San Bernardino City leaders have denied a Temporary Cannabis Event permit to the organizers of the High Times 420 Cannabis Cup. Wednesday’s decision means the 20,000 festival goers will have to go without the main attraction at the three-day event.
A representative from High Times said it may begin issuing refunds. Patrons were paying $60 to $420 just to get through the door.
San Bernardino lawmakers said they feared legal trouble if they issued the permit so soon before the event. Applications are supposed to receive approval 60 days prior, city staffers advised the council. Per the city’s direction, the show will go on -- but without the weed.
As NBC notes, High Times is used to this sort of thing. The Cannabis Cup ran into major hurdles in Los Angeles and Adams County, Colorado in 2013 and 2016.