In the market for live music, a laser light show, and information about cannabis? Look no further than Greenwood, Virginia, on 4/20.
The Virginia 420 Festival at the Misty Mountain Camp Resort celebrates “all things cannabis,” according to Winston Marsden, the event’s planner. The agenda for the day features live music, cannabis-growing classes, and cooking classes.
“I started this on a dream to share the truth about the fiber, food, and medicine that cannabis has to offer,” Marsden says.
Marsden has led the effort to make April 20 an official “day of celebration,” recognizing the dedication of people who have fought to reform cannabis laws. He’s been envisioning a day for the plant since he was first introduced to the transformative effect of the drug.
This year marks the last year that marijuana is illegal to distribute or sell in Virginia.
So, C-VILLE asked Marsden about the legality of festival activities.
First off, there’s a BYOC policy in place: Bring your own cannabis. Attendees may legally consume it in private areas or in designated cannabis consumption areas, adhering to Virginia’s cannabis-limit laws.
Sharing cannabis is only permitted in private areas. No illegal sales of cannabis are allowed on festival property.
There will be no fighting, no weapons, and no illegal drugs. Marsden wants to provide a safe environment for anyone who wants to learn.
2023 marks the second rendition of the festival. The first was held at the Sedalia Center, and was called the Virginia Hemp Festival. More than 400 people attended, and not one arrest was made, according to Marsden.
Cannabis industry veteran Mark Herer will serve as master of ceremonies and educator for the festival. Herer’s father, Jack, was known as the Emperor of Cannabis, and spent his life spreading the “truth” of the plant. Herer remembers traveling around the world and to colleges and universities in the U.S. with his father, trying to spread the word about cannabis.
“My job is to get people fired up and activated, off their couches and into their communities,” he says.
Herer’s been growing cannabis since 2003, while he was running the Third Eye Shoppe in Portland, Oregon. Since he started, the growing landscape has changed quite a bit.
His father wrote The Emperor Wears No Clothes, which is frequently cited in efforts to decriminalize and legalize cannabis, and expand the use of hemp for industrial use. The book argues that cannabis is “able to meet all of the world’s transportation, industrial, and home energy needs” and was backed by hemp organizations in the U.S., Germany, and the Netherlands.
Herer didn’t believe his father should be the face of the cannabis movement, because he reinforced a stereotype of the long-haired hippies who just wanted to get high without fear of going to jail. Herer recalled being on tour with Willie Nelson and Gatewood Galbraith, who ran for governor of Kentucky five times as a vocal advocate for ending the prohibition of cannabis.
“There’s a good chance there will be a lot of unregistered voters there,” Herer says. “We’ll want to get everyone who can register to vote to do so at the event.”
Live music will commence at 9am, with a lineup featuring a wide range of artists, and a laser show to finish it off.
“Whether you’re a seasoned cannabis enthusiast or just curious about the industry, the Virginia 420 Festival is the perfect place to have fun, learn something new, and expand your knowledge of this fascinating and rapidly growing field,” the website says.
The goal of the festival is to challenge the stereotypes of cannabis.
“Cannabis is not a gateway, it’s a misunderstood plant. Misunderstood because of false teachings and misinformation,” Herer says. He hopes the experts and truth-tellers will educate people about the facts of the plant.
“Entertainment and education is the only way to understand the truth.”
Marsden wants lawmakers to come out and experience the festival, too. Attorneys will be livestreamed in and experts will help people learn about safe consumption.
“There’s still a lot of work to be done,” Herer says.
A general admissions ticket to the event will cost you $50, but if you want access to growing and cooking classes, you’ll pay $75. VIP tickets start at $125.
Editor’s note: This article originally misspelled Winston Marsden’s name. C-VILLE regrets the error.
