First-ever 420 Concert celebrates the 'end of prohibition' in Cass County

JONES, Mich. --- Pot parties have popped up all around Michigan Saturday to celebrate the legalization of recreational marijuana.

Including one in Cass County Michigan called the 420 concert.

There was music, games, food and other things up for “donations” at the fest.

Event organizers have claimed they have the legal bases down for people to enjoy marijuana recreationally at the fest without breaking any laws.

The fest is being held at the M-40 speedway in Jones, Michigan. It’s running from two to 10 p.m. Saturday and event organizers are touting it as just a concert in a state where recreational marijuana was legalized.

Festival organizers said they are excited to see what they called the end of prohibition.

Doug Leinbach helped organize the 420 fest and he has a little bit of experience. He was the former manager at Rainbow Farms in Vandalia, Michigan.

“We’re having a party here,” Leinbach said.  “Just a simple little gathering where people can finally celebrate that cannabis has been legalized in the state of Michigan.”

Today marked the first-ever 420 Concert since recreational marijuana was legalized. Security guards were allowing people inside the venue after they proved they were over 21.

The concert will also feature performances by John Sinclair. Sincalair is a political activist that’s known to have inspired the beginning of the marijuana themed party “Hash Bash” in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Hash Bash began in 1972 shortly after Sinclair was arrested for marijuana.

“I was arrested in 1964 for the first time and then two more times and then I went to prison twice, for marijuana possession,” Sinclair said. “That’s why I’m going to celebrate the end of prohibition.”

They weren’t selling any marijuana at the venue but organizers said that didn’t mean people couldn’t bring any. If today’s event is successful, there are plans to host the fest again in the future.

Cass County’s Prosecutor Victor Fitz has told ABC57 that concert's like the one held Saturday are hard to define as legal or not. Fitz said private property does not necessarily mean it's a private setting.

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