“We are shocked how it’s been taken over by free party sound system crews”![\"Rubbish](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/1745439495_546_0_JS366608279.jpg\")
Litter and rubbish as far as the eye can see at Castle Park in Bristol this morning, Tuesday 22 April 2025. This remains as a rave took place on Sunday in the city where cannabis smokers come together on this annual 4\/20 event in the city. PHOTO:PAUL GILLIS \/ Reach Plc(Image: Paul Gillis\/Reach Plc)<\/p>\n
The Bristol Cannabis Club has spoken out about how the recent 420 event at Castle Park is not a reflection of the cannabis community it represents.<\/p>\n
Castle Park saw what has now become an annual event on Sunday (April 20), marking a day recognised worldwide which celebrates cannabis and protests against its prohibition.<\/p>\n
In previous years, thousands of people have gathered at the location, with music played through a number of sound systems – and this year’s gathering was no different<\/a>.<\/p>\n Despite the council having rejected an application in February for a temporary licence for a sound system to be used<\/a>, locals say that music was being played at loud volumes for more than 12 hours on Easter Sunday and the park was left covered in litter, BristolLive<\/a> reported.<\/p>\n Now the Bristol Cannabis Club<\/a> has said that the event has been ‘taken over’ and is no longer acting as it previously did.<\/p>\n Alister Flowers, who co-founded and runs Bristol Cannabis Club, said: “We are shocked how the 420 event has been taken over by free party sound system crews.<\/p>\n “The event does not represent the cannabis community in any way.” Alister says he believes “the majority [of people in attendance this weekend] were all on class A drugs and drinking heavily”.<\/p>\n BristolLive has not had confirmation if this was the case, however has approached police about this.<\/p>\n Alister went on to say: “We strongly feel it’s gone this way as Bristol City Council<\/a> and Avon & Somerset Police refuse to let us license, fence and control it.<\/p>\n “We and fellow organisations have submitted applications most years since 2017. Many of the sound systems you see came from other counties in the South West where rigs are often confiscated.<\/p>\n “They have come to Bristol to take over what activists and the cannabis community built, for their own benefit, ignoring the masses who would be affected.<\/p>\n “Much of the cannabis community avoided the park as 2024 was also terrible due to the lack of licensing and regulation.<\/p>\n “Those who did venture to the park left early this year and last.”<\/p>\n A statement from police<\/a> said: \u201cPolice attended an unlicensed gathering with multiple sound systems in Castle Park on Sunday.<\/p>\n \u201cThousands were there for the unofficial international “420 Day”, a public rejection of laws restricting cannabis use.<\/p>\n “In the UK the police response involves engagement, explanation and education around drugs and drugs misuse; with appropriate interventions as and when necessary and proportionate.<\/p>\n \u201cBristol officers had dozens of calls, mainly about the impact of very loud music on the wider community.<\/p>\n \u201cAt 3am on Sunday – before the crowd gathered – officers had seized a sound system from the park.<\/p>\n “However, powers to deal with the music during the daytime are limited. Officers ensured it was turned off by 11pm.<\/p>\n \u201cPolice and ambulance crews attended several incidents as the day wore on, including medical emergencies and assaults, and there were a handful of arrests.\u201d<\/p>\n Another resident who lives near to Castle Park, described how his flat was “vibrating” due to the loud music, and added: “Basically they used it as a rave, with cannabis. It was very depressing and the music<\/a> was awful.<\/p>\n “There were thousands of people there all around, looking high, wandering about in a daze.”<\/p>\n Back in April 2024, BristolLive spoke with Alister<\/a> about how he is advocating for the full decriminalisation of the cannabis plant, which is currently outlawed as a Class B drug.<\/a><\/p>\n Alister, who legally smokes cannabis for medical reasons, has been attending 420 park gatherings in Bristol every year since 2014. For him, full decriminalisation would mean that individuals who grow the plants at home for their own personal use would not be criminalised.<\/p>\n He argued that a regulated industry would allow people to purchase from \u201cexpert bartenders\u201d who could guide them in choosing the most appropriate strain to meet their needs.<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/0_Alister-Flowersjpeg.jpg\")
Alister Flowers at his home in Easton, holding up his medically prescribed cannabis.(Image: Yvonne Deeney)<\/p>\n![\"Rubbish](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/1745439495_853_0_JS366608275.jpg\")
Rubbish in Castle Park following the 420 event at Castle Park on Easter Sunday, which saw thousands in attendance(Image: Paul Gillis\/Reach Plc)<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/1745439496_333_0_JMP_SWA_200421_420__038_JPG.jpg\")
(Image: John Myers)<\/p>\n