Burnside Burn

Last updated

Burnside Burn
Burnside Bridge (south side) with motorboats.jpg
Portland, Oregon's Burnside Bridge (pictured in 2012), the site of the "Burnside Burn" event organized by the local chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws
DateJuly 1, 2015 (2015-07-01)
TimeMidnight
Venue Burnside Bridge
Location Portland, Oregon, United States
TypeRally
Theme Cannabis
Organised by Portland NORML
ParticipantsThousands

The "Burnside Burn" was an event held on the Burnside Bridge in Portland, Oregon, starting at midnight on July 1, 2015, the day recreational marijuana became legal in the U.S. state of Oregon. It was organized by Portland NORML, the local chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, having originated from its executive director, who wanted to photograph himself in front of the White Stag sign in the moments after Oregon Ballot Measure 91 took effect. The crowd, larger than anticipated, numbered in the thousands and at times blocked traffic lanes on the bridge. Some attendees wanted to commemorate the moment, while others were motivated by announcements of free marijuana and seeds. No fines were issued for consumption in public. The event was covered by cannabis publications, local and national news outlets, and the HBO television series Vice .

Contents

Description

Portland Oregon - White Stag sign.jpg
The event began with the idea of taking a photograph in front of the White Stag sign (pictured in 2010).
NORML videographer - Seattle Hempfest 2010 - 01.jpg
Russ Belville (left), executive director of Portland NORML, at Seattle Hempfest in 2010; Belville shared an ounce of marijuana at the event.

The "Burnside Burn" was organized by Portland NORML, the local chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, in celebration of the legalization of recreational marijuana use in Oregon and to circumnavigate a temporary limit on recreational sales. [1] [2] [3] According to Russ Belville, the chapter's executive director, the event began with the idea of taking a photograph in front of the White Stag sign. [4] He recalled: "It evolved from me saying that when legalization happens, I want to take a photo under the Portland, Oregon sign. Other people said, 'Can we give marijuana away?' [and] I said, 'I can't stop you!'" [1] [5]

On the evening of June 30, beginning as early as 8pm, [6] and into the morning of July 1, 2015, between a few hundred and a few thousand people gathered on the Burnside Bridge's north sidewalk for the free event. The crowd sometimes spilled into the road and blocked multiple traffic lanes, resulting at one point in the complete blockage of west-bound traffic. [1] [7] Activists chanted "Free the weed" and "Fuck the DEA". Cannabis was shared and consumed openly. [2] [6] [8]

The crowd was larger than anticipated and spanned the entire length of the 1,400-foot (430 m) Burnside Bridge. [2] [9] Belville had initially expected "between 50 and 5,000 people", but details of the event spread online and through word of mouth, and ultimately it was estimated that "thousands" had turned out. [2] Some attendees said they were there to commemorate an historic moment, while others admitted having come for free marijuana and cannabis seeds. One man, known as "Pork Chop" (or "Porkchop"), reportedly announced over a megaphone that he had 420 pounds of marijuana to distribute, though his claim was not supported by news outlets. [6] [8] Two women with Ideal Farms, who wished to "share the love", distributed joints to attendees who could prove that they were of legal age. [2] One man distributed drops of hash oil, [9] and Belville himself shared an ounce of marijuana (the maximum allowed under Oregon Ballot Measure 91). Some participants did receive free marijuana, seeds, and/or starter plants, but many did not, due to the larger than expected crowd. [6] Coupons were also distributed for later redemption. [9] [10]

Participants smoked openly and without fear. No fines were issued for consumption in public. [6] Patrol vehicles drove by the scene a few times but did not stop. Prior to the event, police urged residents to avoid calling 9-1-1 to report public consumption, which they did not consider an emergency. [6] [9]

Commentary

The event was covered by cannabis publications, [9] [11] local and national media outlets, [3] [12] and the HBO documentary television series Vice . [1] [6] The Oregonian described the event as "loud and energetic", attracting a diverse and "eclectic" crowd of activists, marijuana enthusiasts, and first-time consumers, some from as far away as Canada and San Diego. [6] [8] According to Willamette Week , attendees ranged from octogenarians to "tweens with rainbow hair" and the crowd was "generally happy". The newspaper summarized, "All and all, the mood was celebratory as befit such an historic occasion." [7]

