420 fest draws crowds for cannabis celebration in Chaparral, New Mexico

Corrie Boudreaux
·2 min read

Several hundred people gathered at an empty lot between two tiny strip malls along County Line Road in Chaparral, New Mexico, for a 420 celebration.

GT 420 Music Fest, organized by James and Christina Perez, owners of GT Dispensary in Chaparral, featured an all-day lineup of bands in English and Spanish and finished with an appearance by California hip-hop rap artist Lil Rob.

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Hip-hop and rap artist Lil Rob entertain spectators on Saturday at the GT 420 Music Fest in Chaparral, New Mexico.
Hip-hop and rap artist Lil Rob entertain spectators on Saturday at the GT 420 Music Fest in Chaparral, New Mexico.

Though one myth has it that 420, 4/20 or 4:20 originates from a police code for marijuana, the true story is that a group of teenagers in 1970s California used “4:20” to allude to the time when they would meet after school to smoke. The term spread after it was used on a flyer distributed at a Grateful Dead concert in the early 90s, USA TODAY reported. Now, April 20 is known worldwide as a day to celebrate all things cannabis-related.

The dispensary owners wanted to give back to the community, so they decided to organize the free family-friendly event, they said.

James Perez, organizer of the GT 420 Music Fest in Chaparral, N.M., speaks to the crowd of spectators on April 20, 2024. The free event was organized by James and his wife, Christina Perez, owner of GT Dispensary, because they want to educate the public on the myriad uses of cannabis.
James Perez, organizer of the GT 420 Music Fest in Chaparral, N.M., speaks to the crowd of spectators on April 20, 2024. The free event was organized by James and his wife, Christina Perez, owner of GT Dispensary, because they want to educate the public on the myriad uses of cannabis.

The introduction of New Mexico's cannabis industry to El Paso has facilitated easy access to legal cannabis, and dispensaries consistently attract a significant share of their customers from nearby El Paso.

James Perez uses it for medicinal purposes, but in the past, he had to travel from Chaparral to Las Cruces or Sunland Park to buy it. He and his wife decided to open their own dispensary in 2022 to provide marijuana for their community.

James Perez said that he and his wife want to prove that cannabis is far more useful than the popular stereotype of its recreational use might suggest.

Vintage cars are part of the show as spectators enjoy music, food, and cannabis-themed merchandise at the GT 420 Music Fest in Chaparral, New Mexico, on Saturday, April 20.
Vintage cars are part of the show as spectators enjoy music, food, and cannabis-themed merchandise at the GT 420 Music Fest in Chaparral, New Mexico, on Saturday, April 20.

“Cannabis is a blessing because it’s medication,” Perez said. “We have customers in wheelchairs, customers with cancer. It can do so much for the body. I’d love for people to see it as medication.”

El Paso law enforcement, however, continues to enforce Texas marijuana laws. Both the city of El Paso and El Paso County have created programs to issue citations for people caught with low-level possession of marijuana. The citations can carry a hefty $500 fine.

Spectators enjoy music, food, and cannabis-themed merchandise at the GT 420 Music Fest in Chaparral, New Mexico.
Spectators enjoy music, food, and cannabis-themed merchandise at the GT 420 Music Fest in Chaparral, New Mexico.
Hip-hop rap artist Lil Rob performs at the GT 420 Music Fest on Saturday, April 20, in Chaparral, New Mexico.
Hip-hop rap artist Lil Rob performs at the GT 420 Music Fest on Saturday, April 20, in Chaparral, New Mexico.

This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: 420 fest draws crowds for cannabis celebration in New Mexico