Pubdate: Thu, 21 Apr 2016
Source: Vancouver Sun (CN BC)
Page: A1
Copyright: 2016 Postmedia Network Inc.
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/477
Authors: Bethany Lindsay & Tara Carman

CASH FLOWED, SMOKE BILLOWED

Vendors Sell Doughnuts, Candy And Lots Of Marijuana

Liz Whonnock and her friends stayed up all night firing bannock to get
ready for 4/20, and by mid-afternoon at Sunset Beach, the lack of
sleep was starting to pay off.

"It was super slow at the beginning, but now everybody is getting
hungry and thirsty," Whonnock said as she served a steady stream of
customers buying $8 bannock sandwiches and $2 bottles of water.

"We found a really good opportunity to make some cash."

Hundreds of vendors' tents stretched down the beach selling everything
from dried herbs, oils and edible marijuana products to chips, beach
blankets, jewelry, clothes and even cacti.

It was Whonnock's first time as a vendor, but her bannock was so
popular she said she'd definitely be back next year.

"We'll definitely bring more dry ice next time," she joked, opening a
cooler to show how quickly her frozen treats melted in the hot sun.

Brianna Babiak's friends learned how lucrative 4/20 could be at last
year's event when they raised enough money to pay for a high school
graduation party. This year, they were back selling Krispy Kreme
doughnuts to a long line of young men with heavy eyelids to support
their baseball team in Langley. "A lot of people are buying doughnuts.
This was strategic thinking," Babiak said, estimating that the group
had brought in $600 by about 3 p.m.

At stands selling marijuana, prices for dried product ranged from
about $10 to $25 per gram.

Frances McDonald, who was sitting on a grassy hill overlooking the
beach, said she came to buy products because she wouldn't need a
dispensary's membership card.

"Much easier access," said McDonald, who was sporting a green bob
haircut and sunglasses.

Individual joints seemed to be the most popular item at many booths.
At a Farm Dispensary tent, two women served seven customers in the
span of a minute, each buying a joint or two for $5 each.

Small packages were also popular at the Gone Green Medicinal Products
tent, where Raven Stewart said she'd sold at least 200 pot in-fused
lollipops at $7 each or two for $12.

While vendors raked in cash, the cost to organize and stage the event
has been skyrocketing. It used to be that a small group of activists
would cover the expenses out of pocket, according to organizer Jodie
Emery.

"We would all pitch in $2,000 to $3,000 each year to make sure that we
had $10,000 or $15,00 to work with," she said. "But each year, the
costs go up."

Now she's part of the non-profit society that organizes the event.
This year, they budgeted for $97,000 in costs, but a few unexpected
expenses were added to the tab Wednesday - things like a last-minute
run for sunscreen and additional speakers requested by city engineers
in case of an emergency announcement.

About half the budget went to a professional events team that provided
a stage, fencing and toilets. The organizers are also paying for a
professional cleaning crew, a music co-ordinator, radios to connect
with police and firefighters, and a private first aid team. The
society plans to pay for those costs through $300 requested from
vendors for 187 booth spaces that were available to book before the
event, donations from vendors who showed up without pre-booking, and
$2,000 fees from sponsors who wanted to appear on 4/20 posters and a
screen beside the main stage.

Emery was hopeful that donations and sponsorship fees would cover all
expenses.

But, she added, "We've never, ever had (extra) money."

The festival costs taxpayers as well. Vancouver police were out in
significant numbers, monitoring parking and traffic flow along Beach
Drive, with paramedics and Vancouver Fire and Rescue personnel walking
the site.

The City of Vancouver wasn't able to give an estimate for its costs
related to the 2016 event, but last year about $92,000 was spent on
firefighters, police, engineering and emergency management.

Providence Health Care is also incurring additional costs to prepare
for an expected influx of people who have overindulged at 4/20,
although a spokeswoman didn't have an estimate for the final number.

Additional staff on duty at St. Paul's Hospital on Wednesday included
one extra ER doctor, an additional nurse on the day shift, two on the
night shift and one more registration clerk. The hospital added
stretchers and chairs within the emergency room's rapid assessment
zone.

Whatever the cost, the sea breeze at Sunset Beach seemed to carry away
some of the marijuana smoke that has caused an overwhelming pot smell
in previous years at the Vancouver Art Gallery.

"This is great that it's here because the art gallery is just so
freaking packed," Josie Pearce said. "There's tons of area to move
around, do things. This is the best location it could be." 
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D