On April 20, Dragonfly Wellness hosted a 420 Market at its dispensary in downtown Salt Lake City, in conjunction with the Utah Patients Coalition (UPC). The event featured live music and an array of vendors. There were a series of brief talks, where attendees could learn more about the future of medical cannabis in Utah, cannabis processing and cannabis as a tool for recovery from drug misuse.

"I believe an annual event like this is crucial for Utah's medical cannabis patients to connect, unite and celebrate plant medicine," said Nanette Berezhnyy, a Patient Advocate with UPC and a member of the state's Medical Cannabis Advisory Board.

UPC executive director Desiree Hennessy, echoed that idea. She said that, for a long time, members of the medical cannabis community had few opportunities for connection and networking. "It's such a big deal to go out and meet people who have the same struggles as you do," she told City Weekly. "There are 100,000 patients in Utah who have [medical cannabis] cards now. Bringing it into the light and not having to be ashamed or afraid lets [their] neighbors and friends see it can change their lives for the better."

Going forward, Hennessy said that the goal is to create a robust medical cannabis program. However, when asked about the legalization of recreational cannabis for adult use in Utah, Hennessy was cautious. "Recreational markets are vastly different than medical programs," she said. "The stakeholders have a lot of pull. I don't think I could get anyone to support recreational [cannabis] currently."

Hennessy estimated that it might be 10 years before Utah saw movement on legalized recreational cannabis. But she noted that UPC would also like to help Utahns access other plant-based medicines. "UPC is working on legalizing psychedelics like ayahuasca, MDMA and psilocybin," Hennessy said. "There are a lot of benefits for people who need it; [however,] procurement continues to be an issue."

As one might suspect, the atmosphere at the 420 Market was relaxed, and the attendees who spoke to City Weekly supported medical cannabis. Zachariah Mitchell of Soul Pod attended because he "loved the vibes." Shaylee Quist of Regal Radiance Art said she feels strongly about what UPC and Dragonfly are doing. "Medical marijuana can solve the problems that other medications address," she remarked.

Samira Snounou of Earth Metal Alchemy attended because she believes opioid misuse is a significant issue in Utah. "I would love to see people choose healthier choices," she said. "Opioids are so addictive to the body."

Bri Rose of Primordial Botanica attended in part to support the medical cannabis community. "I came to support the cannabis cause and make it more above-ground and spread awareness about plants," she stated.

Taryn Bird with Hotworx attended as an advocate for medical cannabis. "The body can heal when it's allowed to be free," she said.