'First of its kind': Burning Flowers is the Central Valley's first 420 event in Stockton

Burning Flowers is coming to Stockton on Saturday, and there will be food, vibes, and plenty of cannabis.

Monica Buo, a former clothing store sales manager, and Joseph Payne, a retired construction worker, decided to quit their full-time jobs in pursuit of cannabis. In 2021, the married couple decided to start their own cannabis delivery service business, The Good Leaf.

"Me, and my husband always thought about being in the cannabis industry, but thought that it would just be so hard to be in, or actually get our feet in the door, until we actually got into it..." Buo told The Record. "The industry is definitely not as hard to get into as people would have thought."

With more than two years under their belt, the couple are now taking it to the next level with the citywide 420 event — Burning Flowers. The event will be held on April 20 at Weber Point Events Center, 221 N. Center St. in Stockton.

"Why not bring cannabis events to the city of Stockton? The city of Stockton loves cannabis," Buo said.

For the consumer and the curious

The 30-year-old Long Beach native, who moved to Stockton at a young age, and considers herself a Stockton native, said she has been a cannabis user for much of her life.

"This would be the first of its kind to come to the Central Valley, onsite sales of cannabis and onsite consumption," Buo said.

Initially, the couple was uncertain of how the community would respond to a cannabis event, but Buo said the city of Stockton approved.

"When we first started, we were very weary as to how people would think or feel about this type of event," Buo said. "But actually, the city and everyone that we've been talking to have been very responsive and very excited about the event coming."

Burning Flowers will highlight 209 local food, vendors, artists, and musicians, giving them the spotlight.

"It's time for the Central Valley to be able to get an event where it showcases their talent," Buo said. "I believe that's what we have been doing is showcasing the talent around Stockton and their artists and their businesses."

This event is for "cannabis connoisseurs" but also those who are "very curious," Buo said. She hopes "to break the stigma around cannabis."

"It's not this crazy scary drug that's going to just ruin your life or things like that. A lot of it has a lot of medicinal purposes," Buo said. "A lot of my clients they use it for medicinal reasons. The stigma around cannabis, that it's just this drug that gets you to be like lazy and stuff like that. A lot of it is also changing the stigma around cannabis and more towards knowledge and education around it."

Celebrating 420

During the event, guests can expect a countdown to 4:20 p.m., which will usher in musical headliners DJ Kenzo, Don Quez, and Carlos Bryant and featured performances by Daddex, Buo said.

Foodies with social media followings such as Memo Munchies, The Canna BBQ, and The Taste Duo will be at the event highlighting and savoring the MunchieLand foods. Some 209 food vendors that will be at MunchieLand include Fuego Taqueria, Pizza Party 209, Oozey B's Grilled Cheese, Mango Crazy Stockton and Krepe dog.

"Our biggest goal is to bring the Central Valley together," Buo said. "Show the diversity, show the talent of the Central Valley and then bring it together through art with cannabis."

There will also be a "huge mural" created by "nine of the best artists" in the 209, she said.

"It's a four feet by eight foot mural of their perception or how they feel or see within the city of Stockton and the Central Valley," Buo added.

The couple plans on bringing Burning Flowers to the city every year.

"I just want people to come and enjoy themselves, especially guests who are not really familiar with the product. I would love for people to get the knowledge and to understand the product more," Buo said. "But it's all about community. It's all about understanding and the diversity within the Central Valley."

While outside cannabis will be allowed inside the event it does have to be "under personal state limits," their ticketing website states.

"Outside cannabis cannot be brought in to distribute or sell. Any person that brings over their legal limits will not be allowed into the event and will be asked to leave," the website states.

Doors will open at noon and the event will end at 8 p.m. Saturday. Only clear bags will be allowed inside Weber Point Events Center. The dispensary will be open until 7 p.m.

General admission tickets are $50 and VIP tickets are $100 (fees not included). Tickets can be purchased at eventhi.io or at the gate on the day of.

For more information and event details follow burningflowers209 on Instagram.

Record reporter Angelaydet Rocha covers community news in Stockton and San Joaquin County. She can be reached at arocha@recordnet.com or on Twitter @AngelaydetRocha. To support local news, subscribe to The Stockton Record at https://www.recordnet.com/subscribenow.

This article originally appeared on The Record: Burning Flowers, a cannabis celebration, comes to Stockton on April 20