Storyteller : Smells Like Teen Spirit

What smells better than the smell of freshly grown herb being blown in the wind? Freshly grown herb being blown in the wind in front of the White House lawn. In case you missed all the hooplah on the news (or you live outside of the DC area), then you also missed out on what many are calling history in the making. This past Saturday, marijuana activists held a demonstration in front of the White House to both metaphorically engage President Obama in a conversation. The purpose of the cause was to get legislation pushed forward to make marijuana federally legal for recreational use before President Obama leaves office and leaves the bill on the table to get shot down by our next president. Over the past couple years, a few states have gone through with legalizing the recreational use of marijuana for citizens (even more states have legalized medically) but still federal use is strictly prohibited. People with conditions requiring a greater need for the plant have been arrested, Vets have been unfairly treated and those with illness have suffered as a result of the federal prohibition.

The protest, spear-headed by Adam Eidinger from Capitol Hemp, was a stance for what is believed to be an attack on civil rights and the members of the marijuana community stood up for those who couldn't. The plan was to march from McPhereson Square Metro station to the White House, blow up the inflatable joint and at 4:20pm light up the proverbial doob and this plan went swimmingly. From the chant "Blue Lives Matter" aimed towards the ever-present DC police department, to the waving of the marijuana flags, to the signs of world peace and the smell of strong marijuana, the energy in front of the White House was electric, to say the least. People from different races, cultures, regions and economical classes all coming together to join the fight for legalization. Hopefully this will open eyes to the reality of the matter, that it will continue to get smoked either way but legalizing it helps those who truly need it. Saturday was a show of peace, of willingness to fight for a cause and an ability for us to come together as Americans to better the country for all of us. If nothing else, I hope it showed people that we can all get along and we can all indulge in the recreational use of marijuana without anyone harming one another. Check out the rest of the photos below.