Authorities in San Francisco’s Bay Area have granted permission for the Outside Lands music festival to incorporate ‘Grass Lands’ – a sub event dedicated to cannabis.

The over-21s area located in the SoPo (South of the polo field) spotlights the celebration, education and integration of cannabis products into daily life with edibles demonstrations, talks and interactive activities.

Now in its second year, Outside Lands began last night and runs through to Monday at Golden Gate Park featuring a massive line up of music acts including Paul Simon, The Lumineers, 21 Pilots, Blink-182 and Counting Crows.

Last year’s festival attracted 200,000 visitors.

State officials behind the incorporation of Grass Lands into the Outside Lands event said if the initiative went well they would support further on-site cannabis arenas at other venues, such as next month’s Folsom Street Fair.

“Permitting Grass Lands as the inaugural event is the first step in creating a safe cannabis event space for those aged 21 years and older,” said San Francisco Office of Cannabis director Marisa Rodriguez.

“Attendees will be able to purchase and consume lab-tested products away from the rest of the venue’s attendees.”

One vocal official – State Senator Scott Wiener – praised the event as forward-thinking.

“Cannabis is part of our culture — particularly at music festivals — and it makes sense to allow people to obtain it legally,” said the Democrat.

“We need to move past prohibition, which doesn’t work.”