It's 4/20, But Not in Watsonville

Wednesday is April 20, better known in some circles as 4/20 and a celebration of marijuana culture.

Thousands of potheads and marijuana supporters are expected to descend on UC Santa Cruz to smoke together at 4:20 p.m., the traditional weed-smoking Happy Hour.

But in Watsonville—a town without a medicinal marijuana dispensary, a head shop or a university—Tuesday's unofficial pot-smoking holiday doesn't mean much.

“Not here," Watsonville police Sgt. Saul Gonzalez said. "The problems will be in Santa Cruz, not here.”

It's not that marijuana isn't used in Watsonville. People are cited for marijuana possession from time to time, often in the City Plaza, and there have been a few marijuana grows busted in the city.

Gonzalez said he's not sure why the counterculture celebration isn't a big deal for South County residents.

“It’s traditionally not a problem for us here," he said.

And that's fine. Gonzalez will spend his 4/20 continuing the investigation of the . The 20-year-old was mortally wounded when gang members opened fire during a party at an apartment on Clifford Street earlier this month.

"We’re working some leads,” Gonzalez said.