Del Mar Targets Reggae Shows

Following a push from drug prevention organizations and anti-smoking groups, the board of directors for the Del Mar Fairgrounds near San Diego recently banned smoking at the county fair and approved pat-down searches at reggae concerts.

The board received complaints after a Ziggy Marley show at the fairgrounds in August was marked by heavy marijuana use in the crowd.

At the time, drug prevention specialists offered board members a solution during a meeting: a zero-tolerance policy against smoking of any kind.

However, it looks like the ban won’t apply to other concerts and events held throughout the year at the fairgrounds, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune.

The new rules aimed at reggae concerts also stipulate that the shows are strictly for 21 and older crowds and require performers to sign contracts that prohibit them from using or promoting illegal drugs on the property, the paper noted.

Carlos Torres, a local DJ, said the board was unfairly targeting reggae acts given that country artists such as Willie Nelson have also been outspoken about their marijuana use.

“If they want to do [greater enforcement], they should do that at all concerts, not just reggae concerts,” he told the Union-Tribune.