NORML's Kaliko Castille told The Huffington Post he was "happy to see a community able to come together—peacefully—over something positive. It's great to see people from all walks of life out here, handing out joints to each other and getting to know their neighbors." [3] The Huffington Post's Andy Campbell called the event a "smoke-out with a message" and opined, "Legalization is so much more than being able to smoke a joint in your home without being a criminal. It's a health care issue; it's a tax revenue issue; it saves states millions in the court system; and it ends the hidden costs of prosecution, which emerge when someone can't get a job because there's a possession charge on their record." [3] The Washington Post called the "Burnside Burn" an opportunity for marijuana enthusiasts to "celebrate their new freedom together". [13]

See also

Related Research Articles

The National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws is a social welfare organization based in Washington, D.C., that advocates for the reform of marijuana laws in the United States regarding both medical and non-medical use. According to their website, NORML supports "the removal of all penalties for the private possession and responsible use of marijuana by adults, including cultivation for personal use, and casual nonprofit transfers of small amounts" and advocates for "the creation of a legal and regulatory framework for marijuana's production and retail sale to adults". NORML also has a sister organization, NORML Foundation, that focuses on educational efforts and providing legal assistance and support to people affected negatively by current marijuana laws. NORML maintains chapters in a number of US states as well as outside the US in countries such as Canada, France, New Zealand, and South Africa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hash Bash</span> Annual cannabis event in Ann Arbor, Michigan

Hash Bash is an annual event held in Ann Arbor, Michigan, originally held every April 1, but now on the first Saturday of April at noon on the University of Michigan Diag. A collection of speeches, live music, and occasional civil disobedience are centered on the goal of reforming federal, state, and local marijuana laws. The first Hash Bash was held on Saturday, April 1, 1972, in response to the March 9th 1972 decision by Michigan Supreme Court declaring unconstitutional the law used to convict cultural activist John Sinclair for possession of two marijuana joints. This action left the State of Michigan without a law prohibiting the use of marijuana until after the weekend of April 1, 1972. Chef Ra was a fixture of the Hash Bash for 19 consecutive years before his death in late 2006.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cannabis in Oregon</span>

Cannabis in Oregon is legal for both medical and recreational use. In recent decades, the U.S. state of Oregon has had a number of legislative, legal and cultural events surrounding the use of cannabis. Oregon was the first state to decriminalize the possession of small amounts of cannabis and authorize its use for medical purposes. An attempt to recriminalize the possession of small amounts of cannabis was turned down by Oregon voters in 1997.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Portland Hempstalk Festival</span> Cannabis event in Portland, Oregon, U.S.

Portland's Hempstalk Festival is an annual event in Portland, Oregon advocating decriminalization of marijuana for medicinal, industrial, and recreational use. Founded in 2005, the festival often takes place the weekend after Labor Day and features food vendors, live music, and information booths. The event has always been free to attend.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Medical cannabis in the United States</span>

In the United States, the use of cannabis for medical purposes is legal in 38 states, four out of five permanently inhabited U.S. territories, and the District of Columbia, as of March 2023. Ten other states have more restrictive laws limiting THC content, for the purpose of allowing access to products that are rich in cannabidiol (CBD), a non-psychoactive component of cannabis. There is significant variation in medical cannabis laws from state to state, including how it is produced and distributed, how it can be consumed, and what medical conditions it can be used for.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Legality of cannabis by U.S. jurisdiction</span>

In the United States, cannabis is legal in 38 of 50 states for medical use and 24 states for recreational use. At the federal level, cannabis is classified as a Schedule I drug under the Controlled Substances Act, determined to have a high potential for abuse and no accepted medical use, prohibiting its use for any purpose. Despite this prohibition, federal law is generally not enforced against the possession, cultivation, or intrastate distribution of cannabis in states where such activity has been legalized. On May 1, 2024, the Associated Press reported on plans by the Drug Enforcement Administration to move cannabis to the less-restrictive Schedule III.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Timeline of cannabis laws in the United States</span>

