WAVERLY, Ohio (WCMH) — Hundreds of marijuana enthusiasts and vendors descended upon Waverly’s riverbank in July for the second annual Stargazer Cannabis Festival, but not everyone left feeling peaceful.
“If they weren’t playing music, it would have looked like an episode of ‘The Walking Dead,’” artist and vendor Hannah Anderson said.
Stargazer Cannabis Festival began in 2024 as a “weekend of love and weed” after Ohio legalized recreational cannabis. Organizer Chad Thompson said weather concerns leading up to the event forced them to quickly adapt the venue to avoid flooded areas. Vendors told NBC4 the venue felt “completely unsafe,” alleging lax security, inadequate facilities and difficult conditions.
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After a large inaugural turnout, Thompson moved Stargazer Festival to the banks of the Scioto River this year for more space. Heavy rain before the event left the area partly flooded, and Thompson said he only confirmed they would be able to host the event on the site July 19, just days before vendors arrived…