Vancouver's 4/20 bill comes in at $148,000

Vancouver's costs to manage and cleanup after this year's 4/20 events rose by 60 per cent from last year, saysthe city.

The total costofthe April 20event was $148,000, up from $92,500 last year. The costs includecity services like police, sanitation crews, fire and rescue and traffic management.

The city attributes the $55,500 increase to increased attendance andthe event's two locations this year its traditional spot in front of the Vancouver Art Gallery as well as its new location at Sunset Beach.

Police estimated25,000 people were at Sunset Beach at the event's peak.Organizer Jodie Emery says as many as 130,000 people participated throughout the day.

The city has criticized 4/20 organizers for not obtaininga permit for the event, which a city spokesperson saidwould cover mostof the city-incurred costs.

• ANALYSIS |What is the point of 4/20? (And other blunt questions)

Economic benefits

But organizers say many of the taxpayers footing the bill for the event are the same ones celebrating, and the event brings other economic benefits to the downtown core.

"Every taxpayer present had a fantastic time," said Emery."The businesses in Vancouver's West End doubled and tripled their business that day."

Emery emphasized, as she has many times before, that organizers can't obtain a permit because marijuana is illegal.

She said the celebration is held responsibly and organizers raised $100,000 for the volunteer-run event to cover expenses liketoilets, security and first aid.

"Everything we do isaboveboard andprofessional," she said.

According to Emery, the city's messaging around costs constitutes an "anti-marijuana bias" by making the event look like a problem, even though there were few incidents this year.

The city's breakdown of the costs are as follows:

• Vancouver Police Department:$99,400
• Vancouver Park Board:$24,000
• Streets and Sanitation: $13,600
• Vancouver Fire and Rescue Service: $6,900
• Traffic, Special Events & Emergency Management:$4,100