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Marijuana Supporters, Cypress Hill, Tommy Chong to Hit Downtown Streets for 'SmokeOut' Protest Today

Categories: Marijuana

cypress hill.JPG
Cypress Hill.
See our coverage of the event, including photos, here.

Downtown L.A. will be smelling quite skunky this afternoon.

That's because the "Smokeout For Safe Access Rally" featuring Cypress Hill, Tommy Chong, Kottonmouth Kings and more is set to hit the area (and we do mean "hit") starting at 4 p.m.

The event aims to protest both a proposed L.A. city ban on medical marijuana dispensaries and a federal crackdown on pot collectives in California:


The marching, of course, starts at 4:20 p.m., when pro-cannabis forces will walk from City Hall to the Edward R. Roybal Federal Building a few blocks away.


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A press release about the event, co-organized by Americans for Safe Access, doesn't claim the artists are performing (they'd need a permit to do that). Rather it produces a roster of folks -- including local ASA chief Don Duncan, Fashawn and MC Supernatural -- who will be speaking at the protest.

Cops did not seem aware: "This is the first we've heard of it," LAPD Officer Karen Rayner told the Weekly when we contacted her last night about the event.

It appears Cypress Hill has more to promote than the decriminalization of marijuana. According to a statement:

The rally comes two days before the Cypress Hill SmokeOut--the all day, mind-opening music festival set for Saturday, March 3 at the NOS Events Center in San Bernardino, CA. The festival will feature over twenty artists on two stages, a Medical Marijuana Expo and a Patient Consumption Area, providing private and peaceful area for registered California medical marijuana patients.

We can smell it from here.

[@dennisjromero / djromero@laweekly.com / @LAWeeklyNews]

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18 comments
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Willies Wonka
Willies Wonka

Woa, chill dudes... If you want the health benefits of marijuana to be taken seriously move away from celebrity stoner rallies and host a 5K "hit and run." Cough, cough, snicker...

James Kaplan
James Kaplan

Free the Plant! I bet you have seen an alcoholic throw a bottle, but you will NEVER see a stoner throw his bong at a person. PEACE NOT GREED!

Debi Rae Rock
Debi Rae Rock

Anyone want 2 carpool from Central Coast Cali?

Guest
Guest

This is what it takes to be a blogger?

5 marginally informative paragraphs and some of the worst most obvious puns i have ever heard?  Have you ever thought about working for CNN?

Dennis are you paid?  If so, I know some 9th graders who can do your job for much cheaper...(They'd have better puns too)

I'm not offended on a personal basis like KT, just on an intellectual basis.

KT
KT

I am offended on a personal AND intellectual basis. Dennis has no intellect, which I have proven time and again. If you'd like to see how I ripped apart his shit anti-rave article, please e-mail me at shardsofglassinyoureye  at gmail.

Dennis has read my extensive analysis, but prefers to insult me instead of addressing any of my points.

Guy Christopher
Guy Christopher

Dang; I wish i were closer; I'd love to show my support; and enjoy a good ol fashioned medicating party

Guy Christopher
Guy Christopher

damn, i wish i could be there...to show my support....and to medicate

KT
KT

"and we do mean hit."

God, Dennis. Another sorry drug pun? You amuse only yourself.

This is a serious issue, and the City Council's actions, if a ban is imposed, will affect the lives of thousands of patients. And no matter what you say about "not everyone with a med card is sick," well, are you really going to advocate for people who are actually sick not being able to get their medicine? Who appointed you their doctor?

This is a health issue, and stoner-culture jokes here are both inappropriate and ignorant.

You love being offensive, but you're not offensive in a good or insightful way, a way that makes a point. You're smug and annoying. You make jokes like a dork at a party--you think you're hilarious but everyone is just looking around uncomfortably whenever you open your mouth.

Dennis Romero
Dennis Romero

You're absolutely right. So let's get the guys who did "Insane in the Membrane," and a group called Kottonmouth Kings, and a guy who made a career of making stoners look stupid ("Dave's not here") to get the word out. Serious business indeed.

HerrSticks
HerrSticks

Dennis, your reply, further proves KT's point.

The poster asked why you felt the need to trivialize, joke, and make bad puns about a subject that effects millions of people.

You replied that your pun and tactlessness were warranted because of the speakers at the event.  So in instance you mock the guests, then in other you use them as a defense for your misguided attempt at humor?Not to mention bringing up Tommy Chong and Cypress Hill in regards to the message or cause of the rally and them use them as a defense to make stereotypical stoner puns/jokes illuminates how ignorant you are, not to mention shows a lack of creativity.  Do you always just take the easy way out?  Jumping at the first bit of possible humor, no matter how bad or poorly thought through?  Just take the easiest way out?That you are unable to look past "Up in Smoke", and "Insane in the Membrane", and see the good they are trying to do, and the attention they are trying to bring to a matter of civil liberties, also shows how shortsighted and ignorant you are.

Grow up Dennis, grow up.

KT
KT

You have this forum in which you can advocate for understanding and present an informed perspective on the issue. Instead you do THIS? Ugh. What is the matter with you? You want to be known as a snarky, substance-less blogger? That's your career goal, to do absolutely nothing useful? You may have a portfolio full of bylines, but it's like putting your byline on a pile of dog shit. Okay, if that's what you're into.

KT
KT

And by the way, Dennis--nice deflection, as usual. You did not address my POINT--as usual. My POINT is that you're saying snarky shit about a serious issue. You made light of a serious health issue, and that is my point. Yet you come back with some whiny bullshit about how "they said pot puns." That's not my point, Dennis. You never address points. You're like a politician who doesn't answer the question in front of them, just deflects and uses the opportunity to say whatever they want.

Address my point: you are using your pulpit to say snarky and superficial things about a serious health issue. Defend this. You cannot.

KT
KT

Tommy Chong has become an important force in marijuana activism, and Cypress Hill are drawing supporters to the demonstration. Your dismissal is ignorant, as usual. You're not even listening to the message, just saying superficial stuff because you're a snarky little snot.Say something useful about marijuana reform. I dare you. You can't! All you do is spout off your opinion and look down on people. What is your point? You are pointless.

Brian Espinosa
Brian Espinosa

i bet you a million dollars they make a hell of a lot more money then you and live an a lot more successful and fulfilling life. If you're dissin on millionaires because of the way they got their money then your efforts are better spent dissin on greedy corporatist and how they gain their money by raping third world countries and damaging peoples health.

HerrSticks
HerrSticks

Ah, gotta love the Adults using the "Well he did it so i can too"  excuse.

Dennis, I am truly sorry you are too shortsighted and immature to be able to look past "up in smoke" and "insane in the membrane".These actors(s) and musicians are trying to bring attention to a matter of civil liberty and public health.Yet your immature shortsighted brain is stuck on what they did to become famous, Not the more important present issue.

Its too bad your hung up on the "people, and the past", not the "message and the present."

Dennis Romero
Dennis Romero

Brian:

I'm not dissing. I'm just sayin', it's pretty ridiculous to call out my puns ("hit") over an event  featuring people who make their livings off ... marijuana puns.

You would be making a safe bet, but I'm not complaining.

Sarahc125
Sarahc125

Check out Mark Haskell Smith's new book, "Heart of Dankness: Underground Botanists, Outlaw Farmers, and the Race for the Cannabis Cup". Join us on April 17th at ALOUD @ Central Library in Downtown LA! Free/Reservations recommended:

 http://www.lfla.org/event-deta...

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