Camp Cannabis festival appears to have been a Success

By all accounts, it appears the first Camp Cannabis festival, which took place Friday and Saturday at Marquette’s Tourist Park, was a success.

Recreational marijuana was legalized in Michigan with the 2018 election, so it probably was a matter of time before somebody stepped up with a festival to celebrate it.

The event marked the Upper Peninsula’s largest cannabis consumption event, with numerous educational sessions and vendors. For example, the program listed events such as a cannabis flower demonstration, “Ingestibles 101,” “What is Clean, Quality Cannabis?” and “Cannabinoids Explained.”

The Fire Station Cannabis Co. put on the event.

Although the city of Marquette police log had a few items that might have been connected to Camp Cannabis, it basically was a peaceful event, and definitely did not resemble “Reefer Madness” — although the smell of weed was in the air.

In fact, the program had a full-page emergency evacuation plan in case an evacuation was needed, with various exits explained. There also were campground rules with set quiet hours, and alcohol permitted only in beer tents so cannabis consumption could take place throughout the park.

That perhaps was a wise thing, as the combination of beer and pot might have been too much for some attendees.

Camp Cannabis also featured musical performances to make it a wider-ranging cultural experience, and, of course, it had food trucks.

However, in the event Camp Cannabis takes place in 2023, we suggest it be in the summer or earlier in the fall. October generally doesn’t have snow yet, but it has been known to be cold, and that was an issue last weekend.

So, it appears everything basically went off without major glitches at Camp Cannabis, and we hope the organizers consider holding a Camp Cannabis II, or whatever they want to call it, next year.

Events such as this one make the Upper Peninsula even more of a unique place to live and visit.