The organizers of 420Fest attached plastic tarps along the fencing of the outside area of the Luxe nightclub in Seattle, Washington. They imagined a beer garden but for cannabis and weren’t sure if officials would allow them to put it on. Smokers found themselves in a back alleyway of the nightclub, 20 feet from the entrances. 

As the police walked into the smoking area, a wave of silence washed over from one side of the crowd to the other, it was eerie. The police walked through the very tight space to the back, paused, and then said have a happy and safe 420 to the crowd. Patrons replied back nervously.

In November 2012, voters approved Initiative 502, legalizing the recreational use of marijuana in Washington for adults over 21.