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Fairgrounds takes aim at marijuana at concerts
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By Tanya Mannes
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER
October 15, 2008
DEL MAR – In response to complaints about marijuana use at summer concerts, the Del Mar Fairgrounds has banned cigarette smoking at the annual county fair and approved a policy allowing pat-down searches at reggae concerts.
on error resume next MM_FlashCanPlay = ( IsObject(CreateObject("ShockwaveFlash.ShockwaveFla sh." & MM_contentVersion)))The new rules will not apply to the dozens of other concerts and events – including the summer horse races – held at the fairgrounds and racetrack throughout the year.
The fairgrounds' board of directors has been under pressure from anti-smoking activists since August, when people complained about blatant marijuana smoking during a Ziggy Marley reggae concert at the racetrack grandstands.
The controversy over pot led to the idea of a tobacco ban. Activists, including Debra Kelly of the American Lung Association for San Diego and Imperial Counties, said that banning cigarette smoking would make it easier to crack down on marijuana use.
At yesterday's meeting, the 22nd District Agricultural Association, which governs the state-owned venue, approved an anti-drug policy for reggae concerts and the ban, which will allow smoking only in designated areas during the fair.
The reggae-concert policy will restrict shows to adults 21 and older, along with strict security measures that could include pat-down searches. Reggae performers will have to sign a contract prohibiting them from using or promoting illegal drugs while they are on fairgrounds property.
Some people involved in San Diego's reggae scene had concerns about the rules when told about them yesterday.
Carlos Torres, a high school teacher known as Carlos Culture in his other job as a disc jockey, said he opposes limiting reggae shows to adults.
“A lot of our reggae fans don't get to see reggae except at bars,” Torres said. “Places like the fairgrounds, where they can go with their parents – that was one of the few all-age venues in San Diego.”
Barry Nussbaum, vice president of the fairgrounds board, said the fair board wants to create a smoke-and drug-free environment.
“We're going to do everything within our power to make sure that this behavior is eliminated,” he said.
Fairgrounds General Manager Tim Fennell said the policy will not apply to other kinds of performances, such as rock and country music, because only the reggae concerts have provoked a significant number of complaints.
Reggae originates from a cultural tradition that celebrates marijuana use. The dreadlocked Rastafarians, followers of the Jamaican religion that spawned the musical style, smoke the herb as a path to religious meditation.
Fennell said he will consider ending reggae concerts at the fairgrounds if drug use continues.
About a dozen people, including Kelly and Judi Strang, executive director of the San Dieguito Alliance for Drug Free Youth, attended yesterday's meeting to advocate the new rules, which were approved by a 7-0 vote, with board members Russ Penniman and Kelly Burt absent.
Concert-goer Rick Shacket told the board that the new policy is “an important part of changing the social norm today that marijuana smoking is innocent.”
No one at the meeting spoke against the policy.
Kenny “Dance Man” Graham of San Diego, a DJ and concert promoter for Tiger Force Entertainment, said later that he doubted the policy could be enforced.
“They can try, but it's going to happen regardless,” Graham said. “I try to prevent it in all my major events, but there's always one or two bad apples.”
Graham, who is from Jamaica, said reggae is popular in San Diego because of its “positive vibes.”
“Rather than talking about guns and drugs all the time, we do positive music,” Graham said. “That's what the people like.”
Torres noted that country artists such as Willie Nelson have been outspoken about their marijuana use and said reggae is being unfairly targeted.
“If they want to do (greater enforcement), they should do that at all concerts, not just reggae concerts,” he said.
Tanya Mannes: (619) 498-6639; tanya.mannes@uniontrib
window.onerror=function(){clickURL=document.locati on.href;return true;} if(!self.clickURL) clickURL=parent.location.href; By Tanya Mannes
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER
October 15, 2008
DEL MAR – In response to complaints about marijuana use at summer concerts, the Del Mar Fairgrounds has banned cigarette smoking at the annual county fair and approved a policy allowing pat-down searches at reggae concerts.
on error resume next MM_FlashCanPlay = ( IsObject(CreateObject("ShockwaveFlash.ShockwaveFla sh." & MM_contentVersion)))The new rules will not apply to the dozens of other concerts and events – including the summer horse races – held at the fairgrounds and racetrack throughout the year.
The fairgrounds' board of directors has been under pressure from anti-smoking activists since August, when people complained about blatant marijuana smoking during a Ziggy Marley reggae concert at the racetrack grandstands.
The controversy over pot led to the idea of a tobacco ban. Activists, including Debra Kelly of the American Lung Association for San Diego and Imperial Counties, said that banning cigarette smoking would make it easier to crack down on marijuana use.
At yesterday's meeting, the 22nd District Agricultural Association, which governs the state-owned venue, approved an anti-drug policy for reggae concerts and the ban, which will allow smoking only in designated areas during the fair.
The reggae-concert policy will restrict shows to adults 21 and older, along with strict security measures that could include pat-down searches. Reggae performers will have to sign a contract prohibiting them from using or promoting illegal drugs while they are on fairgrounds property.
Some people involved in San Diego's reggae scene had concerns about the rules when told about them yesterday.
Carlos Torres, a high school teacher known as Carlos Culture in his other job as a disc jockey, said he opposes limiting reggae shows to adults.
“A lot of our reggae fans don't get to see reggae except at bars,” Torres said. “Places like the fairgrounds, where they can go with their parents – that was one of the few all-age venues in San Diego.”
Barry Nussbaum, vice president of the fairgrounds board, said the fair board wants to create a smoke-and drug-free environment.
“We're going to do everything within our power to make sure that this behavior is eliminated,” he said.
Fairgrounds General Manager Tim Fennell said the policy will not apply to other kinds of performances, such as rock and country music, because only the reggae concerts have provoked a significant number of complaints.
Reggae originates from a cultural tradition that celebrates marijuana use. The dreadlocked Rastafarians, followers of the Jamaican religion that spawned the musical style, smoke the herb as a path to religious meditation.
Fennell said he will consider ending reggae concerts at the fairgrounds if drug use continues.
About a dozen people, including Kelly and Judi Strang, executive director of the San Dieguito Alliance for Drug Free Youth, attended yesterday's meeting to advocate the new rules, which were approved by a 7-0 vote, with board members Russ Penniman and Kelly Burt absent.
Concert-goer Rick Shacket told the board that the new policy is “an important part of changing the social norm today that marijuana smoking is innocent.”
No one at the meeting spoke against the policy.
Kenny “Dance Man” Graham of San Diego, a DJ and concert promoter for Tiger Force Entertainment, said later that he doubted the policy could be enforced.
“They can try, but it's going to happen regardless,” Graham said. “I try to prevent it in all my major events, but there's always one or two bad apples.”
Graham, who is from Jamaica, said reggae is popular in San Diego because of its “positive vibes.”
“Rather than talking about guns and drugs all the time, we do positive music,” Graham said. “That's what the people like.”
Torres noted that country artists such as Willie Nelson have been outspoken about their marijuana use and said reggae is being unfairly targeted.
“If they want to do (greater enforcement), they should do that at all concerts, not just reggae concerts,” he said.
Tanya Mannes: (619) 498-6639; tanya.mannes@uniontrib
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