Do you want to show your support for marijuana use by celebrating 420 Day, the favorite holiday of pot smokers all over the world? 420 Day provides an opportunity for those in support of cannabis culture to express their beliefs, and come together as a community to partake in a bit of the sweet leaf and discuss the benefits of weed consumption. If you wish to join in some of the festivities but are not sure exactly what you are supposed to do on this hallowed stoner day, this guide on how to celebrate 420 Day offers you a metaphoric light to help get your celebration started.

The most obvious way to celebrate 420 Day is, of course, to smoke a joint (or a bowl, a bong toke, a vaporizer hit or whatever else you may have on hand). However, there is much more involved if you truly want to take advantage of the opportunities that the day has to offer. After all, you can get high at any time of year, so long as you have the connections and the desire. 420 Day is a time to reflect on marijuana use and laws, fraternize with your fellow tokers and think about what marijuana really means to you.

What makes 420 Day so special is the fact that on this holiday people of all walks of life -- of all creeds, genders, races and backgrounds -- gather together based on one common belief: that marijuana is a positive thing, something to be enjoyed, used medicinally and (perhaps most importantly) shared. For this reason, one of the best ways to celebrate 420 Day is to attend an event, march or meeting.http://www.wired.com/culture/lifestyle/news/2002/04/51986

Some of these events will consist of little more than a group of people gathering at one place to smoke pot. Others will be more politically-oriented, with a focus on marijuana legalization. Some events may feature concerts or movies (Reefer Madness is one classic fave among pot lovers). Decide which sort of event you would prefer to attend, and then talk to your buddies or check the Web to find out what is going on in your area. Some good Internet sources to look at are theweedreport.com, norml.org and post420mag.com.

Due to the illegal nature of some 420 Day celebrations, there is a possibility that you may find it difficult to learn about events. This is especially true if you live in a rural area, as celebrations will likely be well-advertised in urban locales such as New York City and San Francisco. If you don't find anything that piques your interest, consider forming a 420 Day event of your own. All you need are some kind buds and a few good friends, and then you can add whatever activities you please to the agenda.

Of course, lighting up is just about mandatory if you are going to properly celebrate 420 Day. If you happen to live in one of the states that has legalized medical marijuana and you have received your recommendation from a licensed physician, then this part is easy. All you need to do is head down to your local Medical Marijuana dispensary or coop and pick up some herb.http://americanmarijuana.org/

If you do not have legal permission to smoke pot, however, this can get a bit tricky. Learn the laws in your area and decide if this is something that you really want to do. Know about all of the possible consequences that you may experience if you get busted, and realize that if you choose to smoke then you are doing so at your own risk.

If you are legally able to smoke marijuana or if you have decided that the reward outweighs the risk in this case, then get hold of the best quality buds that you can -- after all, 420 Day only occurs once each year. The proper way to partake on this day is to wait until 4:20 am (pm is okay if you are not a late night/early morning creature) and then light up. Ideally, you will be at an event or march where many others around you are doing the same.

Of course, 420 day is not all about having fun and getting high. There is a serious and controversial political issue at the heart of the celebration. If you believe that people should have the right to smoke pot, and that patients should be entitled to use the herb as medicine in every state in the Union, then you have some work to do as you party (don't worry, you don't have to put the pipe down to get involved).

Perhaps the loudest voice today advocating the legalization of marijuana is The National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, known as Norml. Consider making a donation through their website, norml.org, or join their legal committee if you happen to be an attorney.http://norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=3443

Aside from donating, you can also support marijuana law reform by contacting the politicians in your city or state; you can even take your pleas to the federal level if you choose. Write your congressman, your mayor, your governor and whomever else you believe should be working towards decriminalizing marijuana.

Marijuana is still illegal under federal law, although it is legalized for medical use in fourteen states. The content in this page is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical or legal advice. Please do not think that just because it is legal in your state that you can freely smoke. You must have a medical card that allows you to smoke marijuana.