the middle of downtown. Some reports place attendance at 3,000, others at 5,000...while my estimate is around the 10,000 mark. The crowd ebbed and flowed throughout the afternoon, but at the peak time of 4:20 PM people appeared out of nowhere to celebrate, with the police having to shut down Howe St. to accommadate thousands of people who just couldn't fit into the Gallery square.

It was an extremely happy and peaceful event celebrating freedom of choice. The day's festiviites was MC'd by the 'Prince Of Pot' himself, Marc Emery. Marc's wife Jodie Emery, was also in attendance, who just launched her political campaign for Vancouver-Fraserview MLA with the Green Party BC Of BC.

It was quite a beautiful thing actually, kind of like being transported back in time to the 60's. Hippies and Rastas and Punks and Teenagers and Suits were everywhere. Anti-war songs were sung and Free The Weed was openly embraced. People of every colour, age-group, and social clique were there; all smiling, laughing, enjoying the music, and passing the peace pipe.

So what was The Bleeder Blog doing there? Well, like it or not, marijuana is tightly entwined with music; both in the creation by artists and in the consumption by fans. Music has always played a significant and important role in culture. Music unifies people and helps make change happen. While I have no intention of this blog becoming a soapbox for political opinions, it seems more than appropriate to be the perfect opportunity to voice support for a much needed end to the criminilaztion of this multi-purpose, environment-saving, medicinal, recreational, super-plant.

So I attended. And with video camera in hand, this is what I saw. Oh, and by the way...you don't want to miss the fantastic street musician I filmed as well. Think Jack White. This kid is amazing and dripping with soul. Enjoy!

Peace!

SEE THE ORIGINAL BLOG POSTING HERE:
http://www.thornybleeder.com/index_files/4_20_vancouver_bc.html


The Bleeder Blog
Thorny Bleeder Records
http://www.thornybleeder.com

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• 420
• Marijuana
• Cannabis
• Vancouver
• Vansterdam
• Ganja
• Pot
• Bong
• Pipe
• Joint
• Weed
• Legalization
• Decriminalization
• Thorny Bleeder Records
• Bleeder Blog
• Marc Emery

[krvbusko2]

2:03 song title pls!

[ThornyBleeder]

@krvbusko2 that was just some freestyle by the MC...not actually a recorded song.

[mattodcia]

who is the dude playing the guitar in the beginning?

[ThornyBleeder]

I've finally discovered who the performer is at the beginning of this video, DB Buxton...find him on MySpace /dbbuxton

[ismokewead420]

WHO THE HELL COULD POSSIBLY DISLIKE THIS? I THINK YOUTUBE NEEDS A "DISABLE DISLIKES" BUTON

[Wayenisliyoste]

YEEAAHHHHH 420 tomorrow nigga!

[nicool722]

thank god for sweet mary jane :)

[RayneAmandaTaylor]

I live in BC, a 15 minute ferry ride away from texada island (A lot of pot grows there for those who don't know) I swear, if texada caught in fire and the wind was blowing east, everyone in BC would get high of the fumes, haha.

I hate being stereotyped though. The majority of people I know DO smoke pot, but I never have.

[MrBluntsworth420]

Im going to colorado this 420, hope its half of what Canada's is!!!

[universalxolove]

lol bc is is the pot capital for sure..lol that's probably why bc has the lowest grades in all of canada..hahah too manny pot heads :P

[Dembliotic9]

you know what I hated most about this 4:20? that damn DJ or whatever he was, just the same damn bass line for every song and him singing his crack tunes all frickin day, I hope he isn't there this year.

[krvbusko2]

i think instrumental is from recorded song :P

thx for reply