In honor of the informal cannabis holiday of 4/20, diners at Eden restaurant will indulge in a gourmet meal featuring marijuana-infused beet salad, poached flounder, and pork shoulder paired with mocktails—without any alcohol.
The $210 dining experience at the Avondale eatery is designed to cater to the rising interest in cannabis alongside a decreasing preference for alcohol, according to chef Devon Quinn.
“We have seen a significant trend towards less alcohol consumption,” Quinn remarked. “People are becoming more mindful of the negative impacts of alcohol. But we still want to have cool dining experiences, and this is another way to do it.”
The upscale dinner is just one of the many events taking place to celebrate April 20, which is widely recognized as a cannabis holiday. According to popular lore, the holiday was named after a group of friends who would regularly gather at 4:20 p.m. to partake in cannabis consumption.
Since the legalization of recreational cannabis in Illinois in 2020, sales of the product have surged to $2 billion a year. This year, the holiday has evolved into a weekend-long cultural celebration, as well as a marketing bonanza for businesses.
Stores are offering special discounts and giveaways, experiencing a significant boost in sales, and capitalizing on a growing commercial trend. Data from the federal National Survey on Drug Use and Health indicates that the rate of individuals reporting past-year cannabis use has more than doubled from 2008 to 2022.
While there was a spike in alcohol sales during the COVID pandemic in 2020, sales of wine, beer, and spirits have seen a downturn recently. Younger adults, in particular, are increasingly inclined to use cannabis rather than consume alcohol.
Currently, about 15% of the population reports cannabis use, with more Americans now opting for it as a regular choice over alcohol, according to a study conducted last year published in the Addiction Journal.
Public perceptions around alcohol have begun to shift, as more Americans consider it unhealthy; recent studies have even linked alcohol to cancer. Federal health officials attribute approximately 178,000 deaths annually to excessive alcohol consumption.
Meanwhile, Gallup polls reveal that a slim majority still regard marijuana as harmful, although many believe it is less harmful than alcohol.
However, it’s important to note that cannabis is not without risks. Recent studies have shown associations between cannabis use and a significantly increased risk of heart attack and stroke, in addition to a higher likelihood of dementia and psychosis.
Nevertheless, cannabis enthusiasts will gather at age-21-and-older events across the Chicago area this weekend to celebrate the holiday.
Dispensary 33, in collaboration with its partner Spark’d, is hosting Studio 420 at nearby Pizza Lobo in the Andersonville neighborhood.
Scheduled from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday, Studio 420 aims to recreate a disco atmosphere with a line-up featuring Plugged into the Universe DJs, an Aeriz dab bar serving smooth smoking devices, a cannabis fairy distributing goodies, a performance by Them Bad Apples Bboy Crew, and a meet and greet with rapper King Louie. Transportation between the venues will be provided by Roger Rickshaw. Attendance is free but requires advance registration due to limited capacity.
The Cannabis Equity Illinois Coalition will hold a High Rollers Game Night, featuring games, raffles, and a vape bar, from 4 to 7 p.m. Saturday at Walls Turned Sideways, an art gallery founded by individuals who have previously been incarcerated.
In Illinois, public consumption is still illegal, and dedicated consumption lounges remain rare; however, several planned events will bring cannabis users together in private settings.
Stash Dispensary in Orland Hills is set to utilize its consumption lounge—previously only used for special events—to host its fourth annual Holding it Down for the Underground bash, from 6 to 10 p.m. Saturday, sponsored by Legacy cannabis. Tickets are priced at $25.
In addition to cannabis-centric events, activists are organizing a bike ride aimed at destigmatizing the use of psychedelics and fungi, taking place from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday at Chicago’s Palmer Square Park.
Prohibition THCafe will organize a 420 Smoke Fest commencing with yoga and tea at 10 a.m., culminating in a concert by Crucial Conflict and others at the neighboring Reggies Rock Club beginning at 6:30 p.m. Sunday.
Bud & Rita dispensaries are hosting a range of special events throughout the week, featuring offerings including psychics, caricature artists, glassblowing demonstrations, and ashtray painting workshops.
Spark’d dispensaries will also present special activities across various locations, including the second annual Stoner Olympics at their dispensary and consumption lounge in far north suburban Winthrop Harbor which includes joint rolling contests.
The Honeycomb Hideout in Addison will host a 420 “weedster” egg hunt, with a complimentary toast, Mr. CBD mocktails, smoking, dabbing, and a vapor bar, from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday.
Extending the celebration of the 420 spirit into the following week will be a 420 Finale hosted by cannabis grower and promoter Jungle Cae which will feature DJs, pizza, and smoking from 1 to 5 p.m. on April 27.
For those willing to venture further, actor Woody Harrelson’s Woodchella will showcase music and cannabis all day Sunday at The Woods WeHo in West Hollywood, California.
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