Nevada arguably offers more personal freedoms than any of its 49 star-spangled siblings, with just about everything you could think of being legal, from prostitution and gambling to dumbass tunnels, guns and weed. The state legalized recreational use of cannabis during the 2016 election cycle, and use of the mind-altering compound has grown steadily in the state since, totaling around 4.4 million pounds per year. Around 20 percent of state residents consume cannabis regularly, and this year the state opened unique “cannabis consumption lounges,” sparking a new wave of marijuana tourism to Las Vegas. According to the drivers, attendees of the Las Vegas Grand Prix are sparking up in a big way. Vegas is “sin city” after all.
“What is very noticeable around the circuit is the smell of marijuana throughout the night. I’m a bit tired of it already— the amount is incredible. It’s something all the drivers will definitely talk about,” Red Bull driver Sergio Perez told ESPN.
The smell, it seems, is so strong that the drivers on track are smelling the high-potency marijuana cigarettes as they navigate the street circuit. I was recently in Las Vegas for SEMA and can confirm that the sidewalks, escalators, streets, restaurants, and walkover bridges of the city all smell a bit like weed. I don’t know that I’d call it a problem yet, but maybe if the race attendees get a little wild, they can hot box the whole strip, although that could cause some unintended consequences.
“Yes, there was a smell of weed. If they dope test the drivers now, I think we’ll all test positive, I swear, man,” paddock newcomer Franco Colapinto joked to his home Argentinian press. “When we all test positive, there will be a mess.”
The drivers on track might need DRS to pass, but if you’re sitting in the stands you’d better not bogart the sticky, bruh.
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