Many view California as the land of milk and honey as far as cannabis is concerned. In many ways, this is the truth. The Emerald Triangle is a powerhouse of sun-grown flower with generational ties to the industry. There are other various hubs of activity throughout the state, like Los Angeles and San Francisco, that are ripe with smoke-filled weed events. However, some surprising locations have refrained from fully diving in on the plant.
Certain cities still bar cannabis operations, and in many, public consumption events couldn’t feel less possible. That used to be the case in San Diego, but everything is changing this weekend.
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Farmer’s Cup set to make San Diego history
The Farmer’s Cup will make history in Vista, the only San Diego town down for the ride. The concert and awards ceremony marks the first-ever city-approved event in the county where people can smoke weed, dab, and live their best stoned lives. This monumental day will start with a Cannabis Farmer’s Market with over 45 vendors before the year’s best weed is announced at the Farmer’s Cup.
Musicians will perform on the main stage throughout the day, and over a dozen food vendors will keep guests satiated and ready to try new strains. Event representatives expressed gratitude for the opportunity to share these types of parties with the San Diego community in an emailed statement.
“We are very excited to have the first licensed cannabis event with cannabis consumption and sales in the San Diego region,” the statement read. “When all the other cities said no, Vista said yes.”
Weed brands are planning activations and selling products, and everyone can light up and dab right then and there. Guests can tap in and vibe to live ongoing performances starting with DJ Gummie as doors open. Cannabis entrepreneur and rapper Berner will perform after Luniz, E.N. Young, and Lea Love do their thing. Tunes from Peter Dante, Soul Spittaz, with Nightshade Navarro and Los Salvajes will support those performances.
Before the sun sets into the headlining performers, guests can sit back for an awards ceremony to find out which weed won top honors this year.
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Awards ceremony will crown best weed of the year
The Farmer’s Cup awards ceremony, with categories like Best Aroma and Most Unique, will take the stage between acts at 4:30. Winning titles are thoughtfully split into Indoor and Sun Grown categories, a small sign that the Farmer’s Cup knows what it is doing regarding weed awards.
Jackie Bryant, long-time cannabis journalist and strategist for San Diego Magazine, has served as a judge for past Farmer’s Cup events. The legacy sesh has earned the honor of breaking the seal on consumption events in the coastal town, she explained to GreenState.
“San Diego cannabis culture reflects the city’s place in the rest of the state: it’s low-key, more underground, less flashy, and not as cohesive as LA’s or SF’s scene,” Bryant said. “It’s exciting that now we get to flex the way others in the state have been for years, all thanks to the Farmer’s Cup.”
Those who roll through can bring their own bongs, pipes, and smoking accessories like personal filters to avoid sharing germs when passing bowls. People can bring a bit of cannabis (no large amounts) and a small to medium-sized backpack, too. Sunscreen and a refillable water bottle are recommended to stay hydrated and happy well into the night. The event also urges everyone to take ride shares and carpool with designated sober drivers, as the parking lot is slated to fill quickly.
Don’t bring a tent, pets, guns, fireworks, outside drinks, food, or unsolicited products or pamphlets to give away. Fights and unwanted bad vibes will be culled by private security and some presence from the San Diego Sheriff’s Department.
Puff tough, stay safe at the first city-approved Farmer’s Cup
The Farmer’s Cup Awards sesh is on March 15th and runs from 11 a.m. until 10 p.m. Tickets bought online range from $70 to $200 for the festival and about $30 for the vendor farmers market.
“I’m super proud that they have been able to host the county’s first legal consumption event; there’s nobody who deserves the honor more nor who has done more work to make it a reality,” Bryant concluded.
