Record crowds of 80,000 descend upon Denver to mark historic 4/20 celebration of marijuana becoming legal in Colorado

Annual 4/20 rally held at the Civic Center in downtown Denver on April 19 and 20, 2014

It is the first since recreational marijuana became legal in Colorado

Some 80,000 revelers expected to attend each day

Huge police and security presence



Authorities said they will 'exercise the proper discretion' when dealing with marijuana use

The drug is only legal to smoke on private property

It started years ago as a rally to generate support for the legalization of marijuana.

So after Colorado passed officiated laws for recreational marijuana on January 1, this year's 4/20 was always going to be monumental.

Some 80,000 people flocked to Denver's Civic Park on Saturday for the first of the two-day event, making it the world's largest cannabis culture music festival.



Organizers invested in a major security increase for the free outing.

Police reported a relatively low 25 arrests for Saturday, with pot smoking only legal on private property, according to ABC Denver.



Taking it to extremes: A man smokes marijuana using a gas mask at the Cannabis Cup on 4/20, in Denver

Smell the aroma: A woman samples the smells on offer in a jar of marijuana at the Cannabis Cup

Celebration: Partygoers dance and smoke pot on the first of two days at the annual 4/20 marijuana festival in Denver, Saturday April 19, 2014, celebrating the first year that marijuana is legal in the state of Colorado

The annual event is the first 420 marijuana celebration since retail marijuana stores began selling in January 2014

Police officers mounted on bikes patrol Civic Center Park on the first of two days at the 4/20 marijuana festival at Civic Center Park in Denver, Saturday April 19, 2014 The two-day festival was expected to draw tens of thousands of people

While last year's festival turned out record numbers, they were expected to double this year.

Police said 17 of the citations handed out were for public consumption, five were for DETOX and two were medical calls.

At least four of the citations went to out of state residents.

One person was transported to the hospital from the rally, but authorities have not released further details.

The entire festival area was fenced in with controlled entry points.

Zion I performs for partygoers at the annual 4/20 marijuana festival in Denver, Saturday April 19, 2014

Party goers dance at the annual 4/20 marijuana festival near downtown Denver at Civic Center Park, Saturday, April 19, 2014 Vanessa Vitali plays with a hoop at the annual 4/20 marijuana festival

Those attending were patted down and no bags were permitted inside the festival area.

Among the rules posted at entry points was one that stated it is illegal to consume marijuana at the event.

Although recreational marijuana is legal in Colorado, it is illegal to smoke it in public.

Traditionally, all attendees light up at 4.20pm.

Partygoers dance to live music and smoke pot on the first of two days at the annual 4/20 marijuana festival The annual event is the first 420 marijuana celebration since retail marijuana stores began selling in January 2014

Organizers made it clear on their website that they 'discouraged' such behavior.

Civic Center Park is a public park located between the state capitol and the Denver City & County Building.

Meanwhile in Canada, the pot-smoking movement took on marijuana prohibition with rallies across the country. Police estimated that more than 2,000 people gathered on the lawn on Parliament Hill in Ottawa. Hundreds turned out at rallies in Vancouver and Toronto.



Pot activist Jodie Emery said there's been a huge spike in interest as the experiment plays out in Colorado and Washington state.



'I can tell you from my spot as being a pot activist for 10 years in Vancouver, the last year has been insane - even in Canada - with respect to licensed providers and all these companies trying to be the next big thing,' Emery said.

The events were not just confined to Colorado however - in Vancouver, Daryl Brown (right) smoked from a bong as thousands gathered at the art gallery downtown