Kim Tam Park in Springfield Twp. to host marijuana-themed event for home growers on 4/20

The 15-acre Kim Tam Park in Springfield Township will host an event in April that could be a cannabis-first in Ohio.

Organizer John Lutz, more widely known by the name Johnny Cannabis, said in a phone interview Wednesday that the ohiocannabis.com Festival & Farmers Market will feature about 80 vendors, most of them focused on products and information about growing marijuana at home.

"It will be the first (cannabis) festival and farmers market in the state," Lutz said.

About 2,500 individuals are expected to attend the event, which has a $30 attendance fee.

The event will take place on April 20 to mark the 4/20 holiday recognized in cannabis culture; 420 is used as a more general term to refer to marijuana and its usage.

'No product is being sold' at event, says Johnny Cannabis

Kim Tam owner Jeremy Caudill, who is also a Springfield Township trustee, said he has cleared the event with the township's police and fire departments after an extensive review of other events organized by Johnny Cannabis.

"I'm in a unique, weird spot because I'm (a trustee)," Caudill said on Tuesday. "I wasn't real sure with it."

But Caudill said after meeting with Lutz and learning about what the promoter intended, he became more comfortable with allowing the event at Kim Tam Park.

The township's research included a visit to a Lutz event in Cleveland to ensure it abided by state law.

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"No product is being sold: no flower, no concentrates and no edibles," Lutz said. "Genetics only."

He said he held his first cannabis-themed event in 2017 after medical marijuana became legal in the state. Lutz said his events don't step outside what the law permits.

"I'm keeping finished product out of these farmers markets," he said. "Our goal is to teach people how to grow cannabis, not sell it."

'It's hard to grow good weed'

The event includes crash courses on current rules and regulations, cloning plants, transplanting and other related content, he said.

"It takes a lifetime to learn everything," Lutz said. "It is easy to grow weed, but it's hard to grow good weed."

Caudill said there's been a lot of interest in the cannabis-themed event, especially after he announced it on social media.

"I was kind of leery about putting it on Facebook, (but) when I did, I had no pushback," he said.

Kim Tam owner says park prepared for April 20 event

Caudill said he's confident the park will be able to accommodate demand, with parking available for more than 2,000 vehicles. Extra port-a-potties will be brought in to handle the expected crowd, along with security personnel.

"We should be definitely prepared for it," he said.

Lutz said the event will include food vendors. "Dark Side of the Moon," a Pink Floyd tribute band from Akron, will perform, along with a circus act and a group that conducts a show with fire and LED lights. A fireworks display is planned after the band's performance, he said.

Lutz said the farmers market and festival is meant for the 21-and-above crowd. He said curiosity about home growing has increased since voters passed an adult cannabis use law in November.

Interest has "always been there," he said. "It's just (that) now people have the legal ability to come out of the darkness into the light."

Leave a message for Alan Ashworth at 330-996-3859 or email him at aashworth@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @newsalanbeaconj.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: 'Johnny Cannabis' plans 420 event in Springfield Twp. at Kim Tam Park