Weed the People
"Weed the People", officially "Weed the People: A Cannabis Legalization Celebration", was an event held in Portland on July 3, 2015, two days after recreational marijuana became legal in the U.S. state of Oregon. Sponsored by the Portland Mercury and two cannabis companies, the event was attended by an estimated 1,500–2,000 people, who were provided up to seven grams of marijuana for immediate consumption or to take home. Organizers complied with restrictions on recreational sales by distributing free cannabis and required attendees to pay an entry fee. More than 1,300 tickets were sold, but the building's 500-person capacity meant long wait times to enter. Media outlets reported on the historic nature of the event, which was described as a "stoner's paradise" and a celebration of freedom. Background and planning "Weed the People: A Cannabis Legalization Celebration", or simply "Weed the People", was held two days after recreational marijuana became legal in Oregon. The Burnside Burn, which was organized by Portland NORML and held on the Burnside Bridge starting at midnight on July 1, 2015, preceded the event. "Weed the People" was sponsored by the local alternative weekly newspaper the Portland Mercury and two cannabis businesses— and Oregon's Cannabis Concierge. It