SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. April 25, 2024 – Hippie Hill 420, the cannabis celebration canceled this year over funding issues, nonetheless drew some 3,000 to 5,000 cannabis lovers who were able to remain safe with the help of area nonprofit groups and Haight Ashbury merchants, Pastor Dave Hodges said Thursday..
Hodges, who founded the psychedelic Church of Ambrosia, organized and coordinated a proactive “safety net” seeking to avoid chaos in Golden Gate Park as people arrived for the “canceled” event. He said he is genuinely pleased by the eager participation of several nonprofits and the Haight Ashbury Merchants Association in preparing for cannabis celebrants.
“We knew that the Hippie Hill event would attract thousands of participants, regardless of the cancellation,” said Hodges, citing the April 20 event’s popularity for more than a half century. Last year, he said, close to 20,000 people attended.
“We didn’t know how many people would come this year. But we wanted to do our best to keep them safe,” he said.
Hodges said the day unfolded in the best possible way. The volunteers developed a rapport with police early in the day. Volunteers unloaded six pallets of water or 6,000 bottles. Volo Sports made space available for pop-up canopies for a medic station. Damien of Harborside pitched in to remove all trash from the area by day’s end. Medics aided four people – all of whom were injured at the sporting event.
Hodges lauded the work by the Haight Ashbury Merchants Association, the Bay Area Psychedelic Network, MICAH’S HUGS, DanceSafe, Volo Sports, Harborside San Francisco and the four medics hired by the Church. Their combined efforts helped to ensure that the “canceled” event would not become a debacle.
“What we experienced was the power of organizations working together toward a common goal of keeping visitors safe,” Hodges said. “The merchants and the nonprofit groups helped make this Hippie Hill 420 event a true success. So I want to thank everyone who came out and helped.”
About 35 volunteers and staff members for the Church and the participating groups wore T-shirts bearing the words “Stoner Safety.” Many helped distribute the bottled water provided by the Church.
Among the successes:
- The Merchants Association supplied 30+ portable toilets using Church donations, supplementing the 10 portables from the city.
- The Church donated funds for a “medic tent” and the four medics.
- Volo Sports provided space for tents.
- MICAH’S HUGS provided Narcan, a treatment for opioid overdoses; and DanceSafe provided test strips.
- Harborside provided all-around volunteerism, including cleanup, water distribution and clearing paths.
- Bay Area Psychedelic Network and others also helped the Church distribute water.
Prior to the event, Hodges urged people not to attend but, instead, to find alternate ways to observe 420. Yet he said he understood the draw.
“This is like a pilgrimage to Mecca,” Hodges said at the time. “We see this as a religious event. Anybody who is going out to Hippie Hill on 420 to smoke a joint, they’re doing that religiously, whether or not they realize it.”