Pubdate: Thu, 17 Mar 2016
Source: Sacramento News & Review (CA)
Column: The 420
Copyright: 2016 Chico Community Publishing, Inc.
Contact:  http://newsreview.com/sacto/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/540
Author: Ngaio Bealum

CUP RUNNETH DRY

I was talking with a friend in Colorado and he told me that another 
pot festival was just recently denied permission to organize its 
event. Why is Colorado having so many issues with these types of 
events compared to California?

- -Michael

It's funny. In some ways, it is easier to throw a festival when weed 
is illegal. It can be seen as a sort of protest, like the Ann Arbor 
Hash Bash or the Seattle Hempfest. Thousands of people show up and 
put a cloud in the air, the cops can't arrest everyone, and people 
are mostly left alone to smoke weed and have a great nonviolent time. 
Things get a little fuzzy when marijuana is just another drug. 
Anti-smoking ordinances tend to treat tobacco and marijuana in the 
same way, and for some strange reason, many city officials would 
rather have beerfests (because we all know alcohol users are never 
violent or out of control) than a pot party.

The High Times Cannabis Cup Has been a successful event in Denver for 
more than 10 years. However, it seems like the good people of Denver 
don't want 35,000 good-natured people spending money on hotel rooms 
and restaurants, because weed is bad or something. Part of this is 
because prohibitionists are dumb, and part of this is because High 
Times has a bad rep for not cleaning up after the event. Fortunately, 
San Bernardino has kinda become the unofficial home of large cannabis 
festivals. The High Times Cup was just there in January, and it looks 
like it will be there again in April. San Bernardino also hosted the 
Chalice California event in 2015, although I think Chalice is looking 
for a new location this year. As for Colorado, I don't know what to 
tell you. That city's loss is California's gain. I would like to 
thank the city of San Bernardino for being cool about adult cannabis 
users and I would suggest that you and your friend get tickets for 
the San Bernardino event (www.cannabiscup.com/socal/#info-). Have fun!

What you think the odds are for legalization in California in 2016? 
According to the people at my dispensary, they think it won't happen 
until 2019. Why would it take that long?

- -RCLE

2019 would be a weird year for cannabis legalization. Right now, 
California has a 50-50 chance. Sean Parker's Adult Use of Marijuana 
Act has money and is gaining steam. There were some internet stories 
floating around about a company named KUSH donating $1 million to the 
Marijuana Control, Legalization and Revenue Act, but the "money" 
turned out to be stock with a value of maybe 5 cents a share and no 
real legal backing. We will see if the AUMA can convince the squares 
(and all the growers in the Emerald Triangle) to get support for 62 
pages of regulations.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom