Hollywood sign becomes "Hollyweed" in New Year prank

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The Hollywood sign, the landmark and American cultural icon located in Los Angeles, was vandalized early on Sunday to read "Hollyweed," an apparent reference to the recent legalization of recreational marijuana in California.

According to the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), surveillance footage caught one person dressed all in black sneaking up to the sign at around 3 a.m. and spending about an hour and a half transforming the Os to Es with pieces of black tarp bearing the peace sign.

The famous Hollywood sign reads "Hollyweed" after it was vandalized, January 1, 2017. /CFP Photo‍

Robert Payan of the LAPD was quoted by the Los Angeles Times as saying that it could be a New Year prank or the work of a "thrill seeker." The LAPD has been reviewing security footage to try to track down the trespasser but has so far not identified any suspects.

Local media said the modification was probably a reference to Californians voting on November 8 last year to legalize recreational marijuana in the state. California joined six other states and the District of Columbia from 2017 in allowing the drug's non-medical use.

The incident was not the first time that the sign had been altered.

Danny Finegood, who passed away in 2007, was made famous by changing the sign to "Hollyweed" on January 1, 1976, in celebration of the state's then-more relaxed marijuana laws taking effect.

In 1987, students of the California Institute of Technology, or Caltech, altered it to read the abbreviated name of their school.

(Story adapted from Xinhua)

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