Vancouver park board, police prepare for two 4/20 gatherings Thursday

The Vancouver park board is closing its Beach Avenue aquatic centre, concessions and public washrooms around Sunset Beach as organizers gear-up for a large, unsanctioned 4/20 event on Thursday.

Dozens of vendors and thousands of cannabis-lovers are expected as the annual celebration of all things marijuana hits the beach.

Event host Brynne Jones said he and directors of the volunteer-driven pot advocacy group World Cannabis have had meetings with park board staff over the past few days to smooth out plans for a safe, trouble-free gathering.

But the park board notes it isn’t officially sanctioned.

“The Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation has not permitted this event as organizers have failed to meet the special events’ permitting terms and conditions,” said a parks spokesperson Wednesday.