Can you bring weed to Phish Mondegreen Festival in Woodlands of Dover? Here's what to know
The brand spanking new Phish Mondegreen Festival will be Delaware's first major festival to launch since the state legalized marijuana last year.
Now that begs an important question: Will thousands of Phish fans from around the country be allowed to smoke weed recreationally at the four-day Mondegreen Festival held in The Woodlands of Dover Motor Speedway from Thursday, Aug. 15, to Sunday, Aug. 18?
This huge event is the 11th self-produced festival by the legendary jam band Phish from Vermont.
Here's a brief overview of what you need to know about Delaware's weed law before coming to Mondegreen.
How much weed is legal in Delaware?
Individuals aged 21 or older are allowed to possess 1 ounce or less of marijuana in the form of leaf marijuana, up to 12 grams of concentrated cannabis, or cannabis products containing 750 milligrams or less of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol.
Can I bring weed into Delaware over state lines?
No. Weed is still illegal under federal law, and you can't carry or transport marijuana over state lines. It's also illegal to leave (or enter) Delaware with any marijuana products – medical or adult-use (non-medical) products.
Can I smoke weed in a vehicle in Delaware?
No, consuming weed in a vehicle is illegal.
What's the age limit to smoke weed in Delaware?
When Delaware became the 22nd state to legalize recreational marijuana use on April 23, 2023, that law benefited only adults ages 21 or older. Like smoking cigarettes or drinking alcohol in Delaware, it's illegal to consume marijuana if you’re underage.
Can you smoke weed in public in Delaware?
No. It's illegal to consume weed in an area that's accessible to the public.
Can you smoke weed at Phish Mondegreen Festival?
It looks a little blurry to give a yes or no answer and here's why: It's illegal to smoke weed publicly in Delaware. But Mondegreen is held on private property in The Woodlands, which is leased by Dover Motor Speedway.
Gary Camp, vice president of marketing and communications for the Speedway, told Delaware Online/The News Journal that they'll "operate in accordance with state law as it pertains to the use and possession of marijuana. Both Dover Police and the Delaware State Police work with our security teams at the entry gates to make sure only those items which are legal come into the festival grounds."
Camp said he couldn't give a yes or no answer on whether Mondegreen visitors could spark up at the festival.
The News Journal asked Delaware State Police if it's legal to smoke weed at Mondegreen and DSP referred us to the festival organizers.
Big Hassle Media handles publicity for Mondegreen and a spokesperson from the PR agency sent us a link to the festival's FAQ page. That FAQ page says items you can't bring into the festival and campgrounds include "illegal substances, drugs, or drug paraphernalia."
When asked to elaborate on whether weed is illegal at Mondegreen, Big Hassle didn't immediately respond with a comment.
Wait, so can you smoke weed at Mondegreen or not?
The cloudy thing is weed is no longer an "illegal substance" in Delaware. But it technically is a drug, which might automatically disqualify guests from being able to bring weed into the festival.
What does this mean for Phish fans?
It's no secret that some Mondegreen guests are going to tap into their inner-Mission Impossible and likely smuggle as much weed and other drugs as they can under festival security's nose. After all, The Woodlands also was home to Firefly and you could smell weed at that festival every year during its 10-year run.
But the safest option might be to avoid bringing weed to Mondegreen because it would suck if security ended up throwing your doobie in the trash.
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How much are Phish Mondegreen Festival tickets?
Mondegreen's general admission starts at $150 per day; $450 covers access for all four days. If you're bringing a vehicle, you must also buy a camping or parking vehicle pass (one per car or RV). Single-day parking passes start at $20.
Mondegreen is located in The Woodlands of Dover Motor Speedway (1131 N. Dupont Highway, Dover) from Thursday, Aug. 15, to Sunday, Aug. 18. For more info, visit mondegreen.phish.com.
Source: Delaware Office of the Marijuana Commissioner
If you have an interesting story idea, email lifestyle reporter Andre Lamar at [email protected]. Consider signing up for his weekly newsletter, DO Delaware, at delawareonline.com/newsletters.
This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Can Phish fans bring weed to Mondegreen Festival in Woodlands of Dover?
