While it’s not the first time the amnesty box (drug bin) has been used at shows and festivals, it was the first time it was featured at this year’s Bestival and it proved to be a massive success. Throughout the four day festival recently held in the Isle of Wight, over £25,000 ($40,656) worth of drugs were seized. However, another £20,000 ($32,525) were seized within festival grounds, as well as 62 drugs offenses and 116 drug-enforced police stops. Although this rate is down 12% from Bestival in 2013, the rate could be lower, and the first step may be using this box.
Although both amnesty boxes and testing drugs at shows isn’t a common practice here in the states, it wouldn’t be a bad idea. This would at least give people the option to change their minds, or know (for sure) what they were consuming before they enter a show or festival. More recently, amnesty boxes have been making their way into Colorado airports for citizens trying to smuggle pot.
Drugs and music are a common topic of discussion as of late. Artists like Bassnectar have touched on the subject of drugs in the EDM community, and everyone seems to have an opinion. We are curious – aside from Bestival, what are your thoughts on having an amnesty box set up for more events around the Pacific Northwest?
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