By: Stan Maddux
BCR Correspondent
Months of planning by law enforcement seemed to help eliminate the unexpected chaos that developed from people in huge numbers flocking to the marijuana dispensaries outside New Buffalo last year on 420.
Berrien County Sheriff Chuck Heit said the placement of numerous no-parking and no-U-turn signs prior to the start of the 420 weekend this year seemed to noticeably help reduce the congestion around the 30 or so dispensaries near Interstate 94 and along U.S. 12.
“It’s much more manageable this year,” he said.
Sarah Schroeder, Director of Marketing at Border Buds, complimented the agencies involved in preparing better for the onslaught of 420 visitors.
“I think the township and the Berrien County Sheriff’s Department did a great job of getting ahead of the traffic this year,” she said.
420 is an unofficial national holiday celebrating the consumption of cannabis.
Heit said he also felt the creation of overflow parking at Exit 1 off Interstate 94 helped solve problems last year with drivers parking along streets and grassy areas seemingly everywhere around the dispensaries.
There were even vehicles backed up on Interstate 94 last year at times because of the extremely high volume of motorists heading to the marijuana shops.
There were no back-ups reported this year.
The situation also seemed to benefit from turnout not being as high possibly by 420 being on a Monday this year and the festivities such as giveaways and price discounts spread over a three day weekend.
420 last year was on a Sunday.
Heit said more officers were also assigned to patrol the areas around the dispensaries, which seemed to work in reducing traffic violations that added to last year’s chaos.
There were still enough visitors this year to cause lines to form outside some of the dispensaries especially prior to their doors opening.
Free gift bags containing a variety of marijuana products went quickly each day to the first 100 customers at Border Buds, which also offered giveaways at the top of each hour and 50-percent discounts on most store items during the entire weekend.
One customer made the trip from Chicago to King of Budz hoping to take advantage of 420 related price reductions.
“I figured they’d have some deals going on to see if I can get something for cheap,” he said.