With 4/20 right around the corner, the cannabis community has already begun to prepare itself. Surprisingly enough, the unofficial holiday dedicated to tokers around the world has a major impact on several facets society. Cannabis stocks are up, dispensary sales are on the rise and, on a less positive note, cannabis-centric law enforcement is in full effect. In fact, authorities are already starting to warn prospective participants of the holiday. One Kansas town appears to be taking said preemptive measures, as local police tweet warning to weed smokers in preparation for 4/20.
Early Warnings
The Lawrence police department remains proactive in their efforts to prevent stoned driving ahead of the stoner-centric holiday. They took to Twitter to warn the cannabis community of their vigilance, and its safe to say they did not mince words.
“Hey potheads planning to toke up on 4/20, stay off the roads,” the tweet said. “Stock up on Cheetos and Mt. Dew BEFORE you spark. Saturation patrols to find drugged drivers to occur.”
Attached to the tweet, was a release from the police department regarding their plans to ramp up patrol, as the number of high-drivers is expected to heavily increase on Friday.
According to the release, Kansas, Iowa, Nebraska, Arkansas, Missouri and Oklahoma will collectively be on the lookout for impaired drivers throughout the 4/20 weekend. Particularly, on various highways throughout the aforementioned states.
Lawrence Police✔@LawrenceKS_PD
Hey potheads planning to toke up on 4/20, stay off the road. Stock up on Cheetos and Mt. Dew BEFORE you spark. Saturation patrols to find drugged drivers to occur-
“Law enforcement across the six-state area will be extra-vigilant when patrolling around city, state and federal highways. Injury and deaths continue to increase from both alcohol and drug-impaired drivers.” Lawrence police said in the release. “Regardless whether a drug is legal or illegal it’s a serious crime to drive while impaired by any drug.”
Final Hit: Police Tweet Warning To Weed Smokers In Preparation for 4/20
While it is certainly important to regulate driving under the influence of marijuana, it’s no coincidence that this stern warning is coming from a police department in a state which still employees some of the most stringent-marijuana laws in the country.
Kansas still remains behind the eight-ball in terms of marijuana legalization, and medicinal cannabis has yet to be legalized. In fact, one Republican lawmaker from Kansas recently found himself in hot water after justifying marijuana prohibition with abhorrent racial remarks.
“One of the reasons why [they outlawed cannabis], I hate to say it,” Representative Steve Alford said back in January, “was that the African Americans, they were basically users and they basically responded the worst off to those drugs just because of their character makeup, their genetics and that.”
While this notion certainly doesn’t represent the entire state’s view on cannabis, it certainly doesn’t do it justice. Hopefully, Kansas changes its tune on legalizing the plant sooner, rather than later.
