Cypress Hill has made no bongs about where its allegiances lie. The venerable South Gate-raised rhymers have been teaching America how to get high and the right ways to do it, since Bush père owned the Oval Office. And since 1998, the group’s struck the match for the Cypress Hill Smokeout, along with Guerilla Union (the organization behind Paid Dues and Rock the Bells).

Following a hiatus, the festival returned last year with performances from a reunited Sublime (minus the late Bradley Nowell), Goodie Mob, the Geto Boys, Redman & Method Man, and Slipknot. This year’s event, slated for Oct. 16 at San Bernardino’s NOS Events Center, features headlining performances from Incubus, Manu Chao, Nas and Damian Marley, Erykah Badu and MGMT.

But perhaps the most interesting story about the festival’s latest incarnation is that it boasts a dedicated consumption area for medical marijuana patients. The fruits of an arrangement brokered between Guerilla Union and local municipal and law enforcement officials, the safe haven is the first known pact of its kind in Southern California concert history. In advance of the festival, Pop & Hiss spoke with Guerilla Union’s Chang Weisberg about how the deal went down.

What was the process behind persuading the local authorities to permit this sort of safe haven for medical marijuana cardholders?

It was a long one. We had to get the OK from the police department and the city of San Bernardino. None of them will endorse what we’re doing, or even say that they’re behind this. However, they took a major step by saying, ‘We’ll work with you, we’ll give you this opportunity and privilege.’ It stems from having succesfully executed Paid Dues, Rock the Bells and the Smokeout for over a decade.

But this is about more than just a place where people with medical marijuana cards can smoke marijuana freely. We have a medical marijuana expo where we promote activism, compassion and education. We believe that medical marijuna is the gateway to responsible tax-regulated consumption. Obviously, big alcohol, big medicine and big tobacco fan a lot of negative stereoytypes regarding cannabis.

How is this sort of arrangement going to work?

If you have a verified recomendation or card, you will be allowed to enter the venue and go to a specific area and smoke — provided that you’re over 18. We’re creating our own reality in allowing patients to exercise their rights. They’ll be able to smoke it and vaporize it, but I don’t think we’ll allow people to eat it. I don’t need the kind of press that the Electric Daisy received.

This sort of arrangement isn’t unprecedented. In Northern California, several concerts have done similar things and in the Oakland-Alameda Coliseum where the Oakland A’s play, you can smoke in a dedicated smoking area if you have your medical marijuana card. Eventually, we hope this is going to lead to people being able to walk into Wal-Mart or Rite-Aid and get their medicine, whether it will come in cigarette form, or salves, or lotions. Or better yet, to educate people to grow their personal amounts and save their money.

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This past weekend Cypress came into town to visit Sydney to do what they do best! The crowd was rocking especially when this track dropped. Fools wanted to start a mosh pitt, it was fun being in the middle of it especially grabbing punks by the throat and throwing them across the room.

To all the Australians out there make sure you catch Cypress in your city over the next 2 weeks! SA ALL DAY!!

Every time we have played Brixton Academy & we have played here a lot throughout the years, its always been off the hook. This venue is the equivelent to the Fillmore in San Francisco with the fact that so many iconic groups have played here. Its almost like if you haven’t played Brixton, you haven’t really made an impact in London. Even though it isn’t in the best neighborhood, but nonetheless, people come out.

Again, we only had day rooms since the drive was long coming from Amsterdam. I was also excited by the fact that both my mom & cousin would be coming to the show. My mom hasn’t seen Cypress live since the mid to late 90’s. I hope she can handle it & that the herbals won’t give her too much of a contact high. It was a crazy coincidence that she would be in London at the same time as I would & it was both their first time out here in the U.K.

We had our usual amount of interviews which included a meet & greet. I will really be happy when the interview phase is finally over so we can just go do the show. This is not to say that I dislike doing them, but we have been doing them since March or so. We’ve been asked “how come it took 6 years to come out with the new album” at least a hundred times. That can get a bit redundant but it comes with the job so it must be done.

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What can I say about Amsterdam that hasn’t already been said? It is definitely one of my favorite European cities & it isn’t just because of the obvious. From the coffeeshops to the food, Amsterdam has a lot of culture. Now, this isn’t going to be a history lesson about Holland but if you have never been to Amsterdam, whether you smoke the herbals or not, you should definitely go check it out for yourself because its a great city.

Its always fun coming here but its even better when you have a day off here. Besides that, the World Cup is going on & the Netherlands are going to be playing so it will be an interesting day.

There are two spots in Amsterdam that we always go & they are the Green House & the Grey Area. The minute that we get into town, every one knows where the meeting spot is. If you go to the back of the Green House, you will see pictures of us from years back chilling there. Big ups to both spots for all the love throughout the years.

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After a night like last night, I was pretty much ready for anything. We were returning back to France but we would be south of Paris in a town called Rodez. We first got to the hotel, which we again had day rooms but we all got our own, which was more convienient that just having 3 or four & having to share. We drove straight to the gig to drop off both the crew and park the bus. We then had some vans bring us all to the hotel. This hotel was off the beaten path & it looked like a little cottage in the countryside. Granted, we weren’t staying the night but if we were, it wouldve been a little rough. Room service was only served for a very short time & the nearest place to eat was about 20 minutes away in a car. Someone had said that the McDonald’s was walking distance. That was a big lie!!

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I had happened to wake up early while we were driving to Madrid & I was able to check out the Spanish countryside, which I must say is very picturesque. I decided to indulge in a little wake & bake & was thinking about how good the tour has been going thus far. With some great shows behind us this early in our world tour, I can only look forward to what is gonna come our way.

We arrived in Madrid & again we had only day rooms. This is another city that is worth checking out. The festival was about an hour outside the city & there was an early load-in for the crew so we wouldn’t be at the hotel for long. Its too bad because I was really craving some tapas. I figured that once we got to the gig, there would be some good grub.

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