State and local regulators are warning dispensary owners against holding off-site parties or allowing on-site cannabis consumption Friday during the annual celebration known as 4/20.
A number of Sacramento-area dispensaries are advertising special events for the day, but most are scheduled for on-site and make no mention of on-site consumption.
One exception is the second annual “Hella 420,” billed as “Sacramento’s only 4/20 recreational cannabis event.” It is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. at midtown Sacramento’s Exhale Smoke Shop and is sponsored by Ohana Gardens, a licensed dispensary.
The event costs $31.20 and invites consumers to smoke inside the shop, using an on-site “dab bar” to imbibe concentrated cannabis, said Exhale Smoke Shop’s owner, Ryan Donnelly.
Ohana has delivered cannabis to the homes of people who paid for a ticket, Donnelly said. Attendees must bring their own cannabis to Exhale to consume Friday, he said. None will be available for purchase.
Sacramento pot czar Joe Devlin said there’s nothing illegal about Ohana delivering cannabis to ticket holders. However, under state law, on-site consumption is only allowed at dispensaries and only when a local jurisdiction approves of the practice. Sacramento has not approved on-site consumption.
Devlin said after talking to an Ohana representative, he was of the impression that the event would not be taking place.
Donnelly, however, said Thursday afternoon that the event was still planned.
“I guess the police department will do more than drive by (Exhale) tomorrow,” Devlin said.
Donnelly said he is simply trying to provide a safe place for people to consume. He said he notified city officials about last year’s event, but neglected to do so this year because of some confusion about where it would be held.
Devlin said he will be doing inspections Friday to make sure dispensaries are following the law about events.
The state Bureau of Cannabis Control sent out a notice Tuesday warning license holders to hold 4/20 events in accordance with state law.
“Any bureau licensee participating in an unlicensed cannabis event may be subject to disciplinary action,” the notice states.
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