April 23, 2017
Thom Carroll/PhillyVoice
Marijuana activist N.A. Poe takes the first few drags from a 12-gram joint at the 'pop-up weed garden' he organized at Eakins Oval, across from the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
Multiple arrests were reportedly made this weekend during a police raid of an event organized by marijuana activists in Philadelphia.
The celebration occurred Saturday night on the 4500 block of Worth Street in East Frankford and was promoted on social media by Philly Smoke Session. The invitation advertised a $50 fee on Instagram to secure tickets for the adults-only meet-up, which featured vendors selling a variety of products containing marijuana.
Attendees were welcomed to smoke and ingest the products at the party, dubbed the "Spring Fling VIP Event."
The Philadelphia Police Department conducted the bust around 8 p.m., reports Philadelphia Magazine's Victor Fiorillo who wrote that he attended the event but left 30 minutes before the raid began.
On social media, witnesses reported many attendees had chronic medical conditions and were looking to obtain the drug for medicinal purposes.
Philadelphia Police Narcotics and SWAT just detained/released about 75 people at a 420 party, others arrested
— Chris Goldstein (@freedomisgreen) April 23, 2017
PPD Narcotics (name covered) said "we are doing this because marijuana is still illegal"
— Chris Goldstein (@freedomisgreen) April 23, 2017
Mike Whiter @PHLstoner was detained/released said many were underground medical marijuana patients
— Chris Goldstein (@freedomisgreen) April 23, 2017
According to 6ABC, 22 people - 19 men and three women - were arrested, and approximately fifty pounds of marijuana, 100 pounds of THC-infused edibles, four handguns, and $50,000 in cash was confiscated.
In Philly, lawmakers decriminalized the possession and smoking of small amounts of marijuana. Individuals caught with less than 30 grams of weed are subject to a $25 fine while those smoking face a $100 fine. However, possession of amounts greater than 30 grams and the sale of marijuana remains prohibited.
