culture | 3rd annual las vegas hempfest

{ of course theirs was the only card I wanted to keep and the only one I cannot find. whoops! I will track down their info and update soon }

Outside of the vendors, they had a number of food trucks (I had a burrito, which I ate before I snapped, but trust you me, it was worth every cent!), alcohol vendors (I don't drink but some of the blended drinks looked great!), artists and musicians. They even had a small amusement park setup and water attractions at the front of the fest, but it didn't seem like there were a lot of kids or people of any manner using them--so they might consider a different attraction next year.

{ most of the photos I took were of glass...typical Ruthie! }

Though the event was open to all, there were a few areas that were for patients only, like the dispensary village (as they called it). I suppose the nature of their business is why they had to be separate from the rest of the fest--as far as I'm aware no cannabis was actually sold at Hempfest, although some of the dispensaries had shuttles back to their storefront for those who wanted to buy. If it is recreationalized next year, I think we could probably expect to see cannabis and related products sold at the event! What an exciting prospect. (As an aside, because I know I wondered before I went--although weed wasn't sold at the event, there didn't seem to be a lot of concern about those bringing it in to the event. I had my patient card with my bud to be safe, but was never harassed about either. If you do choose to bring medication or medicate at an event, be aware of your rights!)

I was on a budget so I didn't go too wild, but I did pick up some cool schwag:






This was a tight event, but I did have a few small complaints. First of all, the first week of June...in Vegas...outside?! Are they nuts?!?! I know this is the time of year that cities traditionally have their Hempfest or Cannabis Cups, but it was just too hot for me! I ended up getting sick and having to leave after a couple of hours, despite the event running until early Sunday. There were shady spots to sit and water was available for purchase, but it was still too damn hot to think. I hope that in future years they'll rethink the location--or the date--to make it a bit more comfortable for all of us to enjoy! If it is at the same time next year, I'd definitely recommend going later in the evening (I was there in the late afternoon) when it starts to cool down.

I was also a bit put off by the lack of directions. Before I bought my ticket I saw a map on Instagram, and I even took a screenshot, but when I got to Hempfest it was really difficult to find my way around! I talked to a few other patients who agreed. Of course it's nice to wander and find new places, but there were specific areas and displays I was looking for (like where to medicate--I'm still not sure where the right place was, because I personally medicated at will and so did many others!) that I wasn't able to find. I was really excited about some of the musical acts and the Miss Hempfest awards, but missed them due to the confusing setup (where was the second stage??)

Overall I had a great time, and despite my minor complaints, I'm really thankful that our city got to host such a great event. Hempfest is definitely for stoners, but I like to think it goes a little further than that. Lots of cities would never allow an event like this, let alone the dozen+ dispensaries we have, the billboards advertising their presence, the doctors issuing recommendations and the publications--like me!--watching it all. Vegas isn't perfect by any means, but in my opinion we're quickly becoming an example of a city that can and does profit off cannabis both financially and (I guess you could say) in spirit. I've lived in a lot of places where cannabis isn't accepted, so being here is really refreshing. I hope you're enjoying it, too :)

As a final note...I've had a few things come down the pipeline this week and as a result I've neglected to update with our latest Saturday Strains and Fresh Buds...naughty Kween! I should have those up at their regularly scheduled slot this week--thanks for sticking with me, gang :) Stay high!