BANGOR, MI -- Marijuana is coming to Bangor’s Main Street Saturday for the first 420 Festival in the small town in Southwest Michigan. The Green Door is hosting the 420 Festival from 10:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Saturday, April 20, in downtown Bangor in Van Buren County, according to a press release from The Green Door. The festival is free and open to anyone at least 21 years old, the release said. Nearly 30 vendors will line Main Street, including veteran organizations, cannabis compassion groups, local businesses and food trucks. The event will also include glass blowing demonstrations, live music and guest speakers to talk about the benefits of cannabis, the release said. Those with a valid medical marijuana list are invited to purchase cannabis from The Green Door during the festival. There will be a small outdoor area for those with medical cards to partake in the cannabis, the release said. The Bangor police and fire departments will be on-site monitoring the event. Those interested in participating are encouraged to medicate responsibly, the release said. Camping for the festival will be available from Talking Trees Campground. Go online or call 269-252-1120 to make a reservation. Additional questions about the festival should be directed to The Green Door at 269-427-1435, by email at thegreendoor.bangor@gmail.com or on Facebook.<doc-sep>Saturday will be a celebration of all things marijuana at dispensaries and other venues across the state as cannabis connoisseurs commemorate 420. Say what? That’s right, 420 became the shorthand for marijuana use, depending on who you believe, back in the 1970s. Some thought 420 was some sort of police code for pot crimes. Others thought it was a reference to Bob Dylan’s song “Rainy Day Women #12 & 35,” which includes the line “Everybody must get stoned.” You see, 12 times 35 equals 420. But the real 420 legend started in Marin County, California, when a group of five high school pals said they would meet after school at 4:20 p.m. to smoke weed. That transformed into the shorthand of 420, which has become a not-so-underground way to say “let’s get high.” More:Dingell speaks at Hash Bash 2019, first since recreational marijuana legalized More: Want more news on Michigan's marijuana industry? Sign up for our email newsletter here! “It’s part of the cultural lexicon and will continue to be a symbol,” said Jeffrey Hank, an East Lansing attorney who was instrumental in the 2018 Michigan ballot initiative to legalize marijuana for adult recreational use. “I’ve heard all these rumors and legends about its true genesis. But it’s really just a day of celebration. We use the phrase all year, but there’s only one day that’s 420.” Now that recreational pot is legal... The 420 designation takes on a special significance in the state this year since Michiganders voted to legalize marijuana for adult recreational use on Nov. 6 by a 56%-44% margin. And while weed is legal in Michigan as of Dec. 6, 2018, commercial sales of pot to people 21 and older won't be available until the state develops the rules that will govern the recreational market and begins awarding licenses to businesses early next year. In the meantime, the nearly 293,000 medical marijuana cardholders in the state can buy cannabis products in dispensaries, and adults 21 and older can grow their own — up to 12 plants per person — for personal use. There are those, however, who definitely don’t view 420 as a day for revelry. Smart Approaches to Marijuana, a Virginia-based group that opposed Michigan’s marijuana legalization proposal, sent letters this week to lawmakers in seven states that are considering legalizing pot, urging them to reject the proposals. “The commercialization of marijuana is a policy that results in devastating consequences for families, public health and public safety,” said former U.S. Rep. Patrick Kennedy, D-Rhode Island, who founded SAM. Pot enthusiasts celebrating the day But marijuana enthusiasts are ignoring the naysayers and planning for 420. Some events found online — such as Up in Smoke Detroit — are wrapped in mystery with addresses only available in the hours leading up to the event, while others, such as the Puff and Paint at Craft Cafe in Detroit, are already sold out. The pot-centric events are viewed as a way to boost business at medical marijuana dispensaries and pique interest for future recreational customers. "When rec comes into play, we’ll have an even better business," said Stuart Carter, owner of the Utopia Gardens dispensary in Detroit, which hopes to have a good start on an outdoor garden and patio when spring finally hits. Here's a sampling of events: 420 Canna Expo: a trade show that will run 10 a.m.