Vancouver 4/20: organizer Jodie Emery says vendors told to not sell to minors

Vancouver 4/20 organizer Jodie Emery says the city's annual pot protest is a very safe event, and vendors will be dissuaded from selling to minors.

Emery says organizers have cooperated with the city, police, paramedics and park board for event safety.

She blamed "a misquote being taken out of context" for her perceived opposition to Vancouver Coastal Health's request for event vendors to card anyone under 25 before selling them marijuana.

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"I, as an individual, cannot be held responsible for the actions of other individuals," she told On The Coast host Stephen Quinn.

"But, as the organizer of 4/20, we are definitely telling every vendor, do not sell pot to minors or anyone young, because look at the grief we're getting for it already."

Yesterday, Vancouver Coastal Health chief medical officer Dr. Patricia Daly said more than 100 people ended up in hospital last year — some as young as 15 — and edibles were to blame in about 75 per cent of those cases.

Emery denied there was anything intrinsic to her event that would cause dozens of people to go to hospital and said heatstroke was the reason for the 100 hospital visits — which she said was closer to 60.

However, Emery said this year a booklet will be distributed at the event with "dos and don'ts" for the protest.

"Do not use too many edibles, do not be in the sun too long, do drink a lot of water, do pace yourself and do not sell to minors," she listed as examples.

The 4/20 event will take place tomorrow at Sunset Beach.

With files from CBC Radio One's On The Coast

To hear the full story, click the audio labelled: Vancouver 4/20 organizer says vendors shouldn't sell to minors, but she won't be held responsible