The legal history of cannabis in the United States began with state-level prohibition in the early 20th century, with the first major federal limitations occurring in 1937. Starting with Oregon in 1973, individual states began to liberalize cannabis laws through decriminalization. In 1996, California became the first state to legalize medical cannabis, sparking a trend that spread to a majority of states by 2016. In 2012, Washington and Colorado became the first states to legalize cannabis for recreational use.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2014 Oregon Ballot Measure 91</span> Referendum legalizing marijuana

Oregon Ballot Measure 91 was a 2014 ballot measure in the U.S. state of Oregon. Its passage legalized the "recreational use of marijuana, based on regulation and taxation to be determined by the Oregon Liquor Control Commission".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Weed the People</span> 2015 cannabis event in Portland, Oregon

"Weed the People", officially "Weed the People: A Cannabis Legalization Celebration", was an event held in Portland on July 3, 2015, two days after recreational marijuana became legal in the U.S. state of Oregon. Sponsored by the Portland Mercury and two cannabis companies, the event was attended by an estimated 1,500–2,000 people, who were provided up to seven grams of marijuana for immediate consumption or to take home. Organizers complied with restrictions on recreational sales by distributing free cannabis and required attendees to pay an entry fee. More than 1,300 tickets were sold, but the building's 500-person capacity meant long wait times to enter. Media outlets reported on the historic nature of the event, which was described as a "stoner's paradise" and a celebration of freedom.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cannabis in the Northern Mariana Islands</span>

The recreational and medicinal use of cannabis in the Northern Mariana Islands has been legal since September 2018. House Bill 20-178 was signed into law by Gov. Ralph Torres, becoming Public Law 20-66. The cannabis legalization bill was introduced as the "Taulamwaar Sensible CNMI Cannabis Act of 2018," named in honor of David Kapileo Peter or Taulamwaar, who advocated cannabis legalization over four years ago. The first dispensary opened to the public on July 16, 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paul Stanford</span>

Paul Stanford is the founder of The Hemp and Cannabis Foundation (THCF), THCF Medical Clinics, and the Campaign for the Restoration and Regulation of Hemp (CRRH).

The Hemp and Cannabis Foundation (THCF) was founded in 1999 by Paul Stanford in Portland, Oregon. To date, THCF has helped over 250,000 patients obtain a legal permit to use medical marijuana in the states where it is legal and where THCF has clinics. THCF is the largest chain of medical marijuana clinics in the U.S. with clinics operating in 12 states.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cannabis in Arizona</span>

Cannabis in Arizona is legal for recreational use. A 2020 initiative to legalize recreational use passed with 60% of the vote. Possession and cultivation of recreational cannabis became legal on November 30, 2020, with the first state-licensed sales occurring on January 22, 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cannabis in Washington (state)</span>

Cannabis in Washington relates to a number of legislative, legal, and cultural events surrounding the use of cannabis. On December 6, 2012, Washington became the first U.S. state to legalize recreational use of marijuana and the first to allow recreational marijuana sales, alongside Colorado. The state had previously legalized medical marijuana in 1998. Under state law, cannabis is legal for medical purposes and for any purpose by adults over 21.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cannabis in Washington, D.C.</span>

In Washington, D.C., cannabis is legal for both medical use and recreational use for possession, personal use, cultivation, transportation and gifting, and for retail sale once a regulatory system is implemented following an affirmative vote by the residents on a 2014 ballot initiative. The United States Congress exercises oversight over the government of the District of Columbia, preventing the local government from regulating cannabis sales like other jurisdictions with authority derived from a U.S. state.

Madeline Martinez is an American cannabis rights activist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Third Eye Shoppe</span> Defunct head shop in Portland, Oregon

Third Eye Shoppe, commonly known as The Third Eye, was a head shop in Portland, Oregon's Hawthorne district and Richmond neighborhood, in the United States. The shop was founded in 1987 and owned by cannabis and counterculture activist Jack Herer. His son, Mark Herer, took over as the shop's owner in 2001. The Third Eye closed on March 31, 2017, as a result of declining sales, development of the surrounding neighborhood, increasing health care costs, and increased competition. For nearly thirty years, the shop was associated with Portland's cannabis culture and recreational drug tourism, and was included in Willamette Week's annual "Best of Portland" reader's poll several times.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Portland NORML</span> Cannabis organization

Portland NORML is the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) affiliate for Portland, Oregon, in the United States. The chapter was established in January 2015 by Portland-based radio host and cannabis activist Russ Belville. Scott Gordon serves as its executive director.

