Annual 420 Protest Festival (2020 cancelled)

Celebrate Cannabis culture in a diverse but inclusive atmosphere in Vancouver. People from all over the world gather at Sunset Beach Park on April 20^th to share their love and support for the amazing plant. Speakers, artists, politicians, musicians, vendors, entrepreneurs and community members will all be present on the day. 

Related blog post: The Origins of 420 Debunked 

Although cannabis is legal in Canada, there is still an ongoing stigma and discrimination against Cannabis that needs to be addressed. People are still being sent to jail, loosing their jobs, travel rights and more. That is why the festival is still considered a protest, and Leafythings will be there to show their support next year! 

The 420 gathering began in 1995, at Vancouver’s Victory Square. It then evolved into a larger space in the heart of the city, the Vancouver Art Gallery before settling into Sunset Beach in 2016. The new venue allows for larger numbers, and a safer environment with less disruption. The event has grown into one of the biggest and most popular festivals in Vancouver.

As the festival has grown, so has the need for security, first aid, water, clean-up, ambulances, toilets, etc. The cost is covered by donations from the vendors and sponsors, and the event is run by cannabis advocates in the community who volunteer their time. Anyone can volunteer, they just have to visit the 420 Vancouver website to register! The festival is completely self funded, meaning it doesn’t cost taxpayers any money unlike some larger festivals.

The hundreds of vendors who register a booth space will be selling and giving out free weed, edibles, t-shirts and more. People walk around openly smoking weed, and police/ security is there to keep people safe, rather than arrest anyone.

A cool aspect of the festival is that at exactly 4:20 pm, everyone lights up at the same time, creating a huge cloud of smoke in the air. It’s meant to be a peaceful, celebration and gathering of people who all share a love for cannabis and its many benefits. Although this years festival has been cancelled, we hope you all still get the chance to enjoy some puffs on this special day.