It’s no secret that music festivals are a hotspot for cannabis use. After all, what better way to enhance the vibe of live music and socializing than with a substance known for inducing relaxation and euphoria?
Now, a new study out of France has confirmed what many already suspected: cannabis is incredibly popular among festival attendees, especially regular users.
The study, conducted by researchers from the French addictovigilance network, surveyed 243 past-year cannabis users at 13 different music festivals.
Among regular users (those partaking at least monthly), 63% met criteria for cannabis dependence. While this statistic might raise some eyebrows, it really just reinforces the fact that people who love festivals also tend to love cannabis. And that a lot of French people smoke weed (gosh!).
Cannabis and Festival Culture Go Hand-in-Hand
Let’s be real – using cannabis at festivals is about as surprising as finding mud at Woodstock. The study’s findings include:
- Over 2/3 of festival goers used cannabis in the past year
- 63% of regular users were classified as dependent
- 77% of regular users met broader criteria for cannabis use disorder
Rather than being alarmed, we should recognize these numbers as a reflection of the role cannabis plays in festival culture. For many attendees, consuming cannabis is an integral part of the experience, helping them feel more immersed in the music, socially connected, and free from everyday stresses.
With the growing normalization and legalization of cannabis, it’s only natural that use would be common in festival environments that celebrate counterculture and pushing boundaries. In a setting where alcohol flows freely and other illicit substances are often present, cannabis is comparatively low-risk.
Dependence or Just Devotion?
So what’s up with the high rates of supposed cannabis dependence found in the study? The criteria used includes things like tolerance, using more than intended, and difficulty cutting back.
But for regular cannabis users, especially in the context of a multi-day music festival, these “symptoms” may just be business as usual.
Increasing tolerance is a well-established effect of frequent cannabis use, not necessarily a sign of problematic use. Consuming more than planned is also pretty standard at festivals – with so much excitement in the air and a break from reality, who hasn’t indulged a little extra?
As for “giving up important activities” and “continuing despite health/social problems”, context is key. Attending a days-long festival inherently involves setting aside responsibilities.
And while some may experience downsides like grogginess or awkward social interactions, most would say the positives of the experience outweigh the negatives.
At the end of the day, cannabis affects everyone differently. What looks like dependence from the outside may simply be a conscious choice to regularly use a substance that enhances life enjoyment, much like someone who has a nightly glass of wine. The key is being informed and consuming responsibly.
Polysubstance Use. An Unsurprising Finding
The study also found that regular cannabis users were more likely to use other substances like stimulants and hallucinogens compared to non-regular users. In the context of festivals, this is about as shocking as finding out people drink more coffee in the morning.
Festival culture is all about expanding the mind and pushing limits. Experimenting with various substances, often in combination, is a central part of the experience for many.
Just like cannabis, other drugs like MDMA and psychedelics can heighten the impact of music and social bonding.
Of course, using multiple substances does come with increased risks that shouldn’t be downplayed. But again, informed and responsible use is the name of the game.
Plenty of festival goers who use cannabis alongside other drugs do so without significant issues, employing practices like:
- Pacing and moderating intake
- Staying hydrated and nourished
- Taking breaks and getting adequate sleep
- Buddying up and looking out for each other
- Seeking help if needed
Ultimately, polysubstance use at festivals is a complex issue that can’t be reduced to simple condemnation or hand-wringing.
Open and honest conversations about safer partying practices are important, but so is respecting the autonomy of adult festivalgoers.
Going Forward With Pragmatism
So where do the study findings leave us? The researchers recommend increased harm reduction measures like drug education and providing on-site support services. These are great ideas and should absolutely be standard practice at major festivals.
However, we should be wary of approaches that lean too heavily on paternalistic oversight or stigmatization of cannabis users.
Trying to crack down on a widely used substance that poses minimal risk to most is likely to just breed more distrust and recklessness.
Instead, let’s focus on giving festival goers the tools and information to make responsible choices, while still preserving the freedom and magic of the festival environment. This means:
- Offering educational resources in a judgement-free way
- Providing drug checking to avoid adulterated substances
- Making sure people have access to chill spaces and medical care
- Encouraging a culture of looking out for each other
- Normalizing reaching out for help if things get too intense
At the end of the day, there’s no putting the cannabis genie back in the bottle, nor should we want to.
Cannabis has been a part of festival culture for decades and will continue to be for decades to come. What matters is embracing reality and working with people as they are, not against them.
So to all the regular cannabis users out there gearing up for festival season – light one up for us!
Just remember to pace yourself, stay aware of how you’re feeling, and don’t hesitate to take a breather if needed. Oh, and make sure to pass it to the left every once in a while – sharing is caring after all.
