The Bristol Cannabis Club has distanced itself from the recent 420 event in the city’s Castle Park, stating it does not reflect the cannabis community they represent. Castle Park hosted the now annual event on Sunday (April 20), a day globally recognised for celebrating cannabis and protesting its prohibition.
In past years, thousands have congregated at the site, with music blaring from multiple sound systems – this year was no exception. Despite the council rejecting a temporary licence application for a sound system in February, locals reported loud music playing for over 12 hours on Easter Sunday, leaving the park strewn with rubbish.
The Bristol Cannabis Club has now claimed that the event has been ‚hijacked‘ and no longer functions as it once did. Speaking to Bristol Live, Alister Flowers, co-founder and manager of Bristol Cannabis Club, said: „We are shocked how the 420 event has been taken over by free party sound system crews.“
Alister expressed his frustration, stating: „We strongly feel it’s gone this way as Bristol City Council and Avon and Somerset Police refuse to let us license, fence and control it.
„We and fellow organisations have submitted applications most years since 2017. Many of the sound systems you see came from other counties in the South West where rigs are often confiscated.
„They have come to Bristol to take over what activists and the cannabis community built, for their own benefit, ignoring the masses who would be affected.
„Much of the cannabis community avoided the park as 2024 was also terrible due to the lack of licensing and regulation. Those who did venture to the park left early this year and last.“
„In the UK the police response involves engagement, explanation and education around drugs and drugs misuse; with appropriate interventions as and when necessary and proportionate. Bristol officers had dozens of calls, mainly about the impact of very loud music on the wider community.
„At 3am on Sunday – before the crowd gathered – officers had seized a sound system from the park. However, powers to deal with the music during the daytime are limited. Officers ensured it was turned off by 11pm.“
Police and ambulance teams were called to various incidents throughout the day, including medical situations and violent outbreaks, leading to a few individuals being arrested.
A local who resides near Castle Park recounted his experience of the area turning into an impromptu rave, with his flat „vibrating“ from the blaring tunes, and mentioned: „Basically they used it as a rave, with cannabis. It was very depressing and the music was awful.
„There were thousands of people there all around, looking high, wandering about in a daze.“
Back in April 2024, BristolLive caught up with Alister, who has been fighting for full decriminalisation of the cannabis plant, currently designated as a Class B drug.
Alister, who is legally entitled to use cannabis for medicinal purposes, has been present at Bristol’s annual 420 park celebrations since 2014. His advocacy for decriminalisation centres around stopping the criminal prosecution of individuals cultivating plants at home for personal usage.
He believes in creating a controlled market which would enable consumers to get advice from „expert bartenders“ when selecting the most suitable cannabis variety for their individual requirements.
Meanwhile, Germany made headlines that same month by legalising the possession of small quantities of marijuana across the nation.
Under the new German regulations, adults can now possess up to 25 grams of cannabis for leisure, and the law permits growing up to three plants for personal use.
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