420 Idiocy in Arcata

you wish that was how the story went. first off 420 isn't even loosely based around that stupid story about SF stoners. and yes, most people do realize that it's Hitlers birthday, but i don't think that the asshole would appreciate a bunch of people smoking pot for him. your jokes on humboldt stoners are immature and a good show of why people do celebrate 4:20, for a sense of community when surrounded by narrow-minded people like you. happy 4:20

Yea i believe most people realize it is also hitler's birthday, but you dont see thousands of people standing around celebrating nazi beliefs, no you see thousands of peaceful potheads getting high.

If the police standing around the event didn't have a problem with it why should you?

If you dont like the nature of humboldt county, move the fuck out.

What is wrong with the festival? You make it seem as though all potheads are lazy, useless people.

I attend HSU full time and maintain a 4.0 GPA all while smoking marijuana regularly.

This gathering has nothing to do with hitler, though most folks seem to be aware, judging by many conversations I personally had on 4/20. If you would like a "legitimate" reason for the celebration, maybe we can say we were celebrating the full moon.

I don't know why you are trying to group hitler and marijuana together, maybe your family was torn apart by the nazi regime, maybe you are just an uninformed person, who knows.

The festival is one of the most laid back, friendly places I've ever been. You left home without food? Someone will help you out.. You ran out of marijuana? Someone will help you out... You need a ride across the state to get home? SOMEONE WILL HELP YOU OUT.

Doesn't seem like a bad thing to me..

Maybe you should try attending the festival with a neutral mindset before you write ridiculous articles on it.

its sad that there are people in the world that cant just be happy that some people have things that make them happy and believe in getting together and celebrating something that raises our spirits. if everyone smoked pot, we wouldnt have dumb fucks like you raining on our parades. enjoy your life, and whatever makes you happy. even if thats just writing on your computer and putting us all down. peace fucker.

If you can't get a 4.0 taking 12 units of "feel-good" liberal arts classes at academically pathetic Humboldt State than you are a moron. This 4:20 thing is just another sad spectacle in backward-minded Arcata. When I describe Arcata to others, I tell them to imagine an open-air psyche ward... Above is simply a picture of the patients taking their meds.
Also intersting to note that one can even see how much DEADLY CO2 is being released at this event...definietly not caring about global warming, are we?

Palmer is right, getting a 4.0 at HSU is about as tough as finding a dime bag in Humboldt County. There is a reason that less than 15% of HSU graduates actually wind up with jobs in their field of study. The world can only employ so many pot smokers with BA's in "Social Science".

The origin of 4:20 has been disputed and critized and defended too many times. its played out.

Plus, nobody there cared about whether it was 420 or 560 or 666

its more about the pot.

Christmas isnt about jesus, its about presents and having tree's inside. thats why its cool, Thats why its celebrated.

dont hate, celebrate

lolol@u

weed is great medically and when used as a recreational tool, hell I use it ritualistically. However, I do find the concept of a bunch of "stoners" gathering to celebrate to be pretentious, pointless, and kind of lame. The pot culture of today AND the hippie culture of today has gradually evolved into nothing more than a pathetic excuse for a group of people who lack any sense of being an individual to relate and bond with each other. I suppose it is fun if you are really someone who does not truly know his/herself.

right on John, you nailed it. pot is fine, fun to smoke, good medicine, etc, etc, but seriously, you fucking stoners need to get over yourselves. Everyone smokes it now, this isn't the 60s anymore, and it's dumb to gather in a big hippy fest and light up for "420". seriously, high school is over, grow up and get a fucking job.

it's actually true, riley:
http://www.snopes.com/language/stories/420.asp

is it just me or does humcounty news need a new editor. whoever wrote this can lick my hairy balls!

is it just me or does humcounty news need a new editor. whoever wrote this can lick my hairy balls!

