For the first time in the 170-year history of the California State Fair, scheduled to open July 12 in Sacramento, visitors will be able to do something they haven't been able to do there before, at least legally. They will be able to buy and consume cannabis on site.
The plans, announced Tuesday by Embarc, the fair's partner on the project, include having a 30,000-square-foot outdoor dispensary and consumption lounge at Cal Expo that will allow fairgoers ages 21 and older (and in possession of a government-issued photo ID) to purchase and try the award-winning cannabis.
“When people come to the state fair, they can try the best wine, cheese and craft beer. That is already in effect,” California State Fair executive director Tom Martinez told the Times. “This was just the natural next step that the legislature and our board of directors are taking.”
The first step came in 2022, when a cannabis exhibit and awards program were added to the fair program. It was an opportunity to showcase the once-demonized plant along with the rest of the state's agricultural wealth. “During the last two years, 160,000 people have visited that educational exhibition,” Martínez said.
This time, visitors to the exhibit hall filled with agricultural and cannabis educational exhibits will be able to scan QR codes next to displays of this year's California State Fair Cannabis Award winners and add the products to a shopping cart. online purchases. Items can then be purchased at a dispensary checkout located outside. Those who wish to participate can sail a few hundred feet further and smoke.
Both the dispensary and consumption room will be run by Embarc, a Northern California company that has carved out a niche for itself in the cannabis event space. (The company has organized marijuana-themed events and venues for the California Roots Festival and the Outside Lands Music Festival, among others.)
“'Designated smoking area' is the required terminology,” said Lauren Carpenter, CEO and co-founder of Embarc. “But that makes it look like there are people smoking outside a building. This is intended to be experiential and fully constructed and produced with a stage where we will have a ceremony for our [cannabis] award winners. [And] Right now, our theme is 'oasis,' because, in case you haven't seen, it's very hot in Sacramento, and our intention is to make this a respite.”
How many fair visitors could take advantage of the 500-seat smoking lounge? “I'm prepared for anything,” Carpenter said. “But based on my rough calculations and data from other events we've been involved in, we anticipate thousands and thousands of shoppers per day.”
Those thousands upon thousands of potential buyers will be able to purchase some 300 different THC-containing products, including many of the 98 newly crowned winners of the 2024 California State Cannabis Awards.
The 49 silver and 49 gold medals, to be announced on June 26, will be awarded in three flower categories (sun-grown, mixed-light and indoor) and 16 product categories (new this year, they include things such as edibles, pre-rolls and concentrates).
Additionally, nine “Best of California” Golden Bear awards will be announced at an Oscar-style ceremony scheduled for July 27 at the fair.
Know before you go
This year's California State Fair will take place July 12-28. Daily dispensary and lounge hours, award winners and additional information will be posted on the 2024 California State Cannabis Awards website at castatefaircannabisawards.com, as available.
If you plan on getting fried in the land of fried everything, there are a few things you should know: First, you will only be able to consume cannabis products purchased locally. Secondly, the lounge will provide rolling papers and expect to have a variety of other smoking items to use, so leave your favorite smoking equipment at home. And finally, while the dispensary and salon will be open for most of the fair, there are three dates to keep in mind: July 12 and 13 (inhalable consumption will not be allowed on those days) and July 19 when the dispensary will be open. closed.
