Although professors and police don’t seem to be aware of it, some students are choosing to celebrate National Get High Day today – a celebration that might make students absent from class.
The idea of 4/20 originated in California in the 1970s after a group of teenagers began meeting at 4:20 p.m. every day to smoke marijuana, according to Wikipedia online encyclopedia.
Since then 4/20 has evolved into a national day for people to pay homage to the green, leafy substance, and students have their own way of celebrating the holiday.
Alipate Mateaki, an undeclared junior, is choosing to “”blaze”” today but still plans on going to classes even if he may be a little less focused.
“”I think it’s a personal decision to make,”” said Mateaki. “”(4/20) is one of those days college kids get stupid.””
Not all students are planning to attend class during their day of celebration, however.
Brody Wixted, an engineering senior, said the odds don’t look good on him showing up for class.
“”Ten-to-one I’m probably not going to go to class,”” Wixted said. “”The party starts when I get off work, but I’ll be high for that too.””
Although nearly all college students have probably heard 4/20 used in one reference or another, the same does not seem to be true for UA police and professors.
Sgt. Eugene Mejia said he had never heard of 4/20 in the six years he has been working as University of Arizona Police Department spokesman and has never noticed a change in drug activity.
“”As far as I’m concerned, in relation to a specific date, drug-related actions are not prevalent enough to increase patrols,”” Mejia said.
Police don’t seem to be the only ones in the dark about the festivities.
“”National smoke day?”” said Alison Deming, a professor of English. “”I don’t even know what that is.””
Although Deming said she was in favor of the legalization of marijuana, she doesn’t think students should skip school or come to classes “”high.””
“”I would consider it a violation of the Student Code of Conduct,”” Deming said. “”I expect my students to show up to class clean and sober.””
William Greer, a journalism professor, said he has never noticed anyone coming to class “”high.””
“”I never noticed anyone smoking dope in class or anything,”” Greer said. “”I don’t think anyone would miss class for that.””
Whether professors want it or not, it seems some students will be attending class “”high”” today, but one student doesn’t think it will affect her learning.
“”A lot of people can function just fine. A lot of people I know do really well in school,”” said Yasmin Avash, a regional development junior. “”(Marijuana) is really not that harmful. Our government has given marijuana a bad rep.””
