Outside of California, do narcs try to bust pot smokers at concerts?

[Taverner]

I've never seen it done in California...in fact I've seen concert security go after cigarette smokers before going after pot smokers...

But I hear elsewhere in the US it's different. Always thought there was a certain security from a "strength in numbers" sort of thing...but perhaps not

[meegbear]

1. Ive only experienced it once ...

it was a small theatre in Boston (Orpheum), about 500 seats, so patrolling was easy.

Edit - the location (duh).

[maveric]

7. The Orpheum has more than 500 seats.

The Orpheum by the Common? Front door Washington St, back door Tremont?

[meegbear]

8. Yeah ...

small to me. Saw David Gilmour play there and the moment anything resembling a flame went up, security was all over it.

[maveric]

11. During the 70's that place ws filled with smoke.

I saw dozens of shows there between 72-79. During intermissions the lobby was a smoke-filled drug market.
Oh those were the best of times!

[sportndandy]

2. They do, and might I add they are not good at it.

They were trying to bust me at the Rush concert this summer in Camden NJ. They would show up every time I blew out a hit, but they could never figure out it was me. I was laughing my ass off, moving from section to section, blowing huge hits and giving them huge fits. What idiots!!!

[Taverner]

4. Why do they even bother?

It seems such a waste...I mean lets just say they catch you smoking pot. They get, what a $100 fine out of you and they spent how many man hours tying to bust you? Plus benefits? Plus extra cops hired to cover where they weren't working?

[KurtNYC]

3. Years ago, I very cautiously lit up at a U2 concert

at the Los Anegles Colesium and bam! a keylight from a video camera hits me square in the face. Security? Nope, it was a camera crew shooting croud shots for "Rattle and Hum."

[tridim]

5. They don't in Denver

Except for the over commercialized and formerly cool Red Rocks amphitheater. I hate that venue now because of the narcs.

[htuttle]

6. They didn't use to bust people at Alpine Valley Music Theatre

...in sunny East Troy, WI.

When they first opened, they actually had a head shop in the concession stand. The security guys used to be very helpful too -- they'd be willing to pass the kouchie across the aisle for you so you wouldn't have to reach. :)

IIRC, that was back when it was owned by one of the Balistrieri brothers (ie., da Milwaukee mob). I think it's since been sold and has tightened up things a bit. I know the head shop is now long gone.

[EC]

10. They do now...

They even do searchs before concerts now out there...


Oh Yeah, any Clear Channel venue will arrest you too..

[EC]

9. Not actively...

I'm in between Chicago and Milwaukee...Milwaukee will make arrests, so will Alpine Valley...Chicago seems to encourage smoking instead of drinking...I once saw outside a concert a guy selling window-pane right next to a cop, and he was yelling like the vendors do at a stadium...Get your window-pane here, window pane for sale, $1.00 a hit...



on edit: usually when I'm at a concert in Milwaukee I light a regular cigerette at the same time, just in case...