4/20 ‘protestival’ still raising a stink after 25 years

After 25 years, 4/20 is bigger and better than ever — but still raising a stink over Vancouver.

It has been just over six months since the Canadian government legalized recreational cannabis, but organizers of the local pro-cannabis protest and farmer’s market say they see no reason to stop now, despite pressure from some local officials to pay up and/or get off Sunset Beach.

Some people incorrectly assumed the 4/20 “protestival” would scale back after Oct. 17, 2018, when the first B.C. Cannabis Store opened in Kamloops and, in the months that followed, licensed private stores started to open their doors. But organizer Dana Larsen said there’s still plenty for which to fight.

About 300 vendors paid to rent tents and hundreds more set up for free on the outskirts of the main event area at Sunset Beach. California hip hop legends Cypress Hill were booked to headline.

Last year, when it rained, the crowd was estimated to be around 40,000. This year, with ample sunshine and a major music act, it was much bigger.

Vancouver police said in a news release that just before 4:30 p.m., the crowd had peaked to about 60,000.

At the tents, dried cannabis and oils were still available by the ounce, and for less than what the government charges for the legal stuff. Many vendors sold edibles and concentrates, despite them remaining illegal until next fall. Some sold “magic” psilocybin mushrooms, which are illegal.

Attendees wore tie-dye, hemp, animal costumes and body-paint, but also Lululemon and crisp polo shirts. Old-school protesters mingled with young stoners enjoying the extended Easter weekend.

Vancouver police had warned vendors they would be arrested if they sold merchandise to minors, and there were signs everywhere warning against such transactions. Postmedia News watched several vendors check for ID.

Still, plenty of young teens took hits from bongs on Sunset Beach. But it was unclear if they were smoking government cannabis pinched from a parent’s stash, or if they had managed to circumvent the “Got ID, kid?” policy in place.

Behind the scenes — particularly over social and traditional media — organizers, politicians and pundits had spent weeks sniping over the event. Some municipal politicians want 4/20 to pay for policing and get off public park property, or face oblivion.

Last year, organizers said they paid about $63,000 to the city and park board for costs related to the event, but the city said the event wound up costing it more than $237,000.

The 4/20 organizers continue to refuse to pay for the cost of policing at the event, which has run well over $120,000 the past two years.

On Friday, councillor Melissa De Genova said she intended to bring a motion to council meant to recover all costs from the 4/20 organizers and go after the vendors, contractors and others who profit off the event, too.

Also Friday, event producers and organizers of local events, including the president of Live Nation Canada and executive director of the Vancouver Pride Society, signed an open letter calling on the city and park board to do something about 4/20.

“We believe the standards we are held to should apply to every event in this city with no exceptions — safety plans, guidelines and paying for services needs to happen,” they wrote.

“Calling an entertainment event or festival something other than what it is should not preclude organizers from following all the same rules.”

Organizer Dana Larsen said he felt great about 4/20 this year despite “a lot of harassment” beforehand.

Larsen was optimistic that the sunny weather and turf protection they rented for the field would prevent any damage to the grass this year, “although I’m pretty sure the park board’s going to close it up anyways,” he added.

He estimated the event would cost more than $300,000, including $30,000 for turf protection, $25,000 for toilets, $20,000 for security and the rest on paramedics, staging, water, printing, cleanup and other costs. He said the event donates $12,600 to local charities, including $4,200 each to Variety, CKNW Kids’ Fund and the Overdose Prevention Society, he said.

Larsen said 4/20 still won’t pay for policing, which he said is too expensive and unfairly hurting local events.

“I think we should do all events fairly — protests, festivals, sports, parades. Policing, I think, should be treated as a community service, and should be provided whether there’s one of you on the beach or 100,000,” he said.

Larsen said 4/20 remains a protest because the cost of legal cannabis remains prohibitive, the laws are more punitive than those for alcohol, and people are still being charged or remain stigmatized because of past cannabis charges.

He said organizers will continue to push for a permit from the park board. Meantime, the backlash keeps them going, he said.

“If your main concern is only about the relative minor amount of police money spent at our 4/20 protest, and you’re not outraged by the billions of dollars our country spends, still, to arrest, harass and persecute cannabis users, and all other drug users, then you are the people and the mentality that we are protesting against here,” he said.

“Because legalization of cannabis and ending the whole war on drugs will be worth billions and billions in savings, and billions and billions in tax revenue.”

As per tradition, around 4 p.m., Larsen addressed the large crowd, reiterating his message to continue 4/20.

Longtime cannabis activist Neil Magnuson then sang “O’ Cannabis,” an ode to the green leaf he wrote to the tune of the national anthem.

“We’re here because we’re protesting the cannabis laws but we’re really here about freedom,” Magnuson shouted from the stage.

“This is the most beneficial and least-dangerous substance on the planet, and if your public servants can tell you that you can’t have that or you’re a criminal then damn it, you’re not free.”

At 4:10 p.m., the crowd parted in front of the stage and sat down on the grass, while people with bags stuffed with hundreds upon hundreds of joints tossed them for the big smoke at 4:20 p.m.

About 20 minutes later, California hip hop legends Cypress Hill sauntered onto the hazy stage to a subdued but thoroughly-pleased crowd.

“Happy 4/20 Vancouver, you ready to do this?” asked B-Real, before the cannabis-loving group launched into their track “Roll It up, Light It Up, Smoke It Up.”

Like in past years, some people at 4/20 loved cannabis a little too much.

By 6 p.m., 21 attendees had gone to St. Paul’s emergency department, Providence Health Care spokeswoman Ann Gibbon said.

One person presented with symptoms of a seizure and another person suffered “a decreased level of consciousness,” and was being treated in the hospital’s trauma unit, she added.

“People have been coming in mainly with problems related to edibles,” she said.

Gibbon said symptoms from an overdose of edibles typically include nausea, anxiety, weakness and paranoia.

Sgt. Jason Robillard said Vancouver police had no major incidents to report after the event, but officers did help B.C. Emergency Health Services with more than 14 medical emergencies. Traffic- enforcement officers gave out more than 30 tickets and investigated three people for impaired driving, he added.

“Today was a good example of remarkable teamwork between the Vancouver Police, fellow first responders, the Vancouver Park Board, and the City of Vancouver, allowing for a safe environment during a large scale event,” he said.

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