A Vancouver city councillor has put forward a notice of motion to find an appropriate city location for the annual 4/20 cannabis culture celebration.
In the motion, Green Party Councillor Adriane Carr says the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms protects the fundamental rights of Canadians including freedom of speech and freedom of assembly, which requires the City of Vancouver to accommodate non-violent public protests like the 4/20 event.
The event is the largest annual public protest in Vancouver, which was attended by 25,000 people and cost taxpayers $148,000 last year.
READ MORE: Canada to legalize pot by July 1, 2018: report
It has historically been held at the Vancouver Art Gallery (VAG), but having outgrown that location, the organizers selected Sunset Beach Park as the venue for their event in 2016.
The organizers applied for a special event permit to hold the event at Sunset Beach Park again this year.
The application included a request for an exemption to the bylaw that regulates smoking in Vancouver parks.
It was denied by the Vancouver Park Board, but the organizers say they are planning to go ahead with the event at Sunset Beach Park regardless.
READ MORE: Vancouver Park Board votes against issuing permit for 4/20 event at Sunset Beach Park
Carr says many residents of the West End have expressed their opposition to the 4/20 event at Sunset Beach due to the amount of smoking and the impact it has on air quality and grassy park lands, in addition to increased noise and trash levels.
Carr wants city staff to identify a city site that’s not regulated by the Vancouver Park Board, such as the Pacific National Exhibition, the paved Larwill Park site or the City lands (currently occupied with the Cavalia show tents) in South False Creek, where Vancouver’s 4/20 event could be held in 2017 and, if necessary, in future years.
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