It sounds very slanted and bitter, whats your hangup, writer? Does 'pot' hit a nerve?
CC
San Diego,CA

Hi CC, we write this blog, and we are aware that many of our readers do not like the content. So be it. After living here for many years and watching the area get progressively worse since 1996 (when 215 was passed), we are definitely anti-crime, especially when it comes to greed and the ugliness surrounding the marijuana industry in Humboldt County.

Compassionate use is a good thing, and we fully support the two or three dispensaries that are actually here to serve sick people in need of compassionate medications as they suffer through their very devastating illnesses. But seeing so many "dreadies" and young people move here just to grow weed for profit in the last decade has definitely pushed us to write this blog in order to let readers out there know that Humboldt County isn't all about growing weed. There used to be families here, we used to have better schools, children used to play in their neighborhoods in the summertime. Now if you try to find a place for your family to live you have to compete with scores of 20-somethings all trying to find another house to "blow up" so they can expand their pot growing operations. We have known too many people driven by greed who rent out multiple houses and grow weed in them, just to cash in and never pay taxes, never give anything back to the community.

We have had enough. And we are not alone. There may be a lot of newcomers here renting up all the houses and ruining the environment for future generations (running 8000 watts of lights 12 hours a day gives a residence a mighty big carbon footprint), but they are the outsiders. They are wrong, and they will be removed.

Be aware that compassionate use is a good thing, we don't want to remove that. But the law was not written well, and now it's getting trampled upon by so many greedy criminals. Don't worry, we aren't on the horn to the feds, but we are positive that lots of old timers have already reported hundreds of local growers, and more will come. And even if the feds don't help us out, we'll clean this place up eventually. Shoot, the way things are going now, growers will just burn down all their grow houses and solve the problem for us!

as a dedicated pt smoker i think who ever wrote this article needs to be hit with some knowledge!ofcourse we know its adolf hitlers bday but u jus make a big deal out of it..its OUR holiday and u jus find it pointless because we love it

I like Arcata

as an out of towner planning on moving to Arcata it is interesting to listen to this debate. i think that its fine that stoner's celebrate one day out of the year together. if they were trying to create more holidays for themselves I might be worried. and after being in Santa Barbara for holloween, i cant look at this picture and condemn anything. this is probably as peaceful and mellow as any gathering has ever been.

Don't be so pissy.

you wouldnt know the first fuckin thing about 420 you fuckin moron. No one knows how it started, and we all know about the hitler bullshit. what we care about is that it is a gathering of all of the ganja burning homies in the country and it brings out the best in all of us. Just because you have a fuckin stick up your ass doesnt make it ok for you to dis our culture. 420 forever

I was here and it was one of the best days ive had this year! I noticed the resentment the author has for 20 somethings in hoodies and pick up trucks, well guess what cock sucker Im 21 years old, got my own 4 bedroom house, I own a Chevy Pickup truck and a custom 1963 dodge 440 fully restored with red candy paint! I got a wave runner, a 4 wheeler, and I could buy a small house with the jewelry I own! go make sumthing out of your life before you die a bitter old man who jacks off and post bias blogs all day, oh yeah my girlfriend says high! i can make in a week what you make in a year... so thats why u hate, huh?

420 is a good day for the celebration of what the Creator gave us as healing. It is a day for everyone to come together to meditate and give thanks to the Creator...we need to eliminate the negativity of Hitler on this day by coming together as one community and taking part in the healing and use of the sacred herb.

PS...I do not consider myself a "hippie". Just someone who is connected to the knowledge of the universe.

4-20 is a time and a date. we "partakers" use to unite in our cause. (ie. that we like smoking and enjoy it for recreational use.) Hitler was a prick that nobody wants to be associated with. Shit every day in the calendar year has something that could be something bad associated with it. (you know this to be true because you researched it.) just check any day and you will find the truth in what I say. This is our public day to celebrate what we enjoy in private the rest of the year. Peace to you .....

Have real job, smoke too....

i'm thinking about moving to arcata to go attend humboldt state. i like that this is "news".

