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3 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Family Fest offers back-to-school giveaway ... Ticket Availabity ... Inner Peace: Generating inner peace to assist others in need ... Family Fest offers back-to-school giveaway ... Ticket Availabity ... Inner Peace: Generating inner peace to assist others in need ... 'OREGON SMOKEFEST 2015' Music festival says it's first in area with designated pot smoking area By John Darling For the Tidings DailyTidings.com By John Darling For the Tidings Posted Aug. 20, 2015 @ 6:16 pm Updated Aug 20, 2015 at 6:17 PM By John Darling For the Tidings Posted Aug. 20, 2015 @ 6:16 pm Updated Aug 20, 2015 at 6:17 PM » Social News p bs:newslist StartDate="20121121" EndDate="p bs:datecalc Months="3"" DateSort="1" UseObjects="1" ObjectClass="81" Taxonomywords="2324,665" ExactTaxonomyMatch="1" Image="1" Count="4" --> Twenty bands will play Saturday at what organizers say is Southern Oregon’s first-ever "SmokeFest" — a rock concert where marijuana will be openly used by people over 21 without breaking any laws.  “Oregon SmokeFest 2015” is scheduled to run from noon to 10 p.m. at 59 Stage Road at Voorhies Road between Phoenix and Medford. It will feature a beer garden and cannabis area, screened off from the rest of the festival. It’s on private land and will be screened off from any visual contact with the public, organizers say.  “It will be the first open consumption of cannabis, south of Eugene, that we know of,” said Mitra Sticklen of Talent Health Club, a medical marijuana shop on Highway 99 in Talent. “However, it’s not public use. It’s private and screened from the public.”  One organizer said it’s a historic step in the normalization of recreational pot after voter legalization July 1, “bringing it out of the closet after a lot of myths got debunked. This will be a very different and inclusive festival.”  The music will cover a broad range, including rock, hip-hop, reggae and will feature some Ashland groups, including Hundred Watt Mind and JM. Kurupt From the Dogg Pound will also play.  “It’s going to be a really big music, food and entertainment festival and should be a whole lot of fun,” said Madison Gronabarger of Talent Health Club. “It’s really cool to see the kind of people that smoke festivals bring out — little old ladies, guys in business suits coming out of the woodwork. All the stigma is fading away now.”  Tickets are $20 in advance and $30 at the door. The Health Club and other outlets have tickets.  Mike Welch of Siskiyou Medical Supply in Ashland said he won’t be a vendor at the Fest, as they are too busy with all the commerce under the new laws and “there are tons of Smoke Fests.” House of Leaves in Ashland said they got going too late and won’t be there.  “I believe people here are comfortable with the fests,” Welch said, “specifically in our area. A lot of acceptance. Happy and comfortable.”  Sticklen said her shop is excited about Oct. 1, when recreational cannabis, seeds, flowers and juvenile plants join medical medical marijuana as legal over-the-counter sale items. John Darling is an Ashland freelance writer. Reach him at [email protected]. By John Darling For the Tidings DailyTidings.com By John Darling For the Tidings Posted Aug. 20, 2015 @ 6:16 pm Updated Aug 20, 2015 at 6:17 PM » Comment or view comments /* $( document ).ready(function() { // Jquery mobile is trying to style the button and leaving a blank gry button on top of a white button $("#viafouracoms .vf-comment-controls li.vf-right").html(' Submit '); });*/ » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with DailyTidings.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Alerts Email alerts RSS feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. DailyTidings.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501