4/20 FESTIVAL MUST HAVES
April 20th is like Christmas for stoners – and it is coming up fast! What you might not know is that the very first 4/20 day was both a celebration and protest that started in Vancouver back in 1995 and has continued as an annual tradition across North America (and beyond) since! If you have never attended a 4/20 festival, here are some must haves and tips to ensure that you have a great experience.
PLAN AHEAD Before you even get to the 4/20 festival, make sure you have a plan in place. It is very easy to get carried away at these events, which are great – until you need to find your way back home!
TRAVEL SAFELY The first suggestion is to plan your trip and accomodations. If you are attending a local event, make sure you have a safe ride to and from the event or a planned bus route, pre-booked taxi cab, etc so that you don’t have to worry about it once you get there.
STAY AT A NEARBY HOTEL If you are attending a 4/20 event that is not close to home, it is a good idea to book accomodations at a nearby hotel to make it easy for you to get to and from the event. Most 4/20 events are held in major cities (Vancouver, ) so you should have no problems finding a room if you plan ahead.
PACK THE RIGHT STUFF Not all events will let you bring in outside food and drink, backpacks or other things. However, if the event your attending does not have rules about this, then here are a few essentials to pack: 1. First and foremost – bring some bud! While there will be lots of vendors and products for sale, it is always a good idea to have some of your own with you. However, do be aware of the carrying limits and ensure that you do not have too much. A pre-rolled joint or vape pen is ideal as some venues may not allow outside food (edibles) and you don’t want to lug your dab rig around. If you’re out of bud, make sure to check out our online cannabis dispensary shop and order some before the event! 2. Bring water! 4/20 is not only a very smoky event, but given the dry mouth that can occur when stoned, having water on hand is a very good idea. It can also come in handy if you have had a little too much marijuana and need to bring yourself down a bit. 3. Plan for food as the munchies are inevitable! It is a good idea to bring a couple healthy snacks (apple, granola bars, etc) with you to the event, just in case you run out of cash or the food available is not to your liking. 4. Take out cash before the event as most vendors from cannabis to food trucks will only accept cash, so it is a good idea to have enough to cover what you might spend. 5.
DRESS FOR THE OCCASION This goes along with planning ahead because you do not want to be 4 hours into 4/20 and have sore feet because you wore the wrong shoes! Be sure that you have comfortable footwear so that you can enjoy the event without any pain (not that cannabis can’t help with that!). In addition, depending on your area, it is a good idea to bring a light rain jacket (because, April) that is easy to tuck into your backpack or light enough to carry around with you.
BE CAUTIOUS It is easy to get caught up in the energy and excitement of a 4/20 festival, but it is important to be cautious when you are at these events. Firstly, it is a good idea to avoid taking free items from other individuals at these events. As fun as it is to be handed free product, you can never be sure how much THC might be in a freebie edible, or if they have been contaminated or laced with other components. Be sure to buy your products at 4/20 events from reputable vendors and booths who have the information about their products readily available.
HAVE FUN! 4/20 is a time for celebration and making new friends. It is always a fun to befriend someone with a booth, if you can. Not only is it an awesome experience to meet new people, but it is even better when you have a booth or “homebase” of some kind to go back to. Just make sure not to have too much fun, but if you do have a bit much, here are some tips for countering an intense cannabis high. From your friends at FairCannaCare – Happy 4/20 everyone!