You sound bitter. Who cares if it was Hitler's birthday? That is not relevant. Every day could be associated with something negative if you think about it hard enough. If you don't like what these people are doing, then don't go there. It's as simple as that. They're not hurting anyone. Find something to gripe about that matters.

The close-minded idiots that nark on such a peaceful celebration, in the most beautiful place you will find, nonetheless, can all fuck off and die.. I pity the people that grow up with a silver spoon in their ass, whose parents feed them bullshit about how to live life... You dont know anything about being true to yourself, so grow up, get a pair of balls and if you hate it so much, leave our awesome paradise alone.

Yah drinkin too much Haterade man. Fun party, fun town. I was there last year, and I'll be back 4/20/09.
Happy 420! ;^)

Well understandably some people don't like pot for whatever reason and that is cool . But every one uses some sort of drug or stimulant to relax and use recreationally , to use spiritually, or to use as a crutch. Be it coffee to pick your up in the morning, eating fast food to drown your sorrows, smoking cigarettes to calm your nerves and getting blacked out wasted on your favorite alcohol . Or Smoking pot because your bored, doing heroin because you cant feel good anyway else, railing coke to again " pick you up" or smoking crank because your poor and need to kill time . Its all essentially the same. If you don't believe me ask your self one question. have i ever done anything to alter my state of mind, to make me feel better, to kill time, or connect your self with something bigger than you ? if you answer yes witch all of you that are being truthful should then you have no right to pick on pot smokers.

FUCK YOU SHITHEAD! your just upset that us stoners have a day to celebrate to ourselves and there is not "im a stuck up prick day" for people such as yourself! HAPPY EARLY 420! WOOOH!

I love 420! I never had a bad time or ran out of herb.. everyone showed love for at least one day and that's what counts!!! Everyday you can be a prick, but at least one day you should have fun and join us on the hill and smoke..........

w00t 420 on Parliament Hill this year, what's wrong with hazing the good stuff?

HAPPY 420 to All!!!!

my son and another teenager love 420 so much they were sleeping in a park last night and the other kid was so high he vomited on himself and shit his pants, police had to take him to the hospital. as a child of a pot smoking hippie and growing up in that environment i can tell you it's impact on me was the same as children of other drug adicts. marijuana promotes a total lack of personal responsibility and a me me me mentality that no matter how much you justify it's naturalness the truth is that it destroys families the same as any other substance being used to escape from reality. have fun and make sure you expose as many children as you can to this lifestyle. it is really healthy and natural isn't it? and keep on making all your excuses about how it's just freedom of expression and really positive. good work thank you from the bottom of my heart for making sure that the do whatever you want with no consideration for how you really impact other people.

i live in mo and used to live her 420 rox

every body thinks that we r all just a bunch of stoners well fuck all u guys that shit ant true over half or even more people in our world have smoked marjuana ok u guys think that u are all perfect and u think that all us peoeple thats right poeple not stoners are just a bunch of high hippes all the time well fuck off u stuck up perfect lil bitches and marjuana isnt even bad for u it is subscribed to peoeple that have illnesses and when ur high u r not just sitten there just lookin into space but u think more about stuff i am a sophmore in high school and i actually find that smoking a bowl or two before a tests actually helps me relax and i actually get better scores on tests when im high but all i am sayin is that if u are talklin a bunch of shit about weed and u havent smoked it then u need to shut the fuck up

ok first of all you sound like a litlle kid that has NO idea what your talking about fuck charles manson could have been born on christmas and that would be the same thing you just have a picture and enough boredom to talk about shit thats stupid like that come here and ill smoke a fat joint like ur arm and then decide if you wanna call me a nazi or an idiot people from humboldt are the most repectable people out there

iv'e always known 420 not for people in s.f. bay in the 70's, but as the code police call for marijuana and paraphenilia. atleast in california. when cops bust you for possesing pot, not growing, they call in a "420"

