WASHINGTON – A cannabis-legalization group has been handing out thousands of free cannabis joints in Donald Trump’s inauguration in order to push for federal legalization of pot in all states and in the District of Columbia.
The event goes by the name #Trump420 demonstration.
The D.C. Cannabis Coalition group had earlier announced that it will give away 4,200 joints as they parade from DuPont Circle to the National Mall. The group also promised to check the identification of everyone requesting weed in order to prevent underage individuals from smoking the drug.
Lines at the event appeared to stretch over a block long. A lot of people were there to get a free smoke, support the movement, or do both.
The plan is to light the joints four minutes and twenty seconds into Trump’s inauguration speech. The group has warned protesters that they risk arrest for carrying and smoking pot on Federal property.
This demonstration takes advantage of Washigton DC’s liberal laws on medical marijuana that allows people to give away joints to other people who are 21years or older.
Some protesters were seen carrying signs that read “President Trump, keep marijuana legal. We won’t go back.”
Andrea Ovelle, one of the volunteers, said that “We are here as a sign of protest. We think it should be legal at a federal level.”
Many people expressed their disappointment in Barrack Obama for failing to keep his promise of legalizing pot on a federal level. They added that it was unfortunate that thousands of Americans, especially blacks, were serving prison terms for minor drug offences.
They also said that they hoped that the business-minded Trump will understand both the commercial and medical benefits of legalizing the drug.
On the morning of Inauguration Day, protests were also being held in other parts of D.C. Union Station and downtown D.C are the places that witnessed demonstrations.
Prior to these protests, there were protests outside of the National Press Club where a “DeploraBall” party was being held Thursday night.
As D.C. police officers arrived, hundreds of protesters could be seen outside yelling “Shame!” at attendees entering the building.
Even worse, were chants of “No Trump. No Fascist USA. No KKK.”