Cheddar's Chloe Aiello reports on the cannabis celebrations taking place on 4/20, World Weed Day, from Washington Square Park in New York City.

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Celebrating World Weed Day 2022 From Washington Square Park

So joining me now from Washington Square park in new york city is cheddar, Senior reporter Chloe, Aiello Chloe is great to see you busy day behind you. I see how are people celebrating the holiday today where you are? Hey Kristin. Well, you're absolutely right. As you can see here in Washington Square park, it is super busy. People are dancing, They're sitting there hanging out, listening to music, relaxing. And yes, they are smoking. You can probably see billows of cannabis smoke behind me as people are kind of relaxing in the park today. It does make sense why Washington Square Park would be kind of the hub for this. You know, this park has a storied history when it comes to being a haven for bohemians activists. Uh, you know, students and the new york City cannabis parade, which is actually scheduled for early May does trace its history back to a 1973 smokin that took place right in this park. There are also a couple of organizations like High Times magazine, for example, that are hosting official unofficial hangout in the park today. So we will likely meet up with a couple of them later, Sunny day here in new york city. So Chloe, what is, and what isn't legal to do in Manhattan. So, following the passage of the marijuana regulation and taxation act in March of last year, there are several things that are legal to do because of course cannabis is now legal in the Empire State. So for example, it is legal to possess up to three ounces of cannabis flower. If you're 21 older, there are different levels when it comes to cannabis concentrate and other things like that, you are also legally allowed to transfer this or gifted to an adult. It was also 21 or older, although this does not apply to businesses that have built business models based on gifting. Uh it's also you're able to consume cannabis wherever you can consume or smoke tobacco, but there are some restrictions on this which does bring me to my next point, which is what you cannot do. So technically purchasing cannabis in any form is not legal right now. And that's because licenses for retail sales of adult use cannabis have not gone online. They will not go online until the end of the year. So if you're purchasing cannabis off the street or even off of a dispensary in the city, it's not technically legal, even if it is a gift, so to speak with this gifting loophole that I was mentioning before and there are in fact some places where it's not legal to smoke cannabis in the city that includes on federal land, on school properties and several other places, including actually in new york city parks, I spoke to morgan Davis, who is the Ceo and founder of Davis legal about this. Take a listen to what she had to say. Generally when it comes to smoking outside, you're gonna stay away from areas of public transit, you're gonna stay away from schools, universities, anything that's a tobacco free or smoke free campus. Um, and generally in new york that includes parks And this is because in New York City, uh, you're not able to smoke tobacco in part, this is because of the New York Clean Air Act. So what happens if you do smoke? Because obviously there are a lot of folks behind me that are still doing this and it depends whether or not, you know, the police are looking to crackdown, but it does amount to a slap on the wrist. So $25 fine Or up to 20 hours of community service if you're breaking a law concerning or regulation concerning where you can smoke cannabis. But when it comes to smoking in parks and violating other clean Air Act, uh, you know, provisions that could be up to a $50 fine Chloe. I'm just curious what's the history of 420, how long has this high holiday been celebrated? So unfortunately, actually dates back to the 19 seventies actually, and a group of friends in northern California who called themselves the Waldo's story has that they would gather at 4 20 after class every day to smoke with their friends. Now, as these friends grew up and drifted apart, their friendship remained strong and they took this tradition with them. So one of them who calls himself Waldo Dave ended up touring with Phil lesh, who was the basis with the grateful dead. And so that's how the story goes. That kind of spread to cannabis enthusiasts nationwide. And it has been sort of a Touchstone of cannabis culture ever since. But as time has progressed, this holiday has taken on other meetings. For one thing, it has become an opportunity for activists to shed light on ongoing cannabis criminalization and the repercussions of punitive drug laws. So as you know, cannabis is still illegal federally, even though it's legal here in new york and other states. Uh, and you know, we actually did just hear news that President biden is working with Congress to work on, you know, cannabis policy, including reviewing his clemency powers. But there are still an estimated 40,000 people who are incarcerated for cannabis-related crimes. So activists have taken the opportunity to call attention to this and to the kinds of consequences that cannabis incarceration or even any kind of penalty can have. Uh, so you know, that is one thing, especially since this does tend to disproportionately impact communities of color black americans, for example, four times more likely than white neighbors to be arrested for cannabis use. Uh, and you know, all this still going on this incarceration is still happening despite the fact that cannabis is an increasingly profitable industry, it reached $24 billion in sales in 2021 is expected to only climb from there, which brings me to another significant portion of 4 20. It has become a shopping holiday. It's considered to be something like the black friday of cannabis every year almost without exception, it is the single biggest day for cannabis sales And data analytics, firm headset anticipates that sales will actually spike 100% this year, both in the us and Canada Kristen as so fascinating Chloe. We talked about the past of course, what's happening now in Washington Square park, but what about the future? I mean as cannabis does become legal in more places around the country, what is the future of this holiday? Okay. You know, I think for it will you know for the duration be an important, you know, cultural Touchstone for cannabis lovers and as it becomes more accepted, I think we'll likely see more and more people partaking more people celebrating in legal states and you know all across the world. Uh and you know I do want to mention that aside from this sort of unofficial smoking that we're seeing in Washington Square park there are celebrations happening all across the country uh and other related events. So there are lots of cannabis brands that are hosting various events, you know uh Fish is actually performing at Madison Square garden here in new york and san Francisco hippie hill is the annual location of what is thought to be the biggest cannabis smoking annually In Denver, we have the mile high 420 celebration at Civic Center Park and there are a couple of other festivals happening this weekend like in Washington D. C. Uh, and also in Chicago. So I think that, you know, as we move into the future, this will continue to just be a time when there is a spotlight on cannabis, an opportunity for cannabis brands to maybe, you know, increase their sales opportunity for activists to call to attention, the fact that there are still people incarcerated for cannabis. And of course, just a time for people who love cannabis to get together and celebrate all right, busy day in Washington Square Park Cheddars senior reporter Chloe aiello Chloe, Thank you so much.