So i think that 4/20 is sorta like other holidays like halloween or easter, for some its about the dictionary definition but for most they do it just to be together with freinds and living the day carefree and happy. So before you discriminate against 4/20 or HSU, than i sugest you get expereince it, broaden your horizons and don't discriminate because of past issues or whatever else is clouding your judgement. Or just keep on doing what your doing and waste your day commenting negativeley on how other people are out there lving and having a good time

before I got over it. For the most past, good arguements. Now what I would like to contribute to this is that 4/20 is a day pot smokers can come out into the open and do something in the public that we normally have to hide. It has nothing to do with Hilter's birthday, although I have yet to meet anyone who does not kow what. And as for the full moon celebration as a legitamate reason for the gathering, it was actually new moon. There was no moon that night, I was at the park all night. Anyways, 4/20 is a wonderful day for everyone to get together as a community and share love, and much more. :)
P.S. Please, if you are going to reply to this, try not to use hatefull words. They don't exactly get the point across as well as they should.

Look mates, you clearly hate marijuana smokers. But don't act like you're in it for "the good of the community" or some other fake crusade. Your criticism of "dreadies" and "hippies" shows everyone what the score really is here.
Look, I was born in Humboldt County, and I've lived here all my life. I grew up in a family that still lives here. Family values to begin with are a complete load of garbage from the fake domestic tranquility of the 50's. Do you know how many marriages end in divorce? And guess what? Getting married for love only became a common trend in the last century. Who cares if a family lives in a house or a group of young adults?
And crime? In Arcata, you can walk up to a bum at random, and they're likely to have some weed to let you sample. You can just wander off and go smoke with them, and nothing bad will come of it. How many places would you feel safe trying that in?
Finally, and what's got to be your most irrelevant point, Hitler's Birthday? Yes. We know Hitler was born on April 20th. But you don't see any Neo-Nazis in your picture, or anybody heiling, or groups of stoners forming swastikas at Redwood Park. Your the one honoring him by giving him the remembrance he would have craved. Why do you even bring it up? Are you worried that if too many of gather and celebrate on a coincidental day, our evil Marijuana Voodoo will resurrect him? Because that sounds like the intelligence level with which your article is written.
Speaking of which, you know how much of your article is actually news? Less than a third. That is terrible reporting by anyone's standards. So why don't you just climb down off your cloud of judgment; because that cloud happens to be made of our pot smoke and we're tired of you trying to block our view of the sky.

You took a step back and looked at it through someone els's eyes.This is not the only place where HUNDREDS of people gather on this holiday. So why do SO MANY people gather together in peace. It must be special. They say divide and conquer. Well when There's so many people theres not much you can do really. I think this needs to happen more often.

nothing wrong with hitler either smart man i like him nothing wrond with weed either came from the ground something wrong with all your bitchen though WP happy 4 20 hitler

I have just recently been considering moving out to Arcata in Sep. If I were there now, I know I would only want to play music, observe the beautiful scenery, and meet the locals, and learn who have made Arcata what it Really is. I lvie in WI, where pot is NOT legal, what-so-ever. And yes, I will spark up a doob when I am in Cali, but hopefuly it will be with the KIND souls who wrote on this blog, not the asshole reporter. (tree_tops420@yahoo.com-EMAIL ME!)

i love you all fellow pot smokers some bitch whos got something up his but decides to complain about some thing that has been going on for years and 20 somthing people dis on him for being a hater p.s go jump of a bridge like the guy in the last article [bitch]

