COVID-19 restrictions cancel San Francisco’s 4/20 celebration

People looking for a lawn in San Francisco to celebrate the nationally recognized marijuana holiday on Tuesday won’t find one in Golden Gate Park, where the annual party has been canceled.

In anticipation of April 20th, barriers have been put up around the park when the popular Hippie Hill is usually crowded with crowds.

“While we are in a better place in our fight against COVID-19 than we were last year, we are still not at the point where we can allow large, crowded events,” said San Francisco Mayor London Breed , in a statement. “Please do your part to protect our community and celebrate from home. Anyone traveling to Golden Gate Park or Hippie Hill in search of a party will be disappointed. “

San Francisco is in the orange category of state color-coded restrictions, which means some companies may be working with changes. But instead of singling out the crowd with capacity constraints, the city canceled the event altogether. Police officers and park rangers are ensuring people don’t stay on the grass on Tuesday, and quotes can be issued, according to an announcement from the city.

“Let me be blunt,” said Phil Ginsburg, general manager of San Francisco Recreation and Park, in a statement. “Hippie Hill will be completely inaccessible. Law enforcement agencies will patrol the area. It’s going to be a serious buzzkill. “

Instead of the usual gatherings, the organizers are running a number of online events, including a livestream comedy show. They also encourage people to purchase marijuana or other pot items from local pharmacies and delivery services.