4/20 celebrations and the influence on young people

Jody Boulay

Special to the Village News

Much of the idea of 4/20 has moved from being a counterculture protest to more of a consumer-interest story within the media. Legal marijuana is a big business in California.

The 4/20 festivities, like Hippie Hill, are another opportunity to promote the industry and its products, much like alcohol companies during the holiday season or St. Patrick's Day.

Ignoring its influence on young people is hard when celebrities and social media influencers push brands and products. This is genuinely something that parents should be aware of and make an effort to ha...