There is always going to be conflicts in all aspects of life, to criticize, judge these things isnt going to help you or anyone else. I grow large amounts of weed, i also know many people all over the world that grow large amounts of weed, people are always gonna grow.. yes it is destructive if not done right as it is with anything you grow or anything you do. growing sugar cane and pineapples the wrong way has wrecked many parts of Hawaii.. growing corn wrong has destroyed many farm feilds in Pennsylvania. with farming theres going to be conflicts. we live , we die. strive to balance YOURSELF. The conflicts you write about will go on until we are all dead,, theres nothing wrong with eaither side of the spectrum,, with whatever is going on around you maybe try to enjoy each of your moments here as much as possible even if you see it as chaos, try breathing in deep.. go be by yourself in the woods , by a stream.. hold a native trout!! With every town or county there is all types of "problems" depending on how you perceive life and see things. As for myslef i enjoy looking at the possitive, and when i see humbolt county its one of the most beautiful hidden gems on the earth, despite what everyone else is doing,, its pure beauty. keep trying to change it though if thats what really brings joy to your life! And i'll keep harvesting weed /growing dreadlocks and bringing more dreadies to my farm so we can laugh and enjoy. Also when i read your article about 420, adolf hitler, arcata people smoking, it really didnt make much sense to me, whose adolf hitler?? i celebrate 420 cause carmen electra was born on april 20th she's nice and pretty too. So i dont expect what i write back to make any sense to you eaither. we are different ends of this conflict, its all fun though. :) stay away from the 420 fest if you dont like it..simple

ive been to the triangle many times even though i dont currently live there and i think its great people can gather like that and be peacefull i would like to see that number gather and celebrate alcohol and we will see what the real problem drug is o and bye the way i smoke weed on 4/20 to celebrate stephen colbert and carmen electra's birthday not hitlers ;) cheer up people there will always be a difference of opinion life would be very dull with out it

As man who has seen the last few generations mature iv'e noticed a terrible trend; pretentiousness. The author is a shining example of this new era. Passing judgments about things that hold no bearing on how he lives his life. How did those kids ruin your day? you had to look at their 'dreadies' (no you didn't) You had to get angry about their clothing, their musical tastes, the way they choose their lives (no you didn't). I don't know why anyone would want to carry around bitterness and hatred for something that would otherwise have no impact on their lives what so ever. Ironiclly Someoneelse carried bitterness and hatred for people without validity; Hitler. Seems like you celebrate him more than we ever have

Man I really think it is hilarious that so many pot smokers above have used violent or threatening language toward the author of this post. Best part of it is that the author of this blog clearly has a sense of humor, and i would bet the bank that this post was written specifically to get all you dreadies and hippies upset so you would post super angry comments! Ever heard of trolling? Yeah, you just got trolled, bitches.

By the way, stop celebrating the birth date of the world's most evil dictator. That day should be somber, and thoughts and prayers should go towards the families and culture that were nearly destroyed by Hitler's Nazi regime! Show some respect, hippies!

to the mother of a runaway pot addict, it really just sounds as if you've got kind of a fucked up family/friends... sorry for your misfortune :/

Also Gordon- about the violent and threating language, well not every single stoner loves peace, although most of them tend to be more peaceful than others. You should really stop stereotyping though, this is AMERICA.

There ARE some stupid, lazy pot smokers and there are also stoners who could keep a job and live a good life. I know some really smart people who smoke weed... and know others who let it control their life. It really just depends on the person, so don't judge, don't be prejudiced.

Anyway Hitler's not the only person in the world who was born on April 20th, theres probably also really kind hearted friendly people born on that day... it doesn't really matter, stoners are obviously not smoking to celebrate Hitler's birthday.

Personally I think 420 is a really uniting day for all the potheads out there lol.. so for all you stoners out there,

SMOKE ON!!!! :)

to the mother of a runaway pot addict, it really just sounds as if you've got kind of a fucked up family/friends... sorry for your misfortune :/

Also Gordon- about the violent and threatening language, well not every single stoner loves peace, although most of them tend to be more peaceful than others. You should really stop stereotyping though, this is AMERICA.

There ARE some stupid, lazy pot smokers and there are also stoners who could keep a job and live a good life. I know some really smart people who smoke weed... and know others who let it control their life. It really just depends on the person, so don't judge, don't be prejudiced.

