Katelyn Baker
Well-Known Member
Oh, we got trouble right here in Temple Terrace. Trouble, trouble, trouble.
It seems the city mandarins of Temple Terrace have gotten themselves into a full froth, or perhaps fume is a better word, over one of the floats in the village's Fourth of July parade. There on full display for everyone to see was a giant, smoking faux 10-foot long marijuana joint. And somewhere Willie Nelson had to be thinking, "I need to visit Temple Terrace more often."
The float was the handiwork of NORML, the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, in an effort by the group to draw attention to a Nov. 8 ballot initiative to legalize the use of medical marijuana. Well, you can't deny it sure attracted plenty of attention.
Bloomers were properly wadded. Huffing and puffing ensued. And great wails of indignation wafted across the moors of Temple Terrace. Wow, man.
Meetings have been held. Meetings always will be held. Perhaps there will be a hearing or two as well. And City Council members Eddie Vance and David Pogorilich have issued a call for a full-throated "investigation." Investigation? Really? After all, it's not as if the NORML people were handing out doobies to 10-year-olds. What's to investigate? If Cheech and Chong are thinking of moving to Temple Terrace?
Apparently the council members, along with Mayor Frank Chillura, were aghast at the prospect that NORML's bong exhibit would scandalize the city's youth, overlooking perhaps the city's youth are probably avid viewers of the weekly bloodlust and sex scenes on Game of Thrones, and God only knows what else is being passed back and forth on their Facebook, Instagram and Twitter accounts.
As NORML's Christopher Cano told Tampa Bay Times staff writers Ariana Figueroa and Philip Morgan, in the very same parade that so bumfuzzled Chillura and City Council over a float seemingly in tribute to Keith Richards, there was one participant tossing out cheap beads depicting beer cans to children. Last year, another group dispensed Confederate flags honoring treason and slavery to the kiddos.
And Chillura is upset over a marijuana message?
Chillura suggested that perhaps in the future the parade's sponsors, the Reefer Madness Temple Terrace Chamber of Commerce, should be required to submit a list of participants in advance so that ". . . things like this do not happen, and then it's a reflection upon the city."
That presents an interesting quandary. Does Chillura want Temple Terrace to be known as a city that sanitizes its parade participants so that every float honors Little Bo Peep, Apple Pie and motherhood? Or does he want the city to be associated with the censoring of the First Amendment?
Let us not forget the NORML float was participating in the Fourth of July parade, which is supposed to honor the founding of the country by a bunch of revolutionaries attempting to throw off the yoke of oppression from a tyrannical king. It's the same group of patriots who would eventually draft the U.S. Constitution guaranteeing the right of free speech.
The NORML float was part of a political campaign to legalize medical marijuana. The group was exercising its constitutional right to petition its government. This was not an effort to erect a statue of George Carlin in his hippy-dippy weatherman character in front of City Hall. Wait a minute. That might not be such a terrible idea, after all.
Cano said he plans to return with his NORML smoking roach float to the Temple Terrace Fourth of July parade next year. Oh trouble, trouble, trouble.
That gives City Council and the next mayor plenty of time to decide what to do when the ganja express honoring Bill Maher rolls into town. Maybe everyone should just relax and have a brownie. Really, really relax.
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Temple Terrace Should Mellow Out On Marijuana Float
Author: Daniel Ruth
Contact: 1-800-888-7012
Photo Credit: None Found
Website: Tampa Bay Times
It seems the city mandarins of Temple Terrace have gotten themselves into a full froth, or perhaps fume is a better word, over one of the floats in the village's Fourth of July parade. There on full display for everyone to see was a giant, smoking faux 10-foot long marijuana joint. And somewhere Willie Nelson had to be thinking, "I need to visit Temple Terrace more often."
The float was the handiwork of NORML, the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, in an effort by the group to draw attention to a Nov. 8 ballot initiative to legalize the use of medical marijuana. Well, you can't deny it sure attracted plenty of attention.
Bloomers were properly wadded. Huffing and puffing ensued. And great wails of indignation wafted across the moors of Temple Terrace. Wow, man.
Meetings have been held. Meetings always will be held. Perhaps there will be a hearing or two as well. And City Council members Eddie Vance and David Pogorilich have issued a call for a full-throated "investigation." Investigation? Really? After all, it's not as if the NORML people were handing out doobies to 10-year-olds. What's to investigate? If Cheech and Chong are thinking of moving to Temple Terrace?
Apparently the council members, along with Mayor Frank Chillura, were aghast at the prospect that NORML's bong exhibit would scandalize the city's youth, overlooking perhaps the city's youth are probably avid viewers of the weekly bloodlust and sex scenes on Game of Thrones, and God only knows what else is being passed back and forth on their Facebook, Instagram and Twitter accounts.
As NORML's Christopher Cano told Tampa Bay Times staff writers Ariana Figueroa and Philip Morgan, in the very same parade that so bumfuzzled Chillura and City Council over a float seemingly in tribute to Keith Richards, there was one participant tossing out cheap beads depicting beer cans to children. Last year, another group dispensed Confederate flags honoring treason and slavery to the kiddos.
And Chillura is upset over a marijuana message?
Chillura suggested that perhaps in the future the parade's sponsors, the Reefer Madness Temple Terrace Chamber of Commerce, should be required to submit a list of participants in advance so that ". . . things like this do not happen, and then it's a reflection upon the city."
That presents an interesting quandary. Does Chillura want Temple Terrace to be known as a city that sanitizes its parade participants so that every float honors Little Bo Peep, Apple Pie and motherhood? Or does he want the city to be associated with the censoring of the First Amendment?
Let us not forget the NORML float was participating in the Fourth of July parade, which is supposed to honor the founding of the country by a bunch of revolutionaries attempting to throw off the yoke of oppression from a tyrannical king. It's the same group of patriots who would eventually draft the U.S. Constitution guaranteeing the right of free speech.
The NORML float was part of a political campaign to legalize medical marijuana. The group was exercising its constitutional right to petition its government. This was not an effort to erect a statue of George Carlin in his hippy-dippy weatherman character in front of City Hall. Wait a minute. That might not be such a terrible idea, after all.
Cano said he plans to return with his NORML smoking roach float to the Temple Terrace Fourth of July parade next year. Oh trouble, trouble, trouble.
That gives City Council and the next mayor plenty of time to decide what to do when the ganja express honoring Bill Maher rolls into town. Maybe everyone should just relax and have a brownie. Really, really relax.
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Temple Terrace Should Mellow Out On Marijuana Float
Author: Daniel Ruth
Contact: 1-800-888-7012
Photo Credit: None Found
Website: Tampa Bay Times
