This year, I really considered it. A few international panels looked promising, and the professional day sounded like a way to avoid being trampled by crowds of twenty-somethings stampeding toward free rolling papers. I imagined a calm Thursday, some low-key networking, maybe a tasting or two. Just one or two insider events — nothing extravagant. That was the idea.
2. The Research
And then reality crept in. The professional ticket alone is €180 — six times the regular daily rate. Still available just a week before the event, which says something in itself. In fact, tickets across the board are widely available, despite constant Instagram ads telling you to “book now” and “don’t miss it.” Other events sell out months in advance. This one? Still plenty of wristbands to go around.
I thought, fine — I’ll go Friday to Sunday. But then came the side events. Some start on Tuesday. Some require a VIP pass. Some just want €150 up front, without really explaining what’s included. And then the hotel math kicked in. Mid-June in Berlin means €200 a night for a decent room. Add tickets, travel, food, and that mysterious “Garden” access... and suddenly I was looking at well over €1000 per person. And we’re two.
3. The Paywall Experience
Want to meet the big names from the U.S.? You’ll need that Garden VIP ticket (€149). Want to attend an evening session where “maybe” there’s some top-shelf Rosin tasting? Add another €120. Want to just sit and vape something you brought yourself? That’s allowed too — but still not free. Most events don’t even say what you’ll get, or whether there’s anything to try at all. But they do say: bring your wallet.
Then there’s the dinners. I’m quite familiar with the fine dining world and know what to expect from a €200+ experience (spoiler: at that level, it’s ** - ***Michelin-grade). What I saw here looked more like mid-tier bistro plates. Mini mozzarella balls from the supermarket’sare not a “sensorial journey.” And when the chef is plating with a joint hanging from his mouth, it’s hard to feel confident. That €260 dinner still isn’t sold out — one week before the event. Real fine dining events with serious chefs sell out in hours. That’s not a scandal — just don’t market it as “luxury culinary experience” because the olive oil had some Amnesia in it. And then there’s Terps & Taste, where the food might be forgettable, but at least the hosts are rude. Which, come to think of it, may be the perfect formula for success in Berlin.
4. The Schedule That Broke Me
If you're wondering what kind of side events are on offer — here's a quick glance. If you’re willing to spend, you can easily stay busy all week:
Dab-A-Doo Berlin: June 17 – €65
VYBZ Garden (main venue access): June 18–22 – €149
High Secret Cup: June 18 – €55
Terps & Taste Dinner: June 18 – €170
Puffco Jar Check: June 19 – €50
Hash World Cup: June 19 – €50
Touchdown Vol. 2: June 19 – €50 (€120 with tasting)
VYBZ Wake & Bake: June 20 – €49
RTZ: For the Rootz: June 20 – €50
High Roller Vol. 1: June 20 – €50
Terphogz Zeitgeist: June 21 – €45–90
Full Moon Sesh: June 22 – €49 (€199 with tasting)
Cannalier Fine Dining: June 22 – €260
A week of events, each with different ticket portals, scattered information, unclear locations — and in many cases, no real details about what’s included. No program, no tastings listed, no public guest lists.
5. The Grand Maybe
Maybe it’s all fantastic. Maybe the atmosphere is electric, the hash unforgettable, the people open and welcoming. Maybe these "secret" sessions are where the true soul of the scene lives — quiet, authentic, unfiltered. But if that’s the case, why does no one talk about it? Why no photos, no official follow-ups, no reviews, no transparency? Yes, some of it may be legal grey zone. Maybe they can’t publish more. But still — when you’re asking people to pay €100–€300 for a ticket, you could at least tell them if they’ll be served a dab or a DJ set. Or both.
If this were truly an insider circle of thirty key players from the U.S. and Europe coming together behind closed doors, I’d get it. Keep it private, don’t sell tickets — fine. But don’t hype it on Instagram like a secret club, only to funnel people toward overpriced Eventbrite pages with vague promises.
6. The Not-So-Bitter Ending
So no — I’m not going. Not because I’m against events like this in principle. On the contrary: I’d love for Europe to have a proper, well-organized cannabis week. But this isn’t that — not yet. This is Berlin trying to be Barcelona and Vegas at the same time, and falling somewhere between chaotic cool and curated confusion. I’m sure some people will have an amazing time. And if so — great, enjoy it. I just prefer to know what I’m getting for my money. Especially when it’s that much money.
I'll sit this one out. Maybe next year, when the menus are real, the listings make sense, and the secret locations aren't so secret that nobody shows up. If you're going — enjoy it, really. And let me know how it was. Maybe I’m missing out on the event of the decade. Or maybe you’re just doing valuable fieldwork on behalf of the more skeptical among us. Either way: good luck, and thanks for burning the budget.
