Downtown Prince George on 4/20/2024

By Greg Fry

4/20

BC Craft Farmers Co-Op urges Vancouver to look to Prince George when it comes to 4/20 policy

Apr 23, 2024 | 5:00 AM

PRINCE GEORGE — Hot on the heels of the The 2024 BC Craft Cannabis Summit in Prince George, the BC Craft Farmers Co-Op is inviting the City of Vancouver to look north for inspiration.

The organization is urging Vancouver to reconsider its 4/20 celebration policy and develop plans to host a major international cannabis tourism event that could bring tens of millions of dollars to the city and shine a light on the world’s best cannabis farmers.

“Instead of erecting barriers and using valuable police resources to shake down vendors, the City of Vancouver and Destination BC should embrace the concept of cannabis tourism,” said BC Craft Farmers Co-Op President Tara Kirkpatrick. “Vancouver has an opportunity to sanction an annual and professionally run special event similar in scale to Vancouver’s Pride Parade that celebrates British Columbia’s rich cannabis culture, promotes BC’s legendary craft cannabis farmers, and result in tens of millions of dollars for the BC economy. Some estimate the global cannabis tourism market to be over $15 billion. Our whole province can benefit from getting a piece of this market.”

The BC Craft Farmers Co-Op hosted their successful annual cannabis summit this weekend in Prince George. This year’s event featured BC’s first legally sanctioned cannabis street party in Downtown Prince George. The City of Prince George issued a permit downtown for an all-day 4/20 street party on Saturday. Thousands attended without incident, including the Mayor of Prince George.

During this year’s Cannabis Summit, delegates heard from Dr. Susan Dupej, PhD from Guelph University. Dr. Dupej has been studying northern California’s cannabis tourism industry over the past year and presented her preliminary research findings in Prince George.

PG Fire Rescue

Fire Rescue respond to fire in Carrie Jane Gray Park

15h ago

Update

UPDATE: Wanted Prince George man arrested by RCMP in Port Alberni

18h ago

Autism podcast

Prince George local receives large grant to produce podcast on women and autism

18h ago

Among other things, Dr. Dupej concluded that many of the conditions in northern California’s world famous ‘Emerald Triangle’ cannabis farming region can be applied to BC. Dr. Dupej highlighted BC’s unique cannabis culture and history of advocacy as a major advantage in attracting tourists to experience the place cannabis is grown and the passionate people farming the plant.