-8 p.m. at Soaring Eagle Casino in Mt. Pleasant. It is sponsored by My Compassion, a Southgate nonprofit and compassion club comprised of medical marijuana cardholders and formed in 2008 after Michiganders voted to legalize marijuana for medical use. The trade show will feature up to 60 exhibitors, and presentations on all aspects of marijuana — from cultivation and uses for medicinal and recreational pot, as well as the business side of the industry. Don’t expect to be able to indulge in legal weed at the trade show, however. Marijuana isn’t allowed on the casino grounds, which is owned by the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe. The event is free and open to the public. a trade show that will run 10 a.m.-8 p.m. at Soaring Eagle Casino in Mt. Pleasant. It is sponsored by My Compassion, a Southgate nonprofit and compassion club comprised of medical marijuana cardholders and formed in 2008 after Michiganders voted to legalize marijuana for medical use. The trade show will feature up to 60 exhibitors, and presentations on all aspects of marijuana — from cultivation and uses for medicinal and recreational pot, as well as the business side of the industry. Don’t expect to be able to indulge in legal weed at the trade show, however. Marijuana isn’t allowed on the casino grounds, which is owned by the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe. The event is free and open to the public. Kushstock Festival Michigan: a festival featuring music, vendors, artists and food trucks from noon to 10 p.m. Saturday at the Auto City Speedway, 10205 N Saginaw in Clio. Participants are advised to “bring your own meds and smoking apparatus.” Admission is free, although a VIP area is available for $100 per person. a festival featuring music, vendors, artists and food trucks from noon to 10 p.m. Saturday at the Auto City Speedway, 10205 N Saginaw in Clio. Participants are advised to “bring your own meds and smoking apparatus.” Admission is free, although a VIP area is available for $100 per person. Greenhouse: The first Oakland County medical marijuana dispensary in Walled Lake is teaming up with Bark Nation and Do Only Good Dog Rescue to host a barbecue and chance to play and possibly adopt some pooches and learn about the benefits of CBD-infused products for both pets and humans. The event will run 11 a.m.-3 p.m. on the grounds of the dispensary at 103 E. Walled Lake Drive. The dispensaries will also offer raffles throughout the day for medical marijuana cardholders. The first Oakland County medical marijuana dispensary in Walled Lake is teaming up with Bark Nation and Do Only Good Dog Rescue to host a barbecue and chance to play and possibly adopt some pooches and learn about the benefits of CBD-infused products for both pets and humans. The event will run 11 a.m.-3 p.m. on the grounds of the dispensary at 103 E. Walled Lake Drive. The dispensaries will also offer raffles throughout the day for medical marijuana cardholders. 420 Festival: Downtown Bangor hosts its first 420 Festival from 10:30 a.m.-10:30 p.m., welcoming dozens of vendors, cannabis groups and food trucks. The event in the southwest Michigan community is free and open to anyone at least 21 years old. Downtown Bangor hosts its first 420 Festival from 10:30 a.m.-10:30 p.m., welcoming dozens of vendors, cannabis groups and food trucks. The event in the southwest Michigan community is free and open to anyone at least 21 years old. Evergreen Wellness Group: The Detroit dispensary will mark 420 with music, raffles, refreshments and a photo booth from noon till 7 p.m. The dispensary will be open for medical marijuana patients, but all the activities will be in the building next to the dispensary, located at 19705 West Seven Mile Road, Detroit. “It’s a big day for all of our patients and us. It’s a marijuana holiday,” said owner Marlisa Meah. The Detroit dispensary will mark 420 with music, raffles, refreshments and a photo booth from noon till 7 p.m. The dispensary will be open for medical marijuana patients, but all the activities will be in the building next to the dispensary, located at 19705 West Seven Mile Road, Detroit. “It’s a big day for all of our patients and us. It’s a marijuana holiday,” said owner Marlisa Meah. Utopia Gardens: The Detroit dispensary will host a block party from noon to 8 p.m. that features bands, food trucks and artists. The dispensary will be open for medical marijuana cardholders and all the festivities will be held outside. It's located at 6541 E Lafayette St in Detroit. “It used to be a renegade holiday, but people revel in it, so we’re trying to make it a fun event,” said owner Stuart Carter. “It’s a celebration, marijuana people love this stuff and God bless them, we’re here to accommodate them.” The Detroit dispensary will host a block party from noon to 8 p.m. that features bands, food trucks and artists. The dispensary will be open