Craigslist ad smokes alleged pot deal

It's time for a test. Is there anyone out there who is not familiar with the term "420"?

For those who may have been on a secret government mission to confirm Pluto's existence, legend has it, or at least one of the legends, that referring to pot as "420" started in San Rafael, Calif., where a group of schoolkids met to puff after school ended--which was 4:20 p.m.

Anyway, there seems to be a man in Quincy, Mass., who may not have thought that the police might be familiar with the term.

(Credit: CCEl Pablo!/Flickr)

You see, according to a report in the Patriot-Ledger, police say 30-year-old Christopher Gray put an ad on Craigslist that read in part: "420 help is here."

He then allegedly followed that up with: "Give me a ring if you need some help."

Unfortunately, he seemed to be in an area where police are so fond of reading Craigslist ads that they have learned the secret code. For a detective allegedly called and asked if he might please avail himself of a little quarter ounce.

You can guess the rest. Well, perhaps not. According to Capt. John Dougan, Gray was allegedly fearful when he met the detective and his partner in a parking lot that these purchasers might be members of law enforcement.

How they allegedly satisfied him of their innocence is not recorded. However, according to the good Captain, Gray allegedly said: "Well, I trust you. You look normal."

A transaction then allegedly ensued that would net Gray $45 and an arrest.

Some readers might be a little surprised that police might go to this kind of trouble. Just a brief perusal of the Craigslist San Francisco site Tuesday night yielded ads such as this, which seems as if it might have something to do with marijuana. And for many, this seems entirely normal.

So perhaps the saddest part of this tale comes from Capt. Dougan: "It goes without saying that we will continue monitoring Craigslist."

[Police_States_of_America]

Obama's socialist government cracks down on small business.

[alegr]

If I remember correctly, that was Bush whose DEA would crack down even on the medicinal MJ dispensaries. <br /> <br />On the other hand, Obama's DEA backed off that.

[MMcCubbing]

This is not "small business" it is a crime.<br /><br />Irregardless of whether you believe marijuana use should be legalized or not, currently it is against the laws of most regions, and as such should not be used. If you wish to use it either go to a place were it is legal or fight for it to be legalized in your home area. In the meantime, please respect the law.

[balou1999]

And irregardless is a double negative!

[benjwah]

Hahahah! Irregardless!<br /><br />I'm not gonna let some guy who can't even get his words right tell me what to do.<br /><br />Also, some laws are stupid and made to be broken, like this one. And anyone who's ever gone over the speed limit and not promptly found their way to the local police station to report themselves, has no leg to stand on if they disagree.

[MadLyb]

@benjwah <br /> "...Also, some laws are stupid and made to be broken" <br /> <br />So, who decides what is a stupid law? What if I decided laws against violence were stupid laws or that I should be able to take other people's property because they didn't deserve it? <br /> <br />You don't like a law, then work to change it, because quietly breaking a law is simply your acceptance of the law. <br /> <br />Unless of course, you are gonna go burn one in the local police station you mentioned.

[Electro_Fox]

If you had seen "Puff Puff Pass" (it's complex) you would know that 'irregardless' is not a word... (you REALLY had to have seen the movie, nothing personal, it's just complex...)

[Seaspray0]

Also, some people are stupid and need to be arrested for those laws.

[Police_States_of_America]

first of all my comment is a joke, secondly last time i checked the constitution begins with "we the people". i dont enjoy weed, so i rarely smoke it, however i recognize that it is an issue of personal values which has no place to be decided by the government.

[paulej]

Laws forbidding pot, requiring one to wear a seat belt, or firbidding on to walk through the park after dark (illegal in my town, believe it or not) are all examples of stupid laws. The only laws we should create are those that protect others or prevent harm to others. So, I would support laws against theft or violence, but I really think America goes too far with trying to prevent people from hurting themselves. <br /> <br />@MadLyb suggested that we work to change them. The problem is, that is much more trouble than it is worth. It would take me years to argue my case about a seat belt, for example. It's easier to just conform and go on. So, I do. But, it irritates me, nonetheless, that we supposedly live in "the land of the free" where we are supposed to have certain unalienable rights that include liberty and the pursuit of happiness. I would argue that these kinds of petty laws do nothing but trample on one's liberties ... and I'm sure the pot smokers would be a lot happier without having to worry about police officers throwing them in jail ;-)

[a3th3r]

paulej, <br />I agree with the laws about seatbelts, but laws against drug usage are laws designed to protect others. While it is not the case as much with marijuana, the use of many drugs lower's peoples inhibitions and greatly diminish their judgement causing them to do things they normally wouldn't. Many reliable studies have been published from reputable organizations showing that the chance of someone commiting a violent crime, causing a motor vehicle accident, or participating in domestic violence increases when under the influence of drugs. <br /> <br />As for the park thing (similar laws here) I could see the argument from the law makers side. The property belongs to the local government and they therefore have the right to dictate hours you may enter. Also, the only time I ever went in a park after hours was to buy/sell/use drugs or alcohol (when I was underage.) For these reasons they restrict access.

[daimajinbuu]

Thanks to Nixon, for all this BS over a PLANT!

[Electro_Fox]

Dude... Nixon??? Learn your f'ing history.... F'ing stoner, I swear....

[ckh1272]

No doubt!! You need to go a little further back in time to start passing the blame. Learn your history indeed.

