“There are a lot of people out, it is a beautiful day, it is absolutely amazing.”
That is what Nadine “Mama Deen” Furnell, the Director of the BC Craft Farmers’ Co-op, looking out across the 4/20 street party on George Street today (Saturday).
The event is not just a 19+ farmers market, it is Canadian history – the first time a cannabis event has been given a special event permit to close a city block to traffic.
“We hoped we would get four or five [vendors]. We ended up getting 30,” she said with a smile.
Alannah Davis, from Dabble Cannabis Co. – a farm and bed and breakfast located in the Cowichan Valley – was one of those 30 vendors.
“We are prohibited from being invited to farmer’s markets and events where there are kids. It is an incredible experience to be among the community,” Davis said, adding “it is frustrating we are treated so poorly in the scheme of things when alcohol producers are allowed at farmer’s markets – we just want to be treated the same.”
She applauded Prince George for welcoming an event like this to the city, saying “not a lot of municipalities are even engaging in pro-cannabis stuff, and some are not even allowing stores.”
“It has been awesome visiting Prince George, this is my first time and we would be happy to be back again.”
While it was early in the celebration, Furnell and Davis were already overjoyed with the attendance and attention the event was receiving.
The party is all a part of the BC Craft Cannabis Summit that is being held in the Ramada Hotel this weekend.
The summit was held in Kelowna last year, however the organizers are already looking at bringing it back to Prince George again next year.
“Thank you, from the mayor to everyone in town that has welcomed us,” Furnell said. “Our main goal was to break the stigma surrounding cannabis, specifically medical use. Thank you for being such a welcoming and progressive community, we hope we have done you proud.”