Smoking Pot at 4:20

KEENE (NH) – With the flick of a Bic and the bull-horned battle cry of, "Smoke 'em, if you got 'em," nearly 75 people gathered to protest drug laws by lighting up, once again, in downtown's Central Square. Marijuana rights advocates have been gathering daily for the past week each day at 4:20 p.m. to smoke pot in protest of drug laws.

Yesterday afternoon was no exception, but the crowd was much bigger in the wake of a New Hampshire Union Leader story that ran Thursday about people gathering to smoke on the square

Dozens of people streamed into the square and set up camp until precisely 4:20 p.m., when several members of the group could be seen lighting what appeared to be marijuana cigarettes and glass pipes and passing around brownies they said contained marijuana.

Police did show up, arriving well after 4:20. No arrests were made. Officers parked their cruiser on the Main Street roundabout just outside the square, where they stood and watched the demonstrators.

"We were sent here on a detail assignment by our supervisors," said Officer Timothy Peloquin. "So, I guess that means we are just going to stand here and see what's going on."

Peloquin said he didn't have any problem with people gathering in the square and didn't see or smell anything that warranted investigation.

While many of the protesters were respectful, some of them mocked and yelled at police as officers did initial drive-bys of the square. Others continued to insult the officers stationed outside the square. Police did not react, except to tell the demonstrators they respected their right to protest.

"All I smell is some clove," Peloquin said. "But I guess we'll just keep standing here getting mocked. I know some of the people here and I know they are usually smarter and far more respectful than this. Whatever they believe is their business and their right to believe it and I respect that. And I would never treat them how they are treating us today. I wouldn't talk to them the way they are talking to us."

At that point a young man walked up to the officers and thanked them for being, "peaceful people."

Next week, Keene city councilors plan to vote again on formulating a resolution in support of the use of medical marijuana and decriminalizing small amounts of marijuana. The resolution was suggested by a former councilor and retired Keene police officer.

Read full ariticle here:

http://www.unionleader.com/article.aspx?articleId=75234ecb-7312-47b3-a530-71e8640e3635&headline=Pot+protest+fills+Keene+square+again

Said an event was being planned for Manchester.

Wouldn't it be nice if this spread?

My only objection to the story is that some of the people were rude to the cops. There was no need for that. It looks like they were being very laid back about it.