Bristolians have expressed their frustration over a recent 420 event that took place at Castle Park this past weekend. The globally recognized date for cannabis celebration and protests against its prohibition drew thousands to Castle Park for a day of music-filled festivities. Despite a rejected sound system license application earlier this year, the event proceeded, leading to noise complaints, overcrowding, offensive music, and strong cannabis odor, according to reports by BristolLive.
Photographs taken by BristolLive on April 22 depict a litter-strewn park, awaiting a delayed clean-up. An anonymous local disclosed that the vicinity of Castle Park and Union Street was overwhelmed by the scent of cannabis during the Sunday event.
Tom Corbett, a long-term resident, voiced his disappointment, highlighting the unfortunate coincidence of the gathering on Easter Sunday and 4/20 day, known for promoting cannabis-related causes and legality issues. He also expressed disbelief at the event’s scale and disruption, questioning why it was not held in a field in Somerset to avoid disturbing thousands of residents for 12 hours.
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An Avon and Somerset Police statement revealed the challenging situation they faced, with thousands attending the unlicensed gathering. They explained their approach, involving engagement, education, and necessary interventions, while dealing with multiple complaints about the disruptive sound system and responding to various incidents, including medical emergencies and arrests.