for medical marijuana cardholders and all the festivities will be held outside. It's located at 6541 E Lafayette St in Detroit. “It used to be a renegade holiday, but people revel in it, so we’re trying to make it a fun event,” said owner Stuart Carter. “It’s a celebration, marijuana people love this stuff and God bless them, we’re here to accommodate them.” The Reef: The Detroit dispensary is planning a 420 event from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., both inside the shop with discounts and raffles of TVs and iPads for patients, and food and music at a tent adjacent to the Reef at 6640 East 8 Mile in Detroit. The Detroit dispensary is planning a 420 event from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., both inside the shop with discounts and raffles of TVs and iPads for patients, and food and music at a tent adjacent to the Reef at 6640 East 8 Mile in Detroit. Dixie Brands, a Colorado-based producer of marijuana-infused edibles will team up with One Tree Planted, a Vermont nonprofit that is dedicated to planting trees around the world. For every Dixie Brand product sold on 4/20, Dixie will donate $1 to One Tree Planted, which will plant a tree in the U.S. for every dollar donated. Leoni Township-based Choice Labs has an agreement with Dixie to produce the company's products in Michigan, which are starting to show up in dispensaries around the state. Kathleen Gray covers the marijuana industry for the Detroit Free Press. Contact her: 313-223-4430, kgray99@freepress.com or on Twitter @michpoligal.<doc-sep>
BANGOR, MI -- The first 4/20 day following state legalization of recreational marijuana did not go unnoticed by a small town in Southwest Michigan. Hundreds from across the region attended a 420 Festival Saturday, April 20, in downtown Bangor, a city in Van Buren County with a population of around 1,800. The festival was hosted by medical marijuana dispensary The Green Door, 126 W. Monroe St. Nearly 30 vendors, including veteran organizations, cannabis compassion groups, local businesses and food trucks, lined Main Street. Live music played throughout the day and guest speakers spoke about the benefits of cannabis. Lana Jeffrey of Constantine and Deana Rupley of Sturgis shared a joint in a small outdoor area where those with medical cards could smoke marijuana. “Times, they are a changin,'" Jeffrey said. Jefferey said it was “about time” marijuana was legalized, sighting medical benefits. She spoke of how cannabis helped a family member with cancer who had a low appetite. “I just really like it that they’re loosening up on this stuff and knowing what’s good for people,” she said. Grand Rapids resident Rosemary Davis said she has been smoking cannabis since 1970. “I’ve been celebrating a lot of 4/20s through the years,” Davis said. Although not a national holiday, 4/20 day has become a day when people smoke marijuana. Michigan voters approved the legalization of recreational marijuana in November 2018. Standing in the tent, Davis smoked medical marijuana using a clip with a homemade handle shaped like a hippo. She said she has made at least 100 similar clips in the past four decades. She now has a medical marijuana card and said she has experienced medical benefits for her glaucoma from cannabis and CBD use. “I’m quite excited that it’s legal in my lifetime,” Davis said. Those with a valid medical marijuana card could purchase cannabis from the The Green Door during the festival. A line to the dispensary stretched around the block from early morning into the afternoon, said Marc Smith, owner of The Green Door. Smith also owns PM Growers, a medical marijuana grow facility in Bangor. “Everyone’s here to just have a good time,” he said. The Green Door started working with the city of Bangor to put on the festival about three months ago, Smith said. The Bangor police and fire departments were on site monitoring the event. By around 5 p.m. Saturday, Bangor Police Chief Tommy Simpson said there had been no legal violations at the festival. Part of the proceeds from the event will go back to the city to fund local projects, including providing new vests for local law enforcement, Smith said. All of the food vendors at the event were local and not charged to set up a booth, but rather asked to contribute an item to the festival’s raffle or contribute to the fund going to the city, he said. The 420 Festival focuses on education about the cannabis industry, Smith said. When it comes to marijuana businesses, he said it is important to remember they are “no different than a a button factory.” “Our factory out there has everything every other factory has," he said. "It has managers, supervisors, inventory control, shipping, receiving, purchasing, clerks, managers -- so it’s no different except we’re growing pot, not making a button.”