Attendees at this year’s Edmonton Folk Festival will have a space to enjoy cannabis while taking in the sights and sounds of the festival.
Following a two-year hiatus due to covid, the festival is back in 2022 running from August 4-7 and featuring two cannabis consumption lounges, both hosted by local cannabis retailer Northern Lights Supply.
Each of the two consumption sites will also feature Edmonton Licensed Producers Palm Gardens Cannabis, Token Naturals, Stigma Grow, and BC-based Dycar Pharmaceuticals (also active in Alberta).
Derek Shields, the Owner of Northern Lights, says he’s very excited to be managing the space this year.
Although this isn’t the first time the folk festival has featured a cannabis consumption lounge—Aurora ran one there in 2018 and 2019, says he’s excited to see it being a very local run event with more locally run smaller Edmonton cannabis companies.
“Anything we can do to support each other, that’s what it is about,” says Shields. “Whether it’s a local cultivator or producer or store, we just want to do our best to support our community and also support all the local players who are passionate about this plant”
Shields says he and his partners had also looked at on-site sales or delivery, but the local municipality didn’t allow for it this time around. But the site will allow for cannabis smoking, vaping, as well as edibles and beverages.
Nina Tu, the Project Manager at Dycar Pharmaceuticals, who was formerly with Aurora Cannabis when they ran the consumption space, says she was excited to bring more small, local Edmonton companies into the space this year, with the blessing of the Edmonton Folk Festival.
“I reached out to Northern Lights because they are an independent store and I’ve always loved and I always want to support local,” explains Tu. “So I reached out to see if they wanted to partner on this and they were very happy to.”
The folk festival has been very supportive and we’re not only looking forward to the event this year but to building on these consumption spaces and maybe sales in the years to come.”
Glenda Dennis, the sponsorship coordinator with the Edmonton Folk Music Festival says she was very happy that Tu was able to work with her team to once again bring the cannabis consumption space to the festival.
Since alcohol is common at such events, Dennis says it only makes sense to also provide a space for folk fans who also enjoy cannabis.
“It’s a folk festival, so you can’t really not have cannabis!”, she shares.
“It’s a safe place to consume cannabis, and educate consumers,” adds Shields, “while also getting our brands out there, and just to have fun!” The Edmonton Folk Music Festival takes place from August 4-7, 2022 and features an array of local and international talent.
Tickets went on sale on June 4.
