'4:20': April 20 Annual Marijuana Rallies Piss Parents Off; Say These Are Just 'Weed-Selling' Promotions And Not Festivals (PHOTOS)

By Aditi Mathur | April 22 2012 7:12 AM

Photo: Reuters

A man smokes marijuana during a 4/20 rally to demand the legalization of marijuana on Parliament Hill in Ottawa

A man smokes marijuana during a 4/20 rally to demand the legalization of marijuana on Parliament Hill in Ottawa April 20, 2012. Marijuana enthusiasts across Canada gather by the thousands every year on April 20 for an international celebration-cum-protest for marijuana legalization.

Photo: Reuters

A women rolls a marijuana joint at the Vancouver Art Gallery

A women rolls a marijuana joint at the Vancouver Art Gallery during the annual 420 day promoting the use of marijuana in Vancouver, British Columbia April 20, 2012.

Photo: Reuters

A smoke cloud is seen over the crowd at the Vancouver Art Gallery

A smoke cloud is seen over the crowd at the Vancouver Art Gallery during the annual 420 day promoting the use of marijuana in Vancouver, British Columbia April 20, 2012.

Photo: Reuters

A women holds up bags of marijuana for sale at the Vancouver Art Gallery

A women holds up bags of marijuana for sale at the Vancouver Art Gallery during the annual 420 day promoting the use of marijuana in Vancouver, British Columbia April 20, 2012.

Photo: Reuters

Men smoke marijuana during a 4/20 rally to demand the legalization of marijuana on Parliament Hill in Ottawa

Men smoke marijuana during a 4/20 rally to demand the legalization of marijuana on Parliament Hill in Ottawa April 20, 2012. Marijuana enthusiasts across Canada gather by the thousands every year on April 20 for an international celebration-cum-protest for marijuana legalization.

Photo: Reuters

A woman embraces her friend during a rally to demand the legalization of marijuana in Mexico City

A woman embraces her friend during a 4/20 rally to demand the legalization of marijuana outside the Senate building in Mexico City April 20, 2012. Marijuana enthusiasts across the world gather every year on April 20 for an international celebration-cum-protest for marijuana legalization. The words read, "Legalize it"

Photo: Reuters

Students and others smoke marijuana at a pro-marijuana rally at the University of Colorado in Boulder

Students and others smoke marijuana at a pro-marijuana rally at the University of Colorado in Boulder, Colorado April 20, 2012. The University of Colorado clamped down on a huge annual marijuana fest on Friday by restricting access to the school and a field where the "smoke-in" is traditionally held, and three protesters were arrested ahead of the event. The event was held on April 20, a date corresponding with a numerical 4/20 code widely known within the cannabis subculture as a symbol for all things marijuana.

Photo: Reuters

People smoke marijuana joints at 4:20 p.m. as thousands of marijuana advocates gathered at Golden Gate Park in San Francisco

People smoke marijuana joints at 4:20 p.m. as thousands of marijuana advocates gathered at Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, California April 20, 2012. The event was held on April 20, a date corresponding with a numerical 4/20 code widely known within the cannabis subculture as a symbol for all things marijuana.

Photo: Reuters

A women wearing novelty sunglasses with artificial marijuana leaves smokes a marijuana joint at the Vancouver Art Gallery

A women wearing novelty sunglasses with artificial marijuana leaves smokes a marijuana joint at the Vancouver Art Gallery during the annual 420 day promoting the use of marijuana in Vancouver, British Columbia April 20, 2012.

Photo: Reuters

Marijuana paraphernalia is displayed during a rally to demand the legalization of marijuana in Mexico City

Marijuana paraphernalia is displayed during a 4/20 rally to demand the legalization of marijuana outside the Senate building in Mexico City April 20, 2012. Marijuana enthusiasts across the world gather every year on April 20 for an international celebration-cum-protest for marijuana legalization

April 20 is widely known as the unofficial pot-smoking day, when scores of youngsters across America, specifically in the Northern region, flock in public and smoke marijuana.

However, the trend has left most parents fuming, some even demanding strict action to at least keep teenagers away from the marijuana festival.

If we had an event where children were being offered tequila shots, we would all be in an uproar. So, why are we not upset about pot smoking? pointed out an enraged parent of a Vancouver high school student.

Inge Mueller-Langer told CBC News, I don’t think it's very responsible. I think the school should instead be educating our children about the potential long-term effects of smoking pot when you are a teenager.

Tibor Palatinus of Narcononalso asserted in the news report that “It is not a festival…. It’s a pot promotion. It's a weed-selling promotion. Sponsored and promoted by drug dealers, that’s what is going on.

Surprisingly, celebrities like Rihanna, Snoop Dog and several others were also spotted talking about the 4:20 day on public forum. They wished their fans, followers and friends a happy 420, openly on Twitter.

Popularly known as 4:20, its origin dates back to the 1970s. It first began in a California High School, where students gathered at 4:20 p.m. to smoke-up.

Take a look at the Annual Marijuana Rally in the slideshow.