The level of talent among the participants who packed into Anisq’ Oyo’ Park on Sunday afternoon for the revival of Isla Vista’s long-forgotten joint-rolling competition was so high, it could make your head spin.

The UCSB chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML), an organization that advocates the legalization of marijuana, hosted the event, which was held annually during the late 1970s until interest faded shortly after the end of the decade. Judges awarded prizes for the fattest, fastest-rolled, and best overall joints — rolled with regulation 1 1/4″ Zig-Zag papers — and blunts of the competition.

Approximately 100 spectators turned out to watch the event and recline on the grass, munch on Doritos, drink beer and listen to the live music offered. Musical performers included local reggae band Social Sound System, which covered several Bob Marley and Beatles songs, with a guest appearance by I.V. local Harmonica Pirate on harmonica and vocals.

Participants were required to use the supplies provided by NORML organizers, and none of the material that they rolled had marijuana content.

Ten-minute heats took place in each of six categories, interspersed with educational announcements and jam sessions by Social Sound System. Eager spectators crowded around the tables to watch and cheered, “Hemp, hemp, hooray!” Danny Urbino, a freshman business economics major, rolled the “fattest” joint, weighing in at 13.7 grams. Nicole Otero, a senior communication major, rolled the “primo” — or best overall — joint, and 49-year-old I.V. resident Rand “Survivor” Drury rolled the fastest joint.

Drury said he attributes his victory to his more than 30 years of joint-rolling experience.

“I’ve been rolling joints since I was in this car with these girls when I was 16,” Drury said.

In the blunt category, junior political science major Brian Yoo rolled the fastest in 20 seconds, and Urbino smoked the competition again with both the fattest blunt and the primo blunt. Of the 15 to 20 contestants who participated in each heat, some signed up online ahead of time, but most entered the competition on the spot.

NORML member and junior anthropology major George Boulos said category winners would receive “some good stuff,” including a glass bubbler. The event also featured a raffle for a skateboard deck shaped and painted like a lit joint.

Jeff Gelb, a senior physics major and NORML member, said NORML used to annually host similar events between 1976 and 1981, but he said those events “kind of faded off.” Boulos said this year’s contest was an attempt to revive the tradition of the annual event.

“People started getting lame and they stopped having [the competitions],” Boulos said. “But we’re going to revive it this year and make it better than ever.”

The event, Boulos said, was also intended to raise support for marijuana legalization.

“[We just want] to get it legal… It’s not as harmful as everyone thinks,” Boulos said. “Society paints it as this evil thing.” Joe Mauricio, a junior philosophy and sociology major, said he attended the event to support NORML and to have fun.

“[I am here to] respect the cannabis plant and its uses,” Mauricio said. “It’s good times.”

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