Anyway Hitler's not the only person in the world who was born on April 20th, theres probably also really kind hearted friendly people born on that day... it doesn't really matter, stoners are obviously not smoking to celebrate Hitler's birthday.

Personally I think 420 is a really uniting day for all the potheads out there lol.. so for all you stoners out there,

SMOKE ON!!!! :)

Why don't you try cannabis before insulting it?
I find your writing to be both bias and false.
420 is just a day for people who know that marijuana is a SAFE alternative for drinking and other drugs to get together blow some smoke and be kind to one another.
we will always let you join us if you can just get your head out of your ass.

p.s. i lost both parents to alcohol. marijuana is a SAFE PLANT not a life ending loser drug. you need to stop living in your reefer madness mindset.


Peace, love and cannabis

-Jason

All these boring mother fuckers can hate on the plant and fest all they want. Bottom line is you know where I'll be today! Keeping Humbolt county a chill place away from all these close minded fuck faces.

P.S.

It's not just about the weed. It's about a community that actually cares for one another, kind of like Burning Man, and exactly opposite of the rediculous downword spiral monitary brainwashed society we currently reside in. You all can keep being government sheep, blindy labeling people, and keep on with your propaganda. I bet these "bud bashers" all watched Refer Maddness and started having a panic attack. Haha, just while the rest of us watched it blazed as fuck, laughing our asses off! HAPPY 420 EVERYONE!

I agree with the editor. such celebartion is just for idiots.

Hitler used meth, not pot. HSU is a fine establishment, Ranked in Princeton Review as a best Western College. US news and world report choose it as a top school top obtain a Masers degree from. Also many unique SCIENCE majors are offered at HSU. Yeah some people are lazy bum fucks up here, most are not. you can find them anywhere though. Smoke some weed.

ITS BOB MARLEYS BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It constantly amazes me - why do my fellow "stoners" wear their ignorance around their necks as though it were a virtue?

Guess it's kinda like finding the dumbest, least-teeth owning, redneck in the trailer park when the wind blows strong...

Come on folks, let's get out from behind the ignorance - many of the comments simply state I am a fucking idiot - I am the face of marijuana...

That having been said, I'd like to participate in the event one day.

Peace to all and death to catapillars... they seem to like pot more then me!

For the record, I smoke weed and I'm not from Humboldt County, nor have I been to 420 fest. I stumbled on this article while surfing the Internet.

I would probably attend the 420 out of interest, but I wouldn't stay long in Arcata, mostly because I've grown out of that kind of lifestyle.

I think it's great that young folks can have a peaceful gathering in the woods, heck, back in the day we used to do it, only 'butt naked'.

Judging from the picture, there's a real sweet scent in the air and I'm not talking about the Redwoods either!

I certainly don't agree with the editors point of view, this seems like a right-wing 'redneck' article to me.

I also don't agree with the comments and unkind language used by many of the bloggers here either. That's exactly the sort of reaction which gives pot a bad name.

What's definitely apparent is that there is a rift in Humboldt County, where each side needs to develop more understanding and tolerance.

Your so called 'paradise' may just be an illusion. Peace out...

You obviously don't like smoking weed.

Another reason we celebrate on 4/20 is because of the California Senate Bill 420 - also known as the Medical Marijuana Program Act.

Happy 420 to all. lights your joints & pipes bong ! Philippines . we a have celebration traditional 4/20 year 2011.
peace smoke other.

How does Hitler's bday matter to us? So many people are born on the same date..its just a date.

First of all yes 420 originated from my high school, San Rafael High School, which IS IN the bay area in 1971 from student who would meet up and smoke at 4:20pm, second of all like every other informed person who responded to your rediculous statement yes majority of people know it Hitler's b-day, third of all not all stoners are lazy or stupid, some of the most intelligent people I know smoke ganja, you seem to be the stupid person here who post negative shit that you don't even know what your talking about, you need to stop taking all your anger out on others and start dealing with your problems. have a good day