The head of a B.C. cannabis growers group stated that the City of Vancouver’s decision to discourage rather than sanction a marijuana celebration over the weekend was a costly ‘missed opportunity.’ According to Tara Kirkpatrick, the president of the BC Craft Farmers Co-Op, the city should rethink its approach to 4-20 celebrations and authorize what could be an ‘international cannabis tourism event.’
Instead of permitting a ‘professionally run special event’ akin to the annual Pride Parade, the city erected barriers around Sunset Beach and had police target vendors at the unsanctioned celebration over the weekend. ‘Previous celebrations in Vancouver on April 20 – considered the day to celebrate smoking cannabis – have drawn tens of thousands of people, caused traffic gridlock, and expensive damage to city parks,’ Kirkpatrick acknowledged.
However, she emphasized that such an event could generate millions in tourism revenue for the province. Vancouver could capitalize on B.C.’s ‘rich cannabis culture’ and reputation as a hub for ‘legendary craft cannabis farmers.’
The Vancouver Park Board responded by erecting temporary fences and closing washrooms and parking lots on Saturday in an attempt to ‘mitigate’ what it described as a ‘non-sanctioned cannabis protest event.’
Kirkpatrick highlighted that Vancouver could have emulated the City of Prince George, which hosted a permitted ‘cannabis summit’ over the weekend that attracted thousands, including the city’s mayor.
