<body><div><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0Zqrm2_0m931BuC00" style="display:none" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0Zqrm2_0m931BuC00" width="840" height="560" > From the moment the two-day, star-studded "Long Story Short: Willie Nelson 90" birthday bash at the Hollywood Bowl was announced, it promised to be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the cross-generational cannabis crowd to convene and pay tribute to a longtime advocate of the herb. Organizers seemed to recognize this too, with plant-friendly performers including Snoop Dogg and Billy Strings on the bill (the latter having just released <a href="https://variety.com/2023/music/news/billy-strings-willie-nelson-california-sober-collaboration-birthday-1235597716/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> a weed-centric duet with Nelson called "California Sober" </a> ) and not one but two different commemorative rolling trays on offer in the merch tents. The confluence of weed-friendly folks — both on stage and off — at the historic open-air venue (which, having celebrated its centennial last year, is barely a decade older than Nelson) seemed like the perfect opportunity to check in with pot people who flocked to the Bowl for the occasion. As a Times reporter focused on cannabis, I wanted to find out what they were firing up for the evening, what their go-to concert enhancements were and what nuggets of weed wisdom they'd learned over the years. <nbtemplate data-id="AdPlaceholder" data-content="JTdCJTdE"></nbtemplate> It's worth noting at the outset that technically cannabis smoking isn't permitted at the venue. (Press representatives <a href="https://www.latimes.com/lifestyle/story/2023-04-12/los-angeles-weed-questions-can-you-smoke-a-joint-at-the-hollywood-bowl" rel="nofollow"> recently told The Times </a> that it's because the Hollywood Bowl is L.A. County park land and therefore technically public — not private — property.) In-bound security checks on the first night of the two-night event seemed unconcerned about weeding out combustible plant material — at least based on the personal experience of the people I polled Saturday afternoon and evening. However, I mention that here because no one I spoke to as I wandered the Bowl was willing to share their last name or show their face in a photograph. They all had a vested interest in being able to enjoy the second night of the two-night extravaganza without being singled out for scrutiny. Also, more than a few cited the ongoing cannabis stigma as a reason for only giving their first names. (Not to mention that while legal in California, weed remains illegal at the federal level.) <nbtemplate data-id="AdPlaceholder" data-content="JTdCJTdE"></nbtemplate> Over the course of the evening, something became apparent to me: Although Nelson himself <a href="https://apnews.com/article/music-country-music-us-news-marijuana-celebrities-972200799819586a2f0ddc9976fa2f0e" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> has reportedly stopped puffing pot </a> , part of his legacy for the next 90 years and no doubt beyond will always be about bringing the cannabis community together. Consider the torch — and the joint — passed to the next generation(s). Now meet several of the colorful characters I crossed paths with on Saturday and take in some nuggets of weed wisdom culled from their collective 277-plus years of cannabis consumption. (It could actually be 300 years' worth or more, but 74-year-old Tish from Austin, Texas, wasn't sure of how long she'd been a fan of the herb.) <h2> Mike </h2> Lives in: Yakima, Wash. Age: 66 <nbtemplate data-id="AdPlaceholder" data-content="JTdCJTdE"></nbtemplate> Cannabis consumer since: "I was 15." Favorite concert enhancement: "Blue Dream [cultivar]. Because it makes me feel happy and energetic and relaxed at the same time. It's a beautiful way to feel when you listen to music." Nugget of weed wisdom: "One, make sure you have the right people, the right time and the right place. Otherwise it can be awkward and uncomfortable [when you get high] and you don't want that. Number two, I think, is to get high for the right reasons." <h2> Laura </h2> Lives in: Castle Rock, Colo. Age: 56 Cannabis consumer since: "Just a few years. I took a 20-year break. Prior to that since 15." Favorite concert enhancement: "Gorilla Bomb [cultivar] flower in a bowl." <nbtemplate data-id="AdPlaceholder" data-content="JTdCJTdE"></nbtemplate> Nugget