Police Seize Over $1 Million In Drugs From Phish Fans

Fans looking to have a little extra fun at the Phish reunion shows this weekend in Hampton, VA were in for a surprise when it came time to light up.

Over 200 police officers were on duty at the shows this weekend, each one being paid out of Phish’s own pockets, reports The Associated Press. Police seized approximately $1.2 million dollars in illegal drugs as well as over $68,000 in cash. 194 arrests were made over the three nights that Phish played. Police say most of the arrests were for the possession, use, and distribution of drugs.

Over 75,000 people turned out to see Phish reunite this weekend after almost five years of silence from the band. And this isn’t the end of it. Along with more shows around the United States, the band is also scheduled to appear at this year’s Bonnaroo festival.

The rest of the tour dates are:

06/04 - Wantagh, NY - Jones Beach
06/05 - Wantagh, NY - Jones Beach
06/06 - Mansfield, MA - Comcast Center
06/07 - Camden, NJ - Susquehanna Bank Centre
06/09 - Asheville, NC - Asheville Civic Center
06/11 – 06/14 – Manchester, TN - Bonnaroo
06/16 - St. Louis, MO - Fox Theatre
06/18 - Burgettstown, PA - Post Gazette Pavilion
06/19 - Noblesville, IN - Verizon Wireless Music Center
06/20 - East Troy, WI - Alpine Valley
06/21 - East Troy, WI - Alpine Valley

Report by David Lowe-Bianco.

Comments

[Aidsteen]

Wow.. Arresting people for doing drugs at a concert is like shooting Phish in a barrel...

[mlukeroberts222]

That's crap....I'd go to jail every time I went to a concert if this becomes the case.

[edbert]

Aidsteen wrote:

Wow.. Arresting people for doing drugs at a concert is like shooting Phish in a barrel...

Ha! Nice pun.

I think we're going to see attendance of Phish concerts go down.

[FrenchyFungus]

mlukeroberts222 wrote:

That's crap....I'd go to jail every time I went to a concert if this becomes the case.

No, you'd stop taking drugs to concerts.

[god of lamb]

the police get to beat hippies AND go to phish concerts for free..now thats unfair..pigs

[Barrier_of_Pain]

I somehow always knew that phish was working behind the scenes with the man. I mean it ever since the first time i saw that cheesey little (expletive deleted) I said to myself....Hmm this guy looks like a cop.

[JacK C]

as well as over $68,000 in cash

They took all their fans money as well? Drug money or not, how can you prove it? Holy shit this band sucks...

[dethskar0]

^I was gonna say something about that... How can they take their money? There's no proof that it was gonna be used to pay for drugs...

[SlicedBread]

dethskar0 wrote:

^I was gonna say something about that... How can they take their money? There's no proof that it was gonna be used to pay for drugs...

pretending to be drug dealers?

[Galvatron]

I cant believe a band would pay cops to do this at one of their shows.What a bunch of narcs.

I cant think of a band ever doing something so rotten to their fans.

[travislausch]

Galvatron wrote:
I cant think of a band ever doing something so rotten to their fans.

Like encourage them to not take drugs!? I never! It's the most awful thing ever to have happened!

[Mud Martian]

"Oh no! They took my drugs! Now I have to have fun without drugs! Whatever shall I do?!"

Yeah, seriously. This is a good thing. If you have an addiction, leave it at home. If you can't have fun without doing drugs, then you need to sort yourself out and find some help.

I don't believe it's anyones right to tell anyone what to do with their life and their money. If they want to do drugs that's fine. But do it at home and stay the **** away from me. Not at concerts where clean, sober people are having a hell of a time, and don't want your drugged up ass stumbling about and pissing them off.

[misterfarenheit]

without drugs, there is no way in hell phish would have reached the popularity they did, paying police officers to confiscate drugs at their shows is like slapping your own mother in the face

[SmackThis707]

LOL

[kinghate69]

haha...hippies

[imnopunkrocker9]

Mud Martian wrote:

"Oh no! They took my drugs! Now I have to have fun without drugs! Whatever shall I do?!"

