The California State Fair has hit a milestone in the annals of cannabis history. The fair boasts the first-ever area for the on-site sales and consumption of cannabis at any state fair. However, if you don’t know the area is there, you’ll likely walk right by it. The area is hidden behind a huge building just past exhibits showcasing the timeline of marijuana.
A Historic First
“We’re making history,” said Dustin Moore, co-founder of Embarc. Embarc, in partnership with Fair Play Ventures, has created the newest version of the fair’s cannabis exhibit. Although a cannabis competition has taken place since 2022, this year attendees can purchase cannabis products and use them in a designated consumption area.
The Consumption Experience
Part of the area contains couches under a covering to provide relief from the California sun. The larger consumption site, where smoking is allowed, features tables, chairs, panelists, and music. Both sites are shielded from regular fairgoers, so visitors can enjoy the fair without even knowing cannabis is present.
While this setup might seem contradictory to the goal of normalizing cannabis, Moore explains it’s about taking small steps, much like the journey to legalization in California. “It’s all about small steps,” he said.
From Stigma to Acceptance
James Leitz, with Fair Play Ventures and executive producer of the cannabis competition and exhibit, remembers the days before Proposition 64, which legalized marijuana in California in 2016. “Ten years ago, I wouldn’t have believed sales and consumption at the state fair were possible. It is huge,” he said.
Visitors to the cannabis exhibit can see how attitudes towards cannabis have evolved. The exhibit, which is a short walk from the main entrance, features a timeline of cannabis through the decades, highlighting how perceptions about it have changed over time.
Education and Celebration
“It’s all about education,” Leitz emphasized. The exhibit shows the influence of individuals who advocated for cannabis as medicine. This advocacy ultimately led to the legalization of medicinal marijuana in California in the 1990s. Visitors can also see gold and silver medal winners in categories like sun-grown, mixed light, cartridge, edibles, and beverages.
Nearby, a stand offers terpene-infused slushies, a non-intoxicating play on the popular wine slushies found at the fair. Terpenes are the compounds that give many plants, including cannabis, their distinct scents.
The Economic Impact
Since becoming legal on January 1, 2018, cannabis has faced numerous challenges. Sales in California were $5.35 billion in 2021 but dropped to $4.9 billion in 2022 and $4.89 billion in 2023. Despite these fluctuations, the state Legislative Analyst’s Office estimated $649 million in cannabis tax revenue for fiscal year 2023-24. It is predicted to reach $727 million for 2024-25.
“Everybody expected cannabis to be this windfall,” said David Hafner, media relations manager with the state Department of Cannabis Control. He noted that only 40% of California has licensed cannabis retailers, leaving large areas in a cannabis desert. The exhibit at the state fair plays a role in the socialization and normalization of cannabis. “Having it at the state fair is the next step of that,” Hafner added.
Ensuring Compliance
Hafner’s office will have a compliance team on-site during the fair to ensure regulations are followed. The exhibition hall is restricted to those 21 and older, and smoking is allowed on all days except July 19, when a beer fest is scheduled.
The California State Fair at Cal Expo, located at 1600 Exposition Blvd., Sacramento, runs from July 12 to 28.
