Dude! Vancouver Aquatic Centre avoids becoming giant 'hotbox' by closing for 4/20
Fears ventilation system will suck in too much pot smoke forces closure of public pool April 20
To avoid becoming the world's biggest 'hotbox' the Vancouver Aquatic Centre will not open Wednesday, April 20, for fear the ventilation system will suck in too much pot smoke.
- Vancouver 4/20 event moving to Sunset Beach in 2016
- 4/20 at Sunset Beach not 'great safety recipe', says Vancouver Park Board
- Vancouver Art Gallery 4/20 pot fest sends dozens to hospital
An estimated 25,000 marijuana advocates are expected to light up on adjacent Sunset Beach that day for the annual 4/20 pot rally.
"It's not possible to shut down intake fans," said park board chair Sarah Kirby-Yung.
"Given the tens of thousands of people expected to be around the Aquatic Centre smoking marijuana that day, we are very sensitive to that intaking into the building."
Kelly Taitinger, head coach of the Canadian Dolphins swim club, said some parents had expressed concern that children would be leaving the pool with the smell of marijuana on their clothes and bags.
Taitinger however, doesn't think the facility needs to be shut down.
"I'm unhappy," he said, noting that 120 of his swimmers will miss their training sessions that day.
Organizers of 4/20 moved the event to Sunset Beach from its previous location at the Vancouver Art Gallery.
Last year 64 people were treated at St. Paul's emergency.
Kirby-Yung restated that the Vancouver Park Board is in no way sanctioning or supporting 4/20 at Sunset Beach.
The board asked organizers to find an alternate location months ago.
Smoking is not permitted at city parks or beaches.