[giftangel]

i dont know what you 2 morons are talking about but daimajinbuu is referring to the "war on drugs" - a term that was first coined by the Nixon administration. it amazes me how people will go out of their way to prove their ignorance to the world on an almost hourly basis. we believe you already, we get it, ok so you dont know much about anything!!!! stop trying to convince the world!!!!! we knew long before you did!!! yes, it was always THAT obvious!!!

[divisionbyzero]

Score 1 for Reefer Madness. What a stupid waste of resources. If these cops have this much spare time to waste on something so trivial, maybe it's time to look at cutbacks in the Quincy police force?

Legalizing marijuana would turn 100,000,000 American criminals such as Bill Gates, Barack Obama, Michael Phelps, and Arnold Schwarzenegger into law abiding citizens.<br /><br />If you want marijuana to be legalized, taxed, and regulated for adults, &lt;b&gt;YOU&lt;/b&gt; can make it happen. Tell your legislators to support California Assembly Bill 390. It's easy. Visit &lt;a href="http://yes390.org"&gt;&lt;b&gt; yes390.org&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;

[lthornto]

I have to say I have never heard of 420 and I don't consider myself that far ""out of the loop".

[ckh1272]

Sorry, but evidently you ARE a bit out of the loop if you don't know the "420" slang. Either that, or you have never been near or around 420.

[Seaspray0]

If being in the loop means wearing your pants around your knees and having to walk like a penguin to keep them there, then I'll gladly stay out of it. If being in the loop mean playing rap music with the base turned up so loud that it rattles the windows of the house next door, then I'll gladly stay out of it. If being in the loop means listening to homies use the f'word atleast once in every sentence, then I'll gladly stay out of it. If being in the loop means showing total disrespect to strangers, then I'll gladly stay out of it.

[giftangel]

as i am not a big fan of any of the dirt you just described seaspray - 420 is purely a wannabe hippie 99% white suburban youth thing - and they smoke the kind of green that doesnt exist on the side of the tracks you are describing which would really put you that much further out of the loop and probably more just blind to the fact that your sister and everyone of your white friends knows what 420 means but you don't. the loop youre lookin for is the intelligence loop and you missed that exit like 5 miles back dude.

[Michichael]

Ah, natural selection. Legalize it or don't, the problem will work itself out eventually.

[lennon75]

actually the term 420 is used because that is the code for police activity involving marijuan just like a 187 is for homicide. They use codes so the adverage person does not know what the calls are for if they are listening to a police scanner. it has nothing to do with a group of kids smoking after school at 4:20 P.M. 311 is burglery and so on.

[giftangel]

naturally i just wrote nearly the exact same thing without having the patience to read every comment so i missed reading your first before i wrote mine but while 311 might be burglary in some other states it is commonly the east coasts version of 420 on the west coast - i promise you this is the case - if you think i am wrong send an email to the band 311 and ask why they think it is cool to name their band after stealing stuff from people. the numerical codes differ from state to state on nearly all charges but for some of the more common ones they are the same in sections of the country. ok time to pack the bong - toke it easy.

[crsteele]

It can obliviously be taken for granted that while these two enterprising policemen were apprehending the alleged criminal Gray for a 1/4oz of grass that there was not a single case unsolved on their books nor was there any crime committed during this time. <br /><br /> If this is not 100% the case then the officers concerned and the their even more retarded bosses should be put on immediate suspension pending dismissal. <br /><br />If a law is know to be wrong then those that knowingly enforce it are to be held accountable.<br /><br />This is not an argument.... Only the stupid and ignorant think the drug war is working.

[doctorevil3232]

Craigslist is getting all sorts of terrible press these days; unfortunately in the virtual world, bad press is not good press. Backpage.com is a good classifieds site that seems to have escaped the negative headlines so far. Check it out- just sold my furniture through there and it was no hassle. And no one has tried to kill or arrest me yet.

[giftangel]

let me clear up your confusion on the origins of 420.<br /><br />while being arrested for marijuana possession in california the pig will radio back to his pen that he has a 420 in progress. similarly on the east coast the popular numerical term given for the very same victimless crime is 311 (hence the name of a rather extremely popular band which goes by the name simply "311")<br /><br />crimes all have numbers associated with them (187 is murder, etc) because it makes pigs feel cool like they are speaking in code that any one can figure out which reminds them of how grand life used to be when they were they biggest doof in 5th grade running around beating up smaller kids for their lunch money and having no friends until they found an outlet for similar like-minded sociopaths - the police force.<br /><br />how you came up with your explanation on the origins of 420 speaks to your creativity if nothing else because it certainly wasn't based in any kind of knowledge of any sort.<br /><br />good... glad i could clear that up.... as a sidenote all the misguided youth whose lives seemed far less worth living once Jerry Garcia died have adopted 4:20 pm as a time to mandatrorily (sic?) partake in the happysmoke. For all you boomers who arent familiar with the youth of which i speak just stand up for a second and go over to the stairs - now walk up them and go down the hall about 6 feet now turn either right or left (both will work) and knock on whichever door you are standing in front of. the person who answers the door will either be your son or daughter or their respective boyfriend or girlfriend - in any event there is a 96.8% chance that whichever of the 4 is now standing in front of you with bloodshot eyes (if it is 4:23pm or later) is the misguided youth of which i speak. if it is 4:15pm speak your mind quickly because you are about to interrupt their daily ritual.<br /><br />and in case you were wondering where they learned to act like that - 9 times out of 10 it was one of your photo albums that you thought had hidden better than you really did.