Yeah, seriously. This is a good thing. If you have an addiction, leave it at home. If you can't have fun without doing drugs, then you need to sort yourself out and find some help.

I don't believe it's anyones right to tell anyone what to do with their life and their money. If they want to do drugs that's fine. But do it at home and stay the **** away from me. Not at concerts where clean, sober people are having a hell of a time, and don't want your drugged up ass stumbling about and pissing them off.

my thoughts exactly

[AdioBam]

I personally think it's an insult to a band when the only way you can enjoy their music is when you're on drugs.
I'm all against this war-on-drugs mentality bulls***t, I don't think anyone should be punished for doing drugs, especially when they're not hurting anyone else, but seriously, I think it's just an insult to a band's talent when you have to be under the influence to enjoy their music. You should be able to enjoy their music sober.
But personally, I don't like Phish at all, and this was a pretty retarded move for them.

[Shayne777]

i have to smoke a bowl to salute these people
'runs to the bong'

[pryo]

kinghate69 wrote:

haha...hippies

lol thats what i was thinkin

[deathbyawesome]

misterfarenheit wrote:

without drugs, there is no way in hell phish would have reached the popularity they did, paying police officers to confiscate drugs at their shows is like slapping your own mother in the face

this.

[Zao_89]

Lol, the first thing I thought about when I heard about this was the episode of the Simpsons where they encourage the concertgoers not to smoke pot.

[David_Bowie=GOD]

misterfarenheit wrote:

without drugs, there is no way in hell phish would have reached the popularity they did, paying police officers to confiscate drugs at their shows is like slapping your own mother in the face

This is probably pissing off about 75% of their fans.

[Pool_Shark]

Damn why do all of you think everyone who got caught with drugs is an addict??? And why do you think its an insult to a band if people who do drugs listen to them???

1. Not all people who do drugs are addicted
2. People like to do drugs because it makes things better and more fun for them
3. People who do drugs aren't out to ruin someone elses time, they're just there to gave an awesome time and enjoy music like you do!

These people DID pay money to go see Phish, just like everyone else. They're just there to have a good time, and to enjoy it with everyone else. So everyone stop hating on people who do drugs at concerts. Drugs and concerts will ALWAYS BE HERE, its just how it is, so stop fightong it and, like the Beatles once said, let it be.

[Pool_Shark]

Plus a large part of alot of bands fan base are people who like drugs (Beatles, Rolling Stones, just to name a few)

[RemainingTruth]

Pool_Shark wrote:

Plus a large part of alot of bands fan base are people who like drugs (Beatles, Rolling Stones, just to name a few)

All of whom are famous.

[askingforit176]

is it an unfair thing for people not to do drugs? if people were doing drugs at one of my bands concerts i wouldnt want them there either.

[CraZzZy Diamond]

askingforit176 wrote:

is it an unfair thing for people not to do drugs? if people were doing drugs at one of my bands concerts i wouldnt want them there either.

If they were doing drugs at my band's concert I WOULD want them to do whatever it takes for them to maximize their enjoyment. If that means smoking weed, or drinking beer, or dropping acid I dont care, It is their body and their time. As long as they do not hurt anyone else they should be allowed to do drugs.

[mcb_69]

I wonder how many people got caught with anything other than bud? 194 arrests , most probably only holding a natural grown plant.

[ethic]

Trey had a lot of legal problems over these last few years from drugs; maybe he doesn't want anything to do with them anymore. More power to him. Not to mention, drugs were a big reason why Phish broke up last time. People would use Phish being in town as an excuse to party. Thousands of druggies would appear back stage - people they didn't even know. It became too much for Phish.

I love Phish and will be seeing them at Bonnaroo this year; but there comes a time when people need to stop being shallow-ass party idiots and move on from their juvenile little pass time. This isn't a slam against natural drugs ; I'm all for those being used for medicinal (including mental health, anxiety etc) and spiritual reasons. But g'damn, chemicals and pills are stupid, addictive, and have even become cliche.

