Vancouver marijuana users gather to celebrate the annual 4-20 smoke event

VANCOUVER – White marijuana smoke billowed over a sea of cannabis enthusiasts outside the Vancouver Art Gallery Wednesday as they cheered when the clock stuck 4:20 p.m.

Police say thousands gathered at the annual Vancouver 4-20 event at the city’s art gallery to celebrate cannabis.

Dakota Cross, who’s been taking part in 4-20 since 2010, paid $5 to rent a bean bag chair at the event to relax while she smoked a joint.

Before marijuana became legal in October 2018, the 4-20 protests in Vancouver numbered in the tens of thousands both downtown and at the city’s Sunset Beach.

Cross says now 4-20 is just a day for people like her to celebrate cannabis culture, make like-minded friends and buy some memorabilia.

Vendors had set up tables and tents around the art gallery square, selling everything from magic mushrooms to sweets and marijuana edibles.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 20, 2022.