Pot Policy Panel and 420 Festival among April 20 events in Madison

On April 20, Madison Wisconsin, long a beacon of cannabis tolerance, will be hosting an array of events celebrating what has become the annual holiday dedicated to cannabis around the world.

At 3:00 p.m. on 4/20, there will be a panel discussion, “Pot Policy and Drug Peace,” at the Isthmus Green Day event at the Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center in downtown Madison two blocks from the Capitol on MLK Blvd.

The panel will feature “Too High To Fail” Author Doug Fine, State Rep. Chris Taylor (D-Madison), former Chicago Prosecutor James Gierach of Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP), Bio-Tech Builder Ken Anderson and the president of the Madison chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) Nate Petreman.

In past years, cannabis consumers have gathered at Bascom Hill on the UW-Madison campus to light up at 4:20 p.m. Rumors are that there may be some folks gathering there this 4/20 at 4:20.

Also commencing at 4:20 p.m. on 4/20 is the Madison 420 Festival 2013 at the Brink Nightclub. At 6:30 p.m. the event expands to the adjacent High Noon Saloon. At 7:00 p.m. another stage fires up at the Brink Lounge. The Brink and High Noon are located on East Washington Ave. in downtown Madison. You can read more on the Facebook page for the 420 Festival.

In 2011, Madison’s city council declared April 20 as “Ben Masel Day,” making the day a dual holiday.

According to a Facebook event page there will be a gathering at the State Capitol: “Ben Masel Day at the Capitol,” scheduled to commence at 2 p.m.

The page notes: “In honor of Ben Masel, Madison’s proudest fighter for freedom, let’s meet at the Capitol to remember our missed friend and the ideas he stood up for. As April 20th has been officially deemed Ben Masel Day in Madison it seems only fitting. 2pm. Come ready to speak if you have words.”

In the true Ben Masel tradition, the page also proclaims, “THIS EVENT WILL HAVE NO PERMIT.”

Another 4/20-themed event is Venice Gas House Trolley’s Spring Carnival at the Frequency Nightclub at 121 W. Main St. at 9:00 p.m. with VGHT, Tani Diakite, Fresh Hops, Not Quite Yesterday and WSUM reggae DJ Kayla Kush. Ages: 18+. More info:http://madisonfrequency.com.

Source: http://www.examiner.com/article/pot-policy-panel-and-420-festival-among-april-20-events-madison