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Daily Camera
5/4/06

Attorneys to meet with 4/20 smokers
Pro-marijuana group holding campus forum tonight

By Brittany Anas

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Some of the people caught on camera smoking pot at the 4/20 celebration on Farrand Field are considering lawsuits against the University of Colorado, according to a pro-marijuana group hosting a campus forum with attorneys tonight.

Nationally known civil rights attorneys Perry Sanders Jr. and Robert J. Frank will be among those at the informational session to address the constitutional rights of those gathered for the pot-smoking celebration. Sanders and Frank are the attorneys for the estate of slain rapper Christopher "Biggie Smalls" Wallace, or the "Notorious B.I.G."

More than 2,500 people converged on the CU field April 20, and many smoked pot. Others were spectators.

In anticipation of the annual smoke-out, university administrators attempted to close the field by barricading entrances and posting signs that said trespassers would be photographed and videotaped. Last week, police posted 150 pictures of pot smokers online and offered $50 rewards for each correct identification. Another 50 pictures were added to the site Tuesday.

CU police Lt. Tim McGraw said 60 of the smokers had been identified by Wednesday afternoon. University spokesman Barrie Hartman said the offending students probably will not be ticketed by police, but will be referred to the school's judicial affairs because they trespassed onto the field.

"This is not going on their criminal records," Hartman said. "It will go in their student files."

The fines that the students pay will generate the reward money, he said.

SAFER — a Colorado-based organization that advocates marijuana use as a safer alternative to drinking alcohol — has criticized CU's "snitching" program and is hosting tonight's legal forum.

"There are issues regarding the right to assemble," said Mason Tvert, campaign director for SAFER. "They closed down a field that is otherwise open 364 days a year."

Steve Fox, executive director of SAFER, said he hopes that all of the people "affected" or "offended" by the CU Police Department's online strategy to punish those who celebrate 4/20 will attend the meeting.

"From what we understand from the attorneys, the university has violated the constitutional rights of these students to associate and assemble peacefully," he said in a statement. "It is important that the students understand these rights and the possible remedies available to them."

CU law professor Paul Campos, who also will be at the meeting, said that as far as legal action goes, CU has "insulated themselves by posting various notices that people were going to be photographed and videotaped."

"I do think there are undoubtedly some complicated issues raised by this whole situation," he said. "It's tricky."

Campos said he was astonished when he learned of the university's strategy for busting the students.

"There's something very unnerving about this extension of the surveillance state," he said. "This is not something that CU ought to be spending resources on, especially when there are problems with alcohol consumption."

Lt. McGraw said officials had the right to photograph the revelers because they were smoking marijuana in a public place.

Also, CU administrators have the authority to shut down campus fields, he said.

Contact Camera Staff Writer Brittany Anas at (303) 473-1132 or anasb@dailycamera.com.
(Return to Press Section)


	Daily Camera 5/4/06 Attorneys to meet with 4/20 smokers Pro-marijuana group holding campus forum tonight By Brittany Anas (Return to Press Section) Some of the people caught on camera smoking pot at the 4/20 celebration on Farrand Field are considering lawsuits against the University of Colorado, according to a pro-marijuana group hosting a campus forum with attorneys tonight. Nationally known civil rights attorneys Perry Sanders Jr. and Robert J. Frank will be among those at the informational session to address the constitutional rights of those gathered for the pot-smoking celebration. Sanders and Frank are the attorneys for the estate of slain rapper Christopher "Biggie Smalls" Wallace, or the "Notorious B.I.G." More than 2,500 people converged on the CU field April 20, and many smoked pot. Others were spectators. In anticipation of the annual smoke-out, university administrators attempted to close the field by barricading entrances and posting signs that said trespassers would be photographed and videotaped. Last week, police posted 150 pictures of pot smokers online and offered $50 rewards for each correct identification. Another 50 pictures were added to the site Tuesday. CU police Lt. Tim McGraw said 60 of the smokers had been identified by Wednesday afternoon. University spokesman Barrie Hartman said the offending students probably will not be ticketed by police, but will be referred to the school's judicial affairs because they trespassed onto the field. "This is not going on their criminal records," Hartman said. "It will go in their student files." The fines that the students pay will generate the reward money, he said. SAFER — a Colorado-based organization that advocates marijuana use as a safer alternative to drinking alcohol — has criticized CU's "snitching" program and is hosting tonight's legal forum. "There are issues regarding the right to assemble," said Mason Tvert, campaign director for SAFER. "They closed down a field that is otherwise open 364 days a year." Steve Fox, executive director of SAFER, said he hopes that all of the people "affected" or "offended" by the CU Police Department's online strategy to punish those who celebrate 4/20 will attend the meeting. "From what we understand from the attorneys, the university has violated the constitutional rights of these students to associate and assemble peacefully," he said in a statement. "It is important that the students understand these rights and the possible remedies available to them." CU law professor Paul Campos, who also will be at the meeting, said that as far as legal action goes, CU has "insulated themselves by posting various notices that people were going to be photographed and videotaped." "I do think there are undoubtedly some complicated issues raised by this whole situation," he said. "It's tricky." Campos said he was astonished when he learned of the university's strategy for busting the students. "There's something very unnerving about this extension of the surveillance state," he said. "This is not something that CU ought to be spending resources on, especially when there are problems with alcohol consumption." Lt. McGraw said officials had the right to photograph the revelers because they were smoking marijuana in a public place. Also, CU administrators have the authority to shut down campus fields, he said. Contact Camera Staff Writer Brittany Anas at (303) 473-1132 or anasb@dailycamera.com. (Return to Press Section)