Hundreds attend 4/20 celebrations throughout Seattle

SEATTLE — April 20 is known to be the biggest day of the year for marijuana enthusiasts.

After Washington voters legalized recreational marijuana in November, this year’s 4/20 has extra meaning.

On Saturday evening, a University District venue, Luxe Nightclub, hosted a 4/20 event. The party was ran by Hempfest, which has become a major summer festival in Seattle, and hundreds turned out for the event.

Organizers called this year’s 4/20 celebration historic.

“This year, 4/20 represents some victories for the reform movement. Prohibition’s looked at as an iron curtain (that's lasted) for most of our lifetimes, and now it looks like a brick wall and there has been a few bricks taken out. Take out the next few bricks, you never know what's going to happen,” said Vivian McPeak of Hempfest.

Organizers told KIRO 7 Eyewitness News reporter Graham Johnson in order to comply with state laws, they are not allowing anyone to smoke marijuana inside the venue, which holds a liquor license. They asked people to step outside to smoke.

Another 4/20 party was sponsored by Dope Magazine at Seattle’s 7 Point Studios, where a line to get in stretched around the block. Those who attended could bring up to an ounce of their own marijuana.

Organizers said they have been talking with police and the liquor control board about the plan for Saturday’s event, which includes beer sales.

“Honestly, it’s nerve wracking. Our biggest goal was to make sure if an event like this was happening in Seattle, it was happening in compliance,” said organizer Nathan Chrysler of Dope Magazine.

The state’s liquor control board is in the middle of writing rules for the production, distribution and sale of recreational pot.

KIRO