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OCEANSIDE: Anti-drug concert planned for Sunday
By DANIEL ELY - For the North County Times | ∞
OCEANSIDE ---- Local bands will take to the seaside Oceanside Amphitheatre stage Sunday afternoon, rocking out at an anti-drug event designed as an alternative to a counterculture holiday that celebrates marijuana use.
The concert ---- called "420 Remix: A Celebration of Sober and Drug Free Life Choices" ---- is being put on by the North Coastal Prevention Coalition, the Vista Community Clinic and the Tri-City Prevention Collaborative. The goal is to give teenagers and their families something to do together on a day that some associate with smoking marijuana.
"Marijuana has become so normalized in our culture, but it's not that safe, benign drug like it used to be," said Victoria Carlborg, media and prevention specialist with the North Coastal Prevention Coalition. "We're remixing what 420 means. We're hoping to educate, but at the same time we don't want to preach."
The number 420 (or 4/20, for the April date) has long been used as a reference for smoking marijuana. Urban legends claim it's the penal code section relating to marijuana use, the police radio code used for marijuana arrests, or the number of chemical compounds present in cannabis. None of those myths are correct.
Officials say the origin of the phrase more likely stems from a group of 12 students who attended San Rafael High School in 1971 and would meet at 4:20 in the afternoon to smoke. They used the number to remind each other of their appointment and the phrase apparently spread and grew in popularity, according to debunking Web sites such as Snopes.com.
Though local nonprofit groups began hosting an alternative "420" event in 2004, this is the first year it has featured a battle of the bands.
At Sunday's concert, each of the competing bands will get 20 minutes on stage to strut their stuff and impress the crowd. The band that rocks the most, as determined by three judges, wins an interview and guest appearance on Radio Sophie 103.7's "Unsigned Sundays," and the chance to play another 20-minute set.
"Besides being a lot of fun, there's also the (drug awareness) policy aspect to it," Carlborg said.
April 20 has been designated as "Sober and Drug Free Life Choices Day" by the San Diego County board of supervisors, and by the councils of several cities, including Oceanside, through the efforts of the North Coastal Prevention Cooperative.
"We're taking the day back from the stoners," Carlborg said.
In addition to the band competition, this year's event features a rock climbing wall and educational booths.
The event takes place from 2 to 6 p.m. Sunday at the Oceanside Amphitheater. More information about the event and the organizations behind it can be found at www.northcoastalpreventioncoalition.org.
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jeremy wrote on Apr 18, 2008 11:45 AM:good for you guys , have some sober fun while my friends and i will be having stoned fun........."taking a day back from stoners" yeah right!
mary wrote on Apr 18, 2008 11:52 AM:i beleive some people are right minded and can handle pot and function like responsible person and other people are too weak minded and should not be allowed to alter there thinking due to lack of brain matter
Rock n Roll wrote on Apr 18, 2008 1:24 PM:Sex, drugs and rock n roll.....
Sex and rock n roll....
rock n roll....
Hey, their efforts are all well and good, but where would rock n roll be without Keith Richards, Gram Parsons, Ray Charles, Muddy Waters and all the other hooch tokin characters? Isn't this as much an oxymoron as christian heavy metal?
to mary wrote on Apr 18, 2008 7:56 PM:The pot you believe people can handle and function like "a" responsible person must be effecting your ability you form complete sentences and use proper grammer...."allowed to alter THEIR thinking....
Keep smoking, you're just thinning the gene pool one hit at a time!
to "to mary" wrote on Apr 19, 2008 6:46 AM:Oops! Looks like you made a few booboo's too! Maybe the pot you're smoking is a little stronger than you think? HeeHee
Policy Guy wrote on Apr 19, 2008 8:08 AM:I can't believe there are people out there who would actually make comments AGAINST this event. Give me a break! What kind of a brain-dead idiot is going to argue against an event that encourages young people to not do drugs and alcohol? Oh yes, the kind of idiot that has to smoke pot to be happy in their life.
Nice! wrote on Apr 19, 2008 8:43 AM:Awesome, sending positive messages these days are few. Good Job.