of weed wisdom: "Indica means 'in the couch' — that helps me remember [the effect]." <h2> John </h2> Lives in: Scranton, Pa. Age: 64 Cannabis consumer since: "Since 13 or 14." Favorite concert enhancement: "Pre-rolls. I got a pocket full of pre-rolls right here. We stopped at the MedMen near LAX and got an ounce of Turbo Diesel [cultivar] right after we got off the plane." Nugget of weed wisdom: "A friend with weed is a friend indeed." <h2> Jeffrey </h2><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3zN24b_0m931BuC00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3zN24b_0m931BuC00" width="1500" height="1125" ><figcaption>Jeffrey, left, with Allison, at the Willie Nelson birthday concert on Saturday. Neither would give their last names or be photographed. (Adam Tschorn / Los Angeles Times) </figcaption></figure><nbtemplate data-id="AdPlaceholder" data-content="JTdCJTdE"></nbtemplate> Lives: North of Sacramento Age: "I'm nearing the erogenous zone of the late 40s, early 50s." Cannabis consumer since: "My mom was involved with the Weathermen so in utero probably, but the first joint I smoked I was probably 6." Favorite concert enhancement: "Hydration and caffeine." Nugget of weed wisdom: "I have a real good friend who coined the phrase years ago: 'Sativas for the sunlight, and indicas for my dreams,' so I sort of use that as a rubric." <h2> Brandon </h2> Lives in: Culver City Age: 37 Cannabis consumer since: "I was a teenager — 15." Favorite concert enhancement: "These days? Vapes and joints." <nbtemplate data-id="AdPlaceholder" data-content="JTdCJTdE"></nbtemplate> Nugget of weed wisdom: "Around concerts, I think the biggest wisdom that I have learned is don't overdo it. We were at a Phish show once where I ate way too strong of an edible and honestly just overdid it. You can ruin this thing that you put a lot of time and money and love into. The best [concerts] are the ones where you walk away with the memories, not without." <h2> Tish </h2> Lives in: Austin, Texas Age: 74 Cannabis consumer since: "Who knows?" Favorite concert enhancement: "Trying to get backstage." Nugget of weed wisdom: "Know your dosage. I ate this [THC-infused] candy bar once and I didn't know you weren't supposed to eat the whole thing. The road was purple. For hours, I kept asking, 'Can you see the road?'" <figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=1vyfWn_0m931BuC00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1vyfWn_0m931BuC00" width="1125" height="1500" ><figcaption>Smoking is technically not permitted at the Hollywood Bowl. (Adam Tschorn / Los Angeles Times) </figcaption></figure><h2> Brandon </h2> Lives in: Minneapolis Age: 46 Cannabis consumer: "For 30 years." Favorite concert enhancement: "Usually indica flower — but I have a vape pen tonight." Nugget of weed wisdom: "Weed gets you through times of no money better than money gets you through times of no weed." <h2> Victor </h2> Lives in: Georgia Age: 45 Cannabis consumer: "For 20 years." Favorite concert enhancement: "Any kind of marijuana, but vapes are a lot easier. Right now I'm using a Pax Era with a concentrate pod." Nugget of weed wisdom: " Just be yourself, you know? Enjoy it. Go with it. Don't think too hard." <h2> Bret </h2><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=4IqvGj_0m931BuC00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=4IqvGj_0m931BuC00" width="1500" height="1125" ><figcaption>Bret, left, says his favorite piece of weed wisdom is: "Just dip your toe in the pool and go from there." (Booth Moore) </figcaption></figure> Lives in: Venice Age: 51 Cannabis consumer since: "Oh my God, this is embarrassing. Mom, are you listening? I have to say the first time was in seventh grade. I made a bong out of a jelly jar and just went to town." Favorite concert enhancement: "Probably weed and mushrooms. I use a little one-hitter for the weed — kind of like the one you have." (Bret pointed to my narrow, metal cigarette-style one-hitter.) Nugget of weed wisdom: "Just dip your toe in the pool and go from there." This story originally appeared in <a href="https://www.latimes.com/lifestyle/story/2023-04-30/willie-nelson-birthday-concert-weed-wisdom" rel="nofollow"> Los Angeles Times </a> . </div></body>

Mountain View, CA

'Dip your toe in the pool.' 'Don't overdo it.' 'Get high for the right reasons,' and other observations from cannabis fans at a Willie Nelson concert at the Hollywood Bowl.