Women have been active in the cannabis industry, cannabis legalization, cannabis testing, and cannabis rights since the earliest days of commercialization, but they have also faced gendered obstacles impeding their growth in an industry worth over 12 million dollars since 2019. "The American cannabis industry accounted for $10 billion of 2018’s [global] figures, with the average U.S. dispensary pulling in $3 million a year."

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Roth, Sara (June 30, 2015). "Event Guide: Celebrating legal cannabis in Oregon". Portland, Oregon: KGW. Archived from the original on July 1, 2015. Retrieved July 1, 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Perry, Alyssa Jeong (July 1, 2015). "Oregonians Celebrate Legalization With Midnight Pot Party". Oregon Public Broadcasting. Archived from the original on July 2, 2015. Retrieved July 1, 2015.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Campbell, Andy (July 1, 2015). "Weed Isn't Just Legal In Oregon – It's Free!". The Huffington Post . Archived from the original on July 2, 2015. Retrieved July 1, 2015.
  4. ↑ Labrecque, Jackie (July 1, 2015). "Pot sharing, midnight giveaway celebration on Burnside Bridge". Portland, Oregon: KATU. Archived from the original on July 3, 2015. Retrieved July 2, 2015.
  5. ↑ Belville, Russ (June 26, 2015). "Schedule of Events Leading to Legalization Day in Oregon". Portland NORML. Archived from the original on July 2, 2015. Retrieved July 2, 2015.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Hamilton, Keegan (July 1, 2015). "Here's What Happened Last Night at Portland's Massive Weed Legalization 'Giveaway'". Vice News . New York City, New York. Archived from the original on July 2, 2015. Retrieved July 1, 2015.
  7. 1 2 Acker, Lizzy (July 1, 2015). "Smokey Lens: Images from Last Night's NORML Legal Weed Party". Willamette Week . City of Roses Newspapers. Archived from the original on July 3, 2015. Retrieved July 1, 2015.
  8. 1 2 3 Zarkhin, Fedor (July 1, 2015). "Hundreds celebrate marijuana's new legal status in Oregon". The Oregonian . Portland, Oregon: Advance Publications. ISSN   8750-1317. Archived from the original on July 2, 2015. Retrieved July 1, 2015.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 Fought, Tim (July 2, 2015). "Thousands Gather in Portland as Oregon Eases into Legal Weed". High Times . Archived from the original on July 3, 2015. Retrieved July 2, 2015.
  10. ↑ Herman, Steve (July 1, 2015). "Burnside Burn". Portland, Oregon: KXL-FM. Archived from the original on July 2, 2015. Retrieved July 1, 2015.
  11. ↑ "Crowds Count Down to Marijuana Legalization in Oregon, Then Light Up". Cannabis Culture . July 1, 2015. Archived from the original on July 3, 2015. Retrieved July 2, 2015. Note: Original article by Shelby Sebens for Yahoo! News.
  12. ↑ Tuttle, Brad (June 29, 2015). "Oregon Is Celebrating Marijuana Legalization With Free Weed". Money.com . Archived from the original on May 2, 2022. Retrieved July 2, 2015.
  13. ↑ Greenberg, Will (July 1, 2015). "Oregon celebrates with free weed as recreational marijuana becomes legal". The Washington Post . ISSN   0190-8286. Archived from the original on April 4, 2019. Retrieved July 2, 2015.
External media
Images
Searchtool.svg Oregon goes to pot by Steve Dipaola (July 1, 2015), Reuters
Searchtool.svg Thousands gather in Portland as Oregon eases into legal weed [ permanent dead link ] by Beth Nakamura (July 1, 2015), St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Video
Nuvola apps kaboodle.svg Marijuana supporters celebrate rec use legalization with midnight Burnside Burn (July 1, 2015), KPTV
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.