Jay wrote on Apr 19, 2008 8:52 AM:Victoria says "...it's not that safe, benign drug like it used to be." It used to be safe but now it's not? Is she moving the goal post or what? It's no secret Victoria - pot has been around for many thousands of years and it's the same old smoke it has always been. Just depends on who you get it from I guess.
Cal wrote on Apr 19, 2008 9:09 AM:Well, I'm certainly going to celebrate a Sober and Drug Free Life Choices Day this 4/20! I won't drink any coffee or diet cola. I will skip my antihistamines, anti-biotics, anti-depressants, blood pressure pills, and my erectile disfunction medications. No wine, beer or chewing tobacco - and I won't drink my tap water.
Tuned in wrote on Apr 19, 2008 9:27 AM:Last night, I listened to LA's biggest Rock station celebrate 4-20 by broadcasting 4 hours of requests that were all songs about pot. From Cab Calloway's "Reefer Man" to Paul McCartney's "Got to get you into my life", the rich and varied musical tributes to marijuana spanned decades. It's really laughable that this well intentioned but ill-informed group of anti-drug crusaders is using music to send out their message of intolerance. Sounds like B flat to me.
Bill wrote on Apr 19, 2008 12:30 PM:They criminalize LSD 'cos of a few lame brains that thought they could fly or look at the sun. A few bad apples spoil it for the whole bunch.
GET THROUGH SCHOOL 1ST wrote on Apr 19, 2008 3:49 PM: I`m all for adults being allowed to smoke pot But I think it should be in the same class as alcohol (must be 21). Teens should not be smoking & drinking during their developing years. They should be preparing themselves for the 40 hour a week real world.
Policy Guy wrote on Apr 19, 2008 4:39 PM:To "Tuned in"...I don't understand why anyone would celebrate doing drugs. Perhaps I don't get it because I'm not a drug using moron. Also, it's funny how you call this a message of intolerance. It seems to me that they are trying to provide kids with good information so they can make responsible choices. How many kids are doing better in school because of pot? How many kids are making great choices because they smoke pot? Yeah, that's what I thought. Genius. Are you saying that you think kids should smoke pot and drink? Are you saying people who think marijuana has a negative impact on young people are ill-informed? If that is your contention, you may want to seek treatment...you may be smoking too much pot. The THC levels in pot today are much stronger than they used to be. Hence, pot has a greater effect on those using it than it used to. That could explain your stance on this issue. Also, don't pretend that music has to celebrate drug use. True, some great music has been produced under the influence of drugs, but much more great music has been composed without the influence of drugs. Perhaps you are just listening to the wrong kind of music. If you want some good information on the dangers of marijuana, maybe you should go the event. Heck, they may even have treatment resources down there for you.
Huh? wrote on Apr 19, 2008 6:59 PM:It's just a hunch, but, this "drug free" thing isn't the same as free drugs, is it?
Dude wrote on Apr 19, 2008 7:50 PM:This is all we need. A bunch of ex-druggies invading Oceanside. They will blend in well with the gang bangers and homeless people that have taken over downtown.
Come on Policy Guy wrote on Apr 19, 2008 9:49 PM:Get a grip. Overall this is a good message, but it reeks (pun intended) of the "just say no" campaign of Nancy Reagan. Basically this type of thing preaches to the choir. When it comes to kids, there are stoners, who won't come to this, there are the kids who don't even consider drugs, and they won't come to this, and there are kids who are out to "change the world", and if this is their cause, they'll come to this. Preaching to the choir. Remember, kids are heavily influenced by peers - and they really don't start making any kind of choices until they're out of high school. Also, watch out for those helicopter parents - they're the worst.
Policy Guy wrote on Apr 19, 2008 10:20 PM:I'm a firm believer in giving kids (and parents) good information and providing them with an opportunity to make good choices. There are many kids out there who are looking for a reason to opt out of the peer pressure nonsense. Make them educated about the dangers of drugs and they are more likely to stay away. This event sounds like it is doing just that. You can sit at home, probably with your bong, and gripe all you want, but these people believe in something enough to go above and beyond to make it happen. If even one kid or family is changed because of this event, then all of their efforts are worth it.
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