I always wanted to know the history of this "holiday" and AlterNet assuaged my curiosity about this matter. I think they should include the history of San Francisco in this piece to make it little more interesting. It would go a little something like :The Spanish who landed in San Francisco Bay named the land Yerba Buena or good herb after the plants they found in San Francisco. That one sentence is almost like a precursor to the story on AlterNet. Today as a tribute to its original name, there is Yerba Buena Island, Yerba Buena gardens and a street called Yerba Buena in San Francisco. Perhaps the Spanish explorers were speaking to herbs other than marijuana but since 420 started in Northern California, it would have been an interesting beginning to a compelling post-modern story. I really don't want to ruin the AlterNet story for you but I have been to Bolinas and Mount Tamalpais to take pictures because it is extremely beautiful.

I celebrate and commemorate this day because there continues to be a disparity of sentencing between people of color and whites in this country when it comes to drugs. Conversely there is a disaparity in the prescription of drugs (to save lives) between people of color and whites in this country. Both have to do with money or the lack of it.

 Although I have never smoked reefer in my life--contact highs don't count--I gladly wish 420ers a Happy 420 Day!