Denver's 4/20 trash hangover, Jeff Sessions as one-man industry disrupter, cannabis church officially opens, activism motivation & more

April 21: Denver's 4/20 trash hangover, Jeff Sessions as one-man industry disrupter, cannabis church officially opens, activism motivation & more The Cannabist]( [thecannabist.co]( | [@cannabist]( | [fb/cannabist]( If someone forwarded this to you and you'd like to sign up yourself, just go here: [(. To view this on the web or share a link, [click here.]( [Denver 4/20 wrap-up: Rain and one-hour lines, but thousands of enthusiastic attendees]( Long lines, some over an hour, greeted attendees trying to enter Civic Center for the annual 4/20 cannabis celebration, and rain, mostly in the form of a steady drizzle, didn’t dampen the enthusiasm of most participants. The park was packed with thousands as the annual countdown, Denver’s version of Times Square on New Year’s, ticked down and just about everyone in the crowd toked at the strike of one. “I just love everyone can get together and legally enjoy marijuana,” said Noah Nellessen, 22, of Denver. “It doesn’t hurt anyone.” But the morning after... [Who trashed Civic Center? Park was clean after Denver 4/20 rally, organizers say]( Denver woke up Friday to piles and piles of trash covering Civic Center the morning after the annual 4/20 rally downtown. The garbage was mostly strewn around trash cans and appeared to have been pulled out of bags and boxes that had been emptied and tossed aside. Rally organizer Miguel Lopez said volunteers were cleaning up the area around 10:30 p.m. Thursday night when a man went through the park, tearing up trash bags. When volunteers confronted him, Lopez said the man threatened them with a knife. And the plot thickens [Videos from Civic Center show park was left a mess overnight after 4/20 event]( Videos recorded by city security cameras in Civic Center show that cleanup activities Thursday left plenty of trash strewn about the park. While what all may have occurred overnight wasn't captured in the clips that were provided to The Denver Post late Friday afternoon in response to a public records request, police did confirm the knife incident. The result of the slow cleanup was a flare-up in the long-simmering tension the 4/20 organizers have had with city officials for the annual event — even though this year's permit gave them another full day, until 11:59 p.m. Friday, to finish clearing the park of trash. National News [7 protesters arrested for handing out free joints near U.S. Capitol]( The conflict between federal and local laws on marijuana played out in the shadow of the Capitol on Thursday, when seven pro-pot activists were arrested for doing something that’s been legal in Washington for the past two years — handing out free joints. U.S. Capitol Police said in a statement that they invoked federal law in making the arrests. Two women and one man were charged with possession with intent to distribute pot, while four women were charged with simple possession, after officers observed them “distributing marijuana in public view to passers-by,” the statement said. [Here’s how Jeff Sessions has disrupted marijuana industry with words alone]( In his first 92 days in office, President Trump has remained silent on cannabis. Instead, he has allowed new Attorney General Jeff Sessions’ tough talk and often poorly researched statements on marijuana to cast a pall over states in which voters have approved legal medical and recreational cannabis. A review of marijuana-related legislative news in the opening months of the Trump presidency shows that the administration’s threatening language has driven lawmakers to respond with moves to either fortify or abandon marijuana legalization, decriminalization and medical research efforts. [Study: National medical marijuana laws would save lives — and a billion taxpayer dollars]( A new study analyzes use of Medicaid prescriptions in states with medical marijuana. The results: Medicaid prescriptions for certain drugs fell significantly in states that adopted a medical marijuana law. Specifically, anti-nausea (17%), anti-depressants (13%), painkillers (11%), and seizure and psychosis drugs (12%). Not everyone who has access to medical marijuana opts for it, obviously. But enough do to make a significant dent in the prescription numbers. Eye on Colorado [Denver cannabis church’s 4/20 debut doesn’t go exactly as planned]( The International Church of Cannabis, which claims marijuana as its primary sacrament, officially opened for services at 3 p.m. in a 113-year-old house of worship in a south Denver neighborhood. At 4:20 p.m., Elevation Ministries leader Steve Berke called on the approximately 70 congregants in the main sanctuary to join him in silence with their sacrament. “Happy 420!” he said when the moment had passed. “Now, introduce yourself to somebody you don’t know.” People shook hands, hugged and passed joints. But the church’s official debut, dubbed “Elevate 2017,” wasn’t exactly what church leaders had in mind when they first announced their intentions earlier this month. [An activist’s life: My 20-year fight for marijuana law reform is far from over]( Activism runs deep in my soul. I moved to Colorado 20 years ago, an idealistic college student searching for community. I found a meaningful opportunity to make a difference as a cannabis advocate when I first built a hemp food company as a 20-something entrepreneur and publicly advocated for marijuana and hemp law reform. Over the past 20 years, I have worked as a volunteer and had an occasional gig as a paid canvasser on five political campaigns that changed cannabis laws in Colorado. In 2006, my advocacy led me to participate in a raucous protest on the steps of the state Capitol that I will never forget. Numerology 16% That's the [number of people who say they consume cannabis “just to have fun”]( according to the new Yahoo/Marist survey. The rest cited a variety of utilitarian reasons: 37 percent said they used marijuana to relax; 19 percent said they do it to relieve pain, 10 percent said it helps them be social. See 10 more stats at the link, many of which point to the fact that marijuana is becoming mainstream in America. Recipe [Get loaded on these pot-enhanced stuffed baked potatoes]( If you're keeping the party going this weekend, mix in some savory with your sweets. Regional News [Indiana CBD bill heads to gov's desk after unanimous House vote]( The Indiana Legislature has approved a bill that would allow people with certain types of epilepsy to use marijuana-derived oil as medicine. The House approved the measure on a unanimous vote Friday. It cleared the Senate on a 36-13 vote Thursday. The Legislature has long resisted efforts to allow the use of cannabidiol oil, commonly referred to as CBD. But that changed this year. [Vermont Senate approves cannabis legalization measure, but House a long shot]( A legal-marijuana plan has resurfaced and passed the state Senate on a 21-9 vote on Friday, though it's highly unlikely the House will follow suit this year. Senate Democrats revealed they will insert the entirety of a legal-marijuana bill that failed last year into an unrelated House bill through an amendment. #AllThingsWeed [Playing the new “Rick And Morty” VR game while super high is a win-win (review)]( The new season of Adult Swim’s cult favorite “Rick and Morty” may not be here yet, but 4/20 marked more than a weed holiday this year: The debut of the VR game “Rick and Morty: Virtual Rick-ality.” I received an advance copy of the VR experience to test it out. Not included: the joint of Grape God Bud from Rocky Mountain High I roasted before jumping in. I would highly recommend the pairing. You are receiving this newsletter because you signed up at The Denver Post. Please add "members@mail.denverpost.com" and "members@direct.denverpost.com" to your trusted senders list. To unsubscribe from this mailing, [click here.]( To change your e-mail preferences, [click here](. 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