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Cannabis Campaigners' Guide News Database result:
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UK: What happened as hundreds descend on Woodhouse Moor to smoke cannabis on 4/20 day in Leeds Megan Banner Leeds Live Thursday 20 Apr 2023 Woodhouse Moor in Hyde Park is renowned for being taken over by people who come to celebrate 4/20 Day in Leeds. Crowds gather in all four corners of the globe to celebrate cannabis and counterculture as part of 4/20 Day. The annual event calls for the Class B drug to be legalised and the form of campaigning is quite simple - smoking a spliff in an act of defiance. April 20, or 4/20 in US form, has become an international day for the celebration of cannabis and counterculture, taken from the slang 4/20, which refers to smoking cannabis, especially around 4.20pm. In 2019 we shared drone footage which showed huge crowds of thousands of people smoking cannabis in Woodhouse Moor. This year the park is expected to be flooded with people who have come to enjoy the day, basking in Spring sunshine. Getting busier as the afternoon goes on A group of four student who did not want to be named say weed should “absolutely” be legalised. “This is just a really nice chill day every year. We’re not planning to leave it a mess and we hope no one else will either.” Mum's enjoying the sun and the atmosphere Mums Kayleigh, 34, and Emma, 36, are just here enjoying the sun and the party without the drugs. “It’s been really nice and we’ve got our little spot that’s been great a part from the wind. It’s the first time we’ve been and we’re enjoying it - we’re normally working. We’d just heard it was going to be chill and a nice atmosphere - everyone is really nice and shares lighters. We’re doing the school run after this. We’ve brought our own speaker.” People travelling from Manchester to attend the Leeds event Our reporter caught up with Johnny, Millie and Dan attending today. “This is our first time. People were talking about and it sounds fun so we decided to come over since it’s sunny. We’ve come all the way from Manchester because we heard there was a nice atmosphere. Normally I’d be sat in my camper van on 4/20.” 4/20 Day at Woodhouse Moor becoming 'annual tradition' The sight of thousands of people descending upon Woodhouse Moor to mark what is known by many as "4/20 Day" is becoming something of an annual tradition. Last year, a man, aged 26, “enjoying some time in the sun” came out with his mate who is a dad-of-two. When asked why the Leeds dad brought his kids to the event he said “everyone’s just chilling aren’t they there’s nowt wrong with it”. 'Nowt wrong with it' say Leeds weed smokers enjoying 4/20 in Woodhouse Moor The day which is celebrated on April 20 every year, is an international day for the celebration of cannabis and counterculture, taken from the slang 4/20 (pronounced four-twenty), which refers to smoking cannabis, on April 20 (it's taken from the American date format). For many people it’s a chance to lobby for the legalisation of the drug, which remains outlawed in many parts of the world, including in the UK. Crowds could be seen for miles at Hyde Park today as revellers arrived in their thousands to celebrate the occasion, with music, food and dancing giving the entire event a real festival atmosphere. But what prompts people to attend the celebration? One man, aged 26, was “enjoying some time in the sun”, and came out with his mate who is a dad-of-two. When asked why the Leeds dad brought his kids to the event he said “everyone’s just chilling aren’t they there’s nowt wrong with it”. His four-year-old son was seen playing on the swings while the pair of friends “relaxed”. Two students also shared their reasons for attending the event. Beth and friend Elise who are students at Leeds Beckett and live in the area have come for the second time this year. Beth said: “We loved it last year but this year it’s even better feel like there's more people. We’ve got some more friends meeting us later” Meanwhile one attendee, 25 year old Damien, summed up the experience in just one sentence. “We’re all chilling innit 420 blazin,” he said. One of the main demographics attending the event this year were students, and in previous years it was these students that often been criticised for the mess left behind once the event was over. In a bid to counter these claims this year and to make sure no rubbish is left behind, students from both Leeds Beckett University and The University of Leeds have joined forces to help clean up the mess during and after the event. ''This year, we are going to change the narrative. We are students who care about the community and we'll deal with the environmental mess left after this event.” Many local residents had opted to stay away from the area, with one 60 year old woman who lives nearby stopping to share her thoughts as she carried her shopping home through the park. https://www.leeds-live.co.uk/news/leeds-news/420-day-leeds-live-hundreds-26738597 https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/news/west-yorkshire-news/nowt-wrong-it-say-leeds-23739362
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