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Royal Oak approves cannabis sales and consumption areas for Arts, Beats & Eats and Taco Fest after organizers pledge stricter controls
Summary
The commission approved amendments to special‑event permits allowing cannabis sales and a consumption area at Arts, Beats & Eats and Taco Fest. Police described past medical calls tied to high‑potency 'dabs'; organizers pledged not to offer concentrated extracts this year and to continue filtration and security measures.
The Royal Oak City Commission voted March 10 to allow cannabis sales and a controlled consumption area at two 2025 special events — Arts, Beats & Eats and Taco Fest — after police and event organizers described mitigation measures and changes to vendor offerings.
Chief Michael Moore told commissioners that Jonathan Whitson Associates has requested to replicate the activation area used in prior years. "Overall, the police department remains neutral on this request," Moore said, noting the activation will use the same alleyway, product offerings and security company as in past years.
Commissioners pressed organizers about past medical incidents. A vendor representative said last year some customers used concentrated cannabis extracts known as "dabs," which led to several medical calls; the vendor said those products will not be offered this year. "We had medical calls from it... it's called a dab... we are not allowing those at the event this year," the petitioner said.
Commissioners who had opposed the measure previously described visiting the consumption tent and concluded the operation was discreet and that ventilation and security were effective. Commissioner Teasen, who works in public health, said she had voted against the tent last year but would support it after reviewing the controls: "...I recognize that this is an event that is a family event, but also by having the consumption tent, I think it gives people the opportunity to... consume there and not throughout the festival." Several commissioners agreed.
Commissioner Douglas moved approval of the amendment for Arts, Beats & Eats; a second was recorded and the motion passed. The commission then approved the Taco Fest amendment, with staff noting the same cannabis partner (JARS) and security arrangements and that last year’s incident had been addressed.
Next steps: organizers will operate the activation areas under the same security and filtration plans used previously; vendors pledged not to sell high‑concentration extracts that generated medical calls in 2024.
