Fair board rescinds cannabis festival contract, event not canceled

DEL MAR — A contract to carry what's billed as an academic event about medical marijuana was rescinded May 30 by the panel that governs the Del Mar Fairgrounds, the place the Goodlife Festival was scheduled to be held Sept. 23.

But the Eight-Zero resolution doesn’t imply the event might be postponed or canceled.

The 22nd District Agricultural Association board of administrators stated the organizer, Lawrence Bame of Westward Expos, might work with fairgrounds employees to revise the $12,000 contract so it features a detailed description of the festival and states that possession or consumption of marijuana for any use will not be allowed on the state-owned facility.

“That’s not a problem,” he stated after the assembly when requested if he would come with that in his future promoting. “I hope to be in discussions with the fairgrounds.”

But Bame did have considerations with a request to ensure, maybe with what he believed to be some kind of safety bond, that nobody would carry marijuana merchandise to the present or eat them throughout it.

“Do you want to hold me to a different standard than the after-the-races concerts or public events out here?” he requested board members, including that he “can’t make promises” about issues he can’t management.

All smoking is prohibited on the fairgrounds in the course of the San Diego County Fair, however allowed throughout different occasions. People smoke marijuana throughout live shows, particularly these held after the horse races and on the KAABOO three-day leisure festival.

Most of the administrators stated they don’t oppose educating the general public about medical marijuana however can’t help any use or promotion of the merchandise as a result of despite the fact that medical and leisure makes use of are allowed in California, each stay unlawful below federal regulation.

Nearly all had legal responsibility considerations and the way a choice to permit the festival because it was being marketed might affect their private lives and duties to the fairgrounds.

“The only government policy that I can follow is adherence to law and we clearly have a federal law that prohibits possession of marijuana,” Director Richard Valdez stated.

“The federal law is pretty clear,” stated Josh Caplan, the deputy district lawyer who acts as counsel to the 22nd DAA. “The federal regulation is in direct battle with California state regulation.

“I can unequivocally tell you that the guidelines or any language which would allow for the possession or consumption of a controlled substance would violate the letter of federal law,” he added. “There’s no immunities from violations of federal law even if it’s consistent with state law.”

Asked what he thought the likelihood of prosecution from the federal authorities is perhaps, Caplan stated “quite low.”

“What I can’t stand here and tell you is that the probability is zero,” he added earlier than telling board members he's charged with representing the 22nd DAA and not particular person administrators.

“Medical marijuana laws in California provide no exceptions or immunity from prosecution under federal law,” Caplan stated. “Federal law supersedes state law.”

“Basically, whatever we decide here today, we’re on our own,” Director David Watson instructed his colleagues.

Bame, who has produced house and backyard reveals on the seaside venue for greater than 30 years, has been pitching the cannabis festival thought to the fairgrounds for a number of years.

In late March the 2 events signed a contract, which states Bame will adjust to all native, state and federal legal guidelines.

According to a press launch, The Goodlife Festival is “Where Cannabis, Great Food, Live Music and More Come Together By The Surf and Sand” to make the “good life” even higher.

Exhibitions and informative seminars will assist attendees, who have to be 21 and older, admire and be taught extra about how cannabis, when utilized in a protected, authorized and healthful manner, “can enhance a creative, spirited, relaxed (and pain-free!) lifestyle,” the doc states.

“It’s a revolutionary new festival for anyone interested in ‘the good life!’ Nowhere else can you learn more about the emerging cannabis scene, (from) the growers and business owners of your favorite cannabis products all in one place.”

It additionally states there might be an outside space “exclusively for the use of” medical cannabis ID card holders “who bring their own and wish to self-medicate.”

It was that advertising that the majority disturbed board members.

“Mr. Bame made it crystal clear that he’s going to breach the contract so it’s not worth the paper that it’s printed on,” Watson stated. “I have no doubt that (marijuana) will be consumed onsite. And approving this contract just means that we’re endorsing the violation of federal law.”

