One Toke Over the (Police) Line: Free Keene 420

Cannabis Culture tells the tale of pro-pot civil disobedience in Keene, New Hampshire.

The results of these persistent actions are a testament to the idea that ignoring ridiculous laws is far more important and effective than trying to use the political apparatus to change them.

Keene is a quaint little New England town, surrounded by forested hills and mountainsides, with an old-fashioned town center. It was September 12, 2009, and a political rally was being held at the Central Square; Rich Paul, Noah Wood, and several friends visited the rally and decided to smoke a joint. They had no idea of the fate that awaited them and the future of civil liberties in Keene.

The next day, Rich and Noah returned to the square at 4:20 P.M., and lit up again. This continued for several days–just the two of them and anyone who cared to join in, peacefully smoking a small amount of marijuana. No property damage occurred and no one was hurt. Our socio-economic system did not collapse due to the utter disregard for laws meant to protect us from ourselves.

Soon, Rich and Noah made mention of this daily ritual in their social circles. Over the next few days, more people began showing up, often bringing friends. Each time, marijuana was smoked and merriment ensued.

As destiny made inevitable, a reporter from a Manchester newspaper was in the area and decided to investigate the gathering. By this time, the smokers numbered around thirty, and, though ostensibly a private get-together, bystanders were invited. An article appeared in the Manchester Union Leader the next day, and, as though a switch had been pulled, the 420 gatherings turned from an under-the-radar revel to an open act of defiance against unjust and immoral laws.

Ian Freeman, host of the locally produced and nationally syndicated Free Talk Live radio show, leveraged his media resources, including the website FreeKeene.com, to drum up support for the next celebration, and the number of people in attendance began to soar. Activists from other parts of the state were alerted, and a rush of plans were made to head to Keene and take part in this activity. Many came through, and at 4:20 the next afternoon, the gathering boasted around seventy-five people, not counting the numerous onlookers across the street.

These actions have not gone unnoticed by the “authorities,” but the response of the people of Keene has been entirely steadfast, ballsy, and creative:

[...] In the area where Rich had been arrested the day before, Evan Pierce was trying to light a hand-rolled cigarette of unknown contents. An officer stopped directly in front of him and watched as Evan attempted to get the cherry started. Evan nervously fidgeted with the lighter as a large huddle of bystanders directed their attention at him. The officer eventually grabbed the butt and smelled it. After a few whiffs, he decided to arrest Evan.

Once again the crowd made known their displeasure, and once again a march was made to the Keene Police Department, an even larger group than yesterday’s, numbering around eighty. Many stood outside the lobby of the station, chatting and smoking, until a short announcement was made, and most of them hurried inside.

At one point, some particularly bold individuals decided to smoke a joint in the lobby itself. The lobby is sectioned off from the rest of the station with locked doors and plate-glass windows. In the center of the room is a pair of benches sitting back to back. It was on these benches that a none-too-surreptitious joint was lit and passed to all who would partake. News cameras were on hand from a Manchester TV station and the Obscured Truth Network, the latter run by liberty activists Sam Dodson and Smeg McLain, to record this hot-boxing of the cop shop.

The Keene police ignored the smoke, the group, and the cameras. Evan was released shortly thereafter. It turned out he’d been trying to light a chocolate mint cigarette, not marijuana. There were no charges against Evan, and the police were left with a black eye. The group marched back to Central Square and resumed the festivities.

With the one exception noted below, this would be the last time the Keene Police Department interfered with the 420 celebrations as of this writing. Certainly this victory cannot be under-appreciated. Central Square became a police-free zone at 4:20 and those who were there lived as free people.

Be sure to read the rest of the story at Cannabis Culture, and to check out the “civil disobedience” category at the Free Keene blog.