[farfaraway]

Phish probably don't want to be music that's associated with drugs, I don't see a problem in that.

[MXFNCK]

the drugs people take to concerts are recreational, like weed and whatsoever. those are equally harmless (or harmful) as alcohol. nay, you can die from drinking too much, no one has died from smoking too many joints in a night. call me what you will, I live in holland and the soft drugs policy works great.

[daytripper75]

oh well. don't take drugs to concerts.

i don't use drugs, but i drink alcohol. i don't like being drunk at a concert though, and i don't find it hard to go to a concert without drinking. it can't be that hard to not go to a concert and get high. just go enjoy the music and the atmosphere. if you can't do that without drugs then maybe you need to re evaluate your life.

[jkassel]

few things. one, you all need to listen to bill hicks for some pretty good arguments on drugs. let me restate some of them. all of the music that's enhanced your life over the years, the artists who wrote it were rrrrreal f*ckin' high on drugs. secondly, the artists who DON'T do drugs, and in fact speak out against them....boy, do they suck.

go find him for more.

two, and this may surprise some of you.....alcohol is a drug! and a lethal one, at that. it's a toxin that your body isn't accustomed to fighting.

and as for this, i find this story hilarious, and i'm half convinced phish took those drugs for themselves. =D. in all seriousness, it was probably a stupid move on their part, but i also agree with the people who say that if you have to be high to enjoy something, it's a waste of drugs.

[WaveCaster97]

lol awesome people who smoke anything piss me off to begin with but when theres an inconsiderate bastard in the row in front of me making me nauseous because of their weak minded addiction, ok not addiction whatever BS excuse you wanna pull out your ass, im about ready to throw your ass off the balcony. you want to waste your money and life away on crap like that fine i really dont care about you but do it before you go in or just stay home dont force other people to breath that shit in

[Pageandhammet12]

That is great!! 1 million bucks! thats like 50 tons or more!! MAN!!!!

[Domine6377]

WaveCaster97 wrote:

lol awesome people who smoke anything piss me off to begin with but when theres an inconsiderate bastard in the row in front of me making me nauseous because of their weak minded addiction, ok not addiction whatever BS excuse you wanna pull out your ass, im about ready to throw your ass off the balcony. you want to waste your money and life away on crap like that fine i really dont care about you but do it before you go in or just stay home dont force other people to breath that shit in

then dont go to the concert. for one reason and one reason only. no one at the concert wants you there. i dont think u live in the US cause if u you do then you would know about that saying,"Its a free country." some people take that concept to heart and use it literally. i hope im and a concert and your there cause i want to blow a huge hit in your face and get u blazed. don't come on message boards and bitch about your bad times at concerts cause ur a pussy. i 100% support people who don't want to smoke weed. i enjoy weed a lot but its funny how i support and respect peoples decisions but those who dont want to smoke cant support the people who do. so when u dont show me that respect then i will no longer support and show you the respect.

[ZoSo_bc89]

Domine6377 wrote:

WaveCaster97 wrote:

lol awesome people who smoke anything piss me off to begin with but when theres an inconsiderate bastard in the row in front of me making me nauseous because of their weak minded addiction, ok not addiction whatever BS excuse you wanna pull out your ass, im about ready to throw your ass off the balcony. you want to waste your money and life away on crap like that fine i really dont care about you but do it before you go in or just stay home dont force other people to breath that shit in

then dont go to the concert. for one reason and one reason only. no one at the concert wants you there. i dont think u live in the US cause if u you do then you would know about that saying,"Its a free country." some people take that concept to heart and use it literally. i hope im and a concert and your there cause i want to blow a huge hit in your face and get u blazed. don't come on message boards and bitch about your bad times at concerts cause ur a pussy. i 100% support people who don't want to smoke weed. i enjoy weed a lot but its funny how i support and respect peoples decisions but those who dont want to smoke cant support the people who do. so when u dont show me that respect then i will no longer support and show you the respect.

seriously hahahaha. I'd blow some rings in yo face

And guys this is a Phish show.. probably more arrests made for acid dealing than bud smoking

[doobiechad