About 50 of the greater than 125 individuals who attended the assembly spoke in the course of the public remark interval. They had been virtually evenly cut up on their opinions.

One speaker stated the advertising supplies “assume you can’t have a good life without marijuana.”

Dean Scott stated he’s given academic workshops and seminars. “Never in my life have I given an educational festival,” he added.

“There may be a place to learn about this substance,” James Fisher stated. “The fairgrounds are not the place.”

“Nothing good comes from marijuana,” stated highschool freshman Angel Jaramillo, who attended with a number of classmates. “We’re the next generation to say no to drugs. … What you’re doing is wrong.”

“We don’t need this for our community,” 19-year-old Alex Sotelo stated. “This is a bad idea.”

“As a state agency I don’t think you should be in the business of promoting marijuana use,” Del Mar resident Jon Polikcoff stated. “I think that sends the wrong message to our young people. … I just ask you to be good neighbors.”

“This is a lawless industry,” Scott Chapman stated. “Marijuana is not medicine.”

Many different audio system disagreed, together with medical professionals, a three-time most cancers survivor and Joshua Boody, who was injured in a coaching accident as a member of the Army.

“I deal with constant pain every day,” he stated, including that addictive opioid painkillers didn’t assist. “It’s coming. Lead, follow or get out of the way.”

“Cannabis doesn’t care if you believe in it,” caregiver Rose LaChance stated. “It’s working.”

Heather Manus, a registered nurse, described marijuana as a “really gentle medication,” whereas lawyer Ken Sobel stated “cannabis heals.”

Victor Rocha, a retired forensic scientist, stated he’s seen the unfavorable results of opioid and alcohol abuse however none from marijuana. “Cannabis and science can make a better world,” he stated.

Monica Delgado, medical and forensic psychologist, stated she is among the “real experts” who plans to carry a seminar at Goodlife to speak about dosages, choices and different components of medical marijuana.

She stated whereas cannabis does have a “dark side to it,” individuals should “get over the lies of ‘Reefer Madness.’”

“There is a lot of positive stuff that comes from cannabis medicine,” she stated. “This will help the community. … This is not somebody just doing stuff out of the back of their garage. …We need a place to be heard.”

The first presentation of the assembly was by Eric Larson, govt director of the San Diego County Farm Bureau, which “supports the commercial production of cannabis as an agricultural crop when done in full compliance with state and local cannabis regulations.”

“We stand firm,” Larson stated. “We believe that if cannabis is going to be produced in California, farmers in San Diego can do a great job with it, following the rules.”

He stated cultivation will help the native economic system, improve tax income and “bring production out of the shadows.”

He additionally stated a scarcity of native manufacturing gained’t deter use.

“It’ll be produced someplace else in the state,” he stated.

Directors requested Larson if the group helps manufacturing whether it is not in compliance with federal regulation.

“We support it in the face of state and local regulations,” he stated. “If the federal regulations are anti-cannabis production … then … we are doing that in opposition to federal law.”

“The farm bureau is advocating in favor of federal criminal conduct,” Watson stated, including that each one however 4 jurisdictions in San Diego have banned business marijuana actions, together with cultivation.

“I’m just concerned that you’re just glossing over the fact that it’s a federal crime and you’re glossing over the fact that it’s illegal in most local jurisdictions right now.”

During the four-and-a-half-hour assembly, administrators additionally opted to defer establishing a 22nd DAA coverage on internet hosting cannabis-related occasions till the Department of Food and Agriculture comes out with one — one thing the state company is at present engaged on.

It was additionally famous that in response to differing legal guidelines, individuals who smoke medical marijuana can accomplish that in locations the place people who find themselves smoking leisure marijuana can’t.

Board member approval is never searched for the greater than 350 occasions held yearly on the fairgrounds, and this one got here as a shock to most.

“I think at a minimum our CEO (Tim Fennell) should be directed not to sign any contracts that could be in possible violations of federal law,” Watson stated. “I do not want to be surprised again about contracts being signed.”

Fair board rescinds cannabis festival contract, event not canceled