Miami 420 Festival 2010

Thursday, April 22, 2010

By Ric

With a gentle puff of rising smoke, the calendar clicks ahead to the official pothead holiday: April 20.

According to Wikipedia, the term Four-Twenty was first applied to "Cannibus Culture" by a group of San Rafael High School students whom would meet after school at 4:20 to smoke some sticky icky.

Miami has it's own little homages to the holiday, namely Notorious Nastie's 420 Music Festival, now in it's sixth year (or seventh, depending who's counting). In previous years the event has included Uncle Luke, Otto von Schirach, !MAYDAY!, Rachel Goodrich, and a ton of other big acts. Last year, I participated in the organization of the event, and let me tell you, it was the least pleasant thing I've ever done. So kudos to him for continuing the tradition in the face of very unpleasant odds.

This year's events have already started, with the kick off Tuesday, April 20, at The Electric Pickle and featuring Radioboxer, Otto von Schirach, and more. I made a quick swing to congratulate Notorious, and I was also able to catch a part of Radioboxer's set (who, by the way, are slowly becoming one of my favorite bands in Miami).

Otto von Schirach sneaking some beers.

There also will be more festivities this Friday at White Room, and Saturday at Churchill's Pub.

But, I don't want to so quickly cruise over the whole 420 concept. Personally, I applaud a group of people coming together and throwing the concept of legality in the face of authority. Unfortunately, that doesn't make a superficial "law" lose it's might.

I give a semi-grave warning to all the people planning on partaking in the events: don't think that the police won't think of using this as a way to arrest a bunch of young kids hanging together and smoking pot.

Now, that may sound a little paranoid, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't try to be safe. Here is a short list of some measures you can take:

1. Know your 5th Amendment Rights: Do not admit your guilt. Even if you are "caught" throwing a joint or blunt or whatever out a window, do not admit it is yours. Your 5th Amendment Rights protect your rights not to self-incriminate. In other words, don't admit that you are guilty, even if a Cop is in your face yelling and screaming and trying to intimidate you.

* Fun fact: Did you know that the Police are allowed to lie to you to get a confession, but if you lie to the Police you can be arrested for perjury.

2. Cops can, and will, do anything to get a confession out of you. They'll even tell you that you won't have to go to jail, and then they'll try you and jail you. It's a pretty strange system, but hey, we're just living in it.

3. Never, ever agree to anything without talking to a lawyer. If you need some recommendations, I know a couple of people. But, nonetheless, this is about protecting your own innocence.

4. Know and understand your Miranda Rights, and I don't mean it as your protection, because everyone knows that, but more in how it limits your rights. "Anything you say can, and will, be used against you in a court of law." The key phrase here being "Can, and will, be used against you..." It doesn't say, will be used to your favor, that's called hearsay. Miranda is informing you that "the law" will use whatever it can against you. Always keep that in mind when talking to Police.

5. Understand illegal search and seizure. I'm sure everyone has come across the old example of drugs being placed in a box of matches, and the Police couldn't use it as evidence against the person accused. This is tied in with a concept called "plain view," meaning, if a Cop sees drugs around you, then they can search without your consent. So be careful and keep your stash well hidden until you are going to use it in a safe and protected area.

For more information, I suggest you watch this video:

Be safe on this fine holiday! Happy 420 everyone.

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Tags: 420 Music Festival 2010, Otto Von Schirach, Radioboxer

This entry was posted on Thursday, April 22nd, 2010 at 8:27 am and is filed under Events, Music. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.

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