Black Girls Smoke founder and entrepreneur Vic Styles is pushing for New York City parks to create designated smoking spaces for cannabis consumers. Her “Puff in the Park” rally on 4/20 is one step toward that goal. (Video produced by Kay Angrum)
If you've walked through any city park on a nice spring day, chances are you've smelled it.
New York City has a lot of interesting smells, but for the purpose of this article, we're talking about cannabis.
Marijuana and the people who smoke pot in and around city parks have been a common sight long before New York legalized recreational use of it for adults 21 and older.
Still, some might be surprised to learn that smoking weed in many public places, including city parks, is very much illegal. There's also a (pretty low) chance you could be fined.
That hasn't stopped entrepreneur and Black Girls Smoke (BGS) founder Vic Styles from hosting her annual 4/20 "Puff in the Park" event in Prospect Park for the third year in a row.
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In addition to the festivities, "Puff in the Park" is also billed as a rally to peacefully protest New York State laws that prohibit park goers from smoking within the park.
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"We would like to see a designated cannabis smoking area in the park," Styles told NBC New York.
It's just one of many goals that fall under the group's main mission to erase "stigmas, color lines and gender biases" in an industry that is still dominated by cis white men.
A lot of cannabis events are not geared toward us. There are people that don't look like me. I don't feel appreciated, seen, or safe.
Vic Styles, @thevicstyles
After moving to New York from Los Angeles, Styles launched her brand in 2020 as a fun way to find community and connect with people during the pandemic. In three years, BGS has amassed 50,000 followers on Instagram "with no paid media, no ads, no major sponsorships or partnerships," Styles added.
More than 3,000 people RSVPd for last year's "Puff in the Park" event.
This year, Styles and her team aren't sure how many people will attend, but nearly 1,000 have signed up.
"A lot of cannabis events are not geared toward us," Styles said. "There are people that don't look like me [...] and I don't feel appreciated, seen or safe in those environments."
A 2021 Leafly Jobs report found that despite nationwide efforts to close the racial gap, Black cannabis entrepreneurs account for less than 2% of the nation's marijuana businesses.
Meanwhile, in response to criticism that smoking cannabis in the park is unsafe and will increase drug activity, Styles believes the solution is simple: safe smoking spaces.
"It will create accessibility for patients that need to consume and also for tourism."
As for the environment: "Most cannabis consumers use eco-friendly papers, whether they're hemp or biodegradable."
This is the 'cookout' that everybody talks about.
Vic Styles, @thevicstyles
In the meantime, those looking to attend "Puff in the Park" can expect a picnic-style party Thursday complete with music, DJs, vendors and food.
"This is the cookout that everybody talks about. What you're going to find is a positive environment."
On the event page a list of items attendees are encouraged to bring include: a blanket, flower, snacks and water.
"We're just really proud of the community that we've been able to build and more importantly, the voices we've been able to amplify and the minds we've been able to change around this plant."
Styles told NBC New York that she is working with NYC Parks and the Prospect Park Alliance's events department.
NBC New York reached out to Prospect Park several times for comment and have not heard back.
Can I smoke weed in NYC Parks?
No. Smoking and vaping any products, including cannabis, are prohibited in all New York City parks except median strips. Other areas where smoking and vaping are not allowed include, but are not limited to, beaches, public areas of buildings and most workplaces.
Is there a fine for smoking in a park?
Yes. People who violate the Smoke-Free Air Act could receive a $50 ticket. According to the NYC Parks website, the law is "mostly enforced by New Yorkers themselves."
What is Black Girls Smoke?
It is a conscious community dedicated to women of color that "exists to help erase gender biases, color line stigmas and negative stereotypes, specifically involving the cannabis industry and women of color who consume," Styles tells NBC New York.
Who is Vic Styles?
She is an entrepreneur and founder of Black Girls Smoke and Good Day Flor. Prior to launching her brand, Styles was a full-time content creator for 13 years. Since then, she has made it her mission to change the way the world views cannabis and BIPOC communities.
She lives in Crown Heights, Brooklyn with her partner and artist Jayson and their dog.
