Police Forced to Close Multiple Dispensaries as Huge Crowds Descend for 420

April 20, Denver, CO: Denver law enforcement temporarily closed several cannabis dispensaries and garden centers today as crowds far surpassed acceptable safety limits on the annual 4/20 marijuana holiday. Police shut down multiple businesses demanding they cease sales and vacate premises immediately, drawing ire from attendees and criticism from the cannabis industry.

Huge crowds began lining up outside dispensaries as early as 8am on April 20th, hoping to take advantage of special 4/20 sales and promotions. Lines stretched for blocks, causing pedestrian and vehicle traffic jams in the surrounding neighborhoods. “ Public safety is our top priority, and these crowds were simply unmanageable,” stated a Denver police spokesperson. “When businesses are unable to maintain control of their entryways and ensure a safe flow of customers, we have no choice but to shut them down.”

Shut down locations included Terrapin Care Station, The Herbal Center, and Perfectly Posh Garden Center. Dozens of customers were refused entry or told to leave the premises by police in riot gear. Angry attendees shouted protests while others peacefully dispersed. No arrests were made, though several confrontations turned heated.

The cannabis industry slammed the city's decision, arguing that tax-paying businesses were unfairly penalized due to a failure to effectively manage the crowds. They claim the closures also drove customers to less regulated channels, endangering public health and safety even further. “Denver should have been better prepared to handle what has clearly become an established holiday,” said an industry group spokesperson. “If they can't handle 10,000 people buying legal weed, how on earth will they handle a real emergency?”

With over 60,000 attendees flooding Denver for 4/20 weekends events, cannabis overcrowding proved difficult to curb despite increased police presence and warnings from organizers in advance of the day. While sales records were shattered and celebrations held, cannabis overuse also led to increased strain on medical resources, raising ethical issues surrounding commercialization of the once counter-culture holiday. As Colorado's cannabis culture expands, managing its growing pains stands to challenge law and order for years ahead.