Lockn’ Festival: Choose Your Location Wisely, Keep Us Safe

Festivals are a pure joy of the stoner culture. Music and marijuana have gone hand in hand for longer than any of us can pretend to understand. As such, it is no small secret that where there is great live music, there will likely be some weed.

When it comes to throwing huge festivals, which feature well-known classic stoner favorites such as Furthur and many more, we’d hope that festival organizers would keep the safety of the thousands of attendees in mind. However, unfortunately, we still live in a prohibition world, despite our recent legal successes. As such, there are simply some states which it’s just not smart to hold such a festival in.

Lockn‘ Festival has made this error in judgment. When their liquor license was recently brought under scrutiny and revoked, some interesting tidbits of information came to light regarding last years festival. Mainly, that droves of undercover cops were patrolling the festival, taking pictures and videos of attendees using “drugs,” and even of women who were sunbathing topless, all without their consent.

“The Virginia Board of Alcoholic Beverage Control came to the decision after a hearing regarding a huge roster of violations from last year: undercover agents reported witnessing at least 100 incidents of drug use and photographed or videotaped at least nine; the 23-acre licensed area was insufficiently lit; and multiple agents witnessed and videotaped a topless woman sunbathing. Testimony from one special agent stated that the “blatant drug use was the highest incidence of drug use he’d ever seen in his career” and that it went totally overlooked by Lockn’s hired security guards and festival staffers. “

This information is disturbing for so many reasons, not one of which is because people were using “drugs.”

First of all, I’m not sure what Virginia thought a music festival would look like, but if naked women at a music festival somehow translates to revoked liquor license in their book, someone ought to come along and give them the news that it’s not the 1900s anymore. Not to mention, the fact that they were videotaping this woman without her consent is nothing short of sexism and worthy of a serious creep badge.

Personally, I’m pretty sick of the nipple double standard, and I know plenty of others are too. Many women feel safe going bare-chested and heart-to-the-sun at music festivals because, generally speaking, the crowd that attends such festivals are more open-minded. These undercover cops are like peeping Toms, infiltrating the culture and then snickering behind their video cameras, “Look Lou! Boobies! Durr hurr hurr.”

Grow the fuck up, Lou.

Additionally, many people were video taped and photographed participating in drug use, which was most of the time probably just some dude smoking a doobie. Hell, I smoked one of the biggest joints of my life at last years Lockn‘. How many of those reported 100 or more attendees observed were at risk of being arrested?

And this is where the location chosen for this festival is the inherent problem. Lockn‘ Festival is in Virginia, Virginia for crying out loud. Whose bright idea was this?

I’ve been saying since last year, when Lockn‘ first popped up, that Virginia is a terrible place to hold a festival of this caliber. Honestly, I’m not sure how anyone can say, “Hey! I know what’s a great idea. Let’s hold an enormous hippie music festival with all the biggest acts, which will be sure to attract thousands of attendees from all over the country, in a state with drug laws that look like THIS!”

Virginia’s drug laws are no laughing matter. They are some of the strictest on the east coast. In fact, Virginia ranks among the top states with the most cannabis arrests.

Now sure, there are inherently risks any time you use drugs in a prohibition state. It’s also wise to educate yourself on the drug laws of any state you will be visiting or driving through, and whether you are attending a festival or not, it’s common sense to be aware of your surroundings and play it safe.

But that being said, there are plenty of other great states with gorgeous mountains, which are far more welcoming to the music festival community, and who do not have such severe drug penalties.

Lockn‘ Festival’s two large main stages.

I personally attended Lockn‘ Festival last year, and it should be known that the people who throw Lockn‘ really know how to provide an amazing show. The music and lineup were phenomenal, the stages were excellent, the was sound fantastic — it was a great experience! I would revel in the chance to experience Lockn‘ again.

But as far as the specific location went, it’s not worth it to hold it there. Yes, Virginia is beautiful and the mountains were grand. But the farm itself has very few roads in, leading to massive traffic congestion which left many people land locked in a sea of cars in the hot sun for the entire day. Not to mention the campsites were over a mile walk from the stage. Supposedly, these issues have been fixed this year, and time will tell.

All in all, there are truly many other great mountainous places in the east coast where this wonderful festival could be more thoroughly and safely enjoyed. Unfortunately, Lockn‘ has already set the wheels in motion to purchase a part of the farm, so it doesn’t look as though they will be relocating anytime soon. Perhaps one day, they can choose a better location, and in the meantime, hopefully future, mighty festivals such as this one will think twice about drug laws before picking their festival grounds.

This year, if you are one of the thousands of cannabis consumers who will be flocking to Lockn‘ from all over the country, remember to use caution both when entering the state, enjoying the festival, and when leaving. Safe and heady travels, friends!