Staff WriterOutside Lands festival in San Francisco will be the first major USA festival to allow onsite sale and consumption of weed.
The three day festival in San Francisco, USA will be the first major festival in the US that will allow the sale and consumption of weed on the grounds of the festival in a fenced off area called Grass Lands, ensuring attendees that don’t want to take part will not be effected.
“Cannabis is part of our culture — particularly at music festivals — and it makes sense to allow people to obtain it legally,” says Senator Scott Weiner. The Outside Lands lineup includes a Electronic lineup of DJ Koze, Yaeji, San Holo and much more.
Director of the San Francisco Office of Cannabis, Marisa Rodriguez said “Permitting Grass Lands as the inaugural event is the first step in creating a safe cannabis event space for those aged 21 years and older,” The creation of a safe space for cannabis users removes any criminal activity linked to it and makes the experience safer for attendees wishing to do so. Marisa went on to say “Attendees will be able to purchase and consume lab-tested products away from the rest of the venue’s attendees.” ensuring attendees know exactly what they are consuming.
Could this open attitude allow room for other liberal and safer approaches to drug consumption, like drug testing at festivals, to occur? The Outside Lands festivals is a long way away from Ireland but this liberal outlook could lead down more positive and safer paths. While not taking drugs is the safest option, the need for drug testing areas at festivals is huge and it removes major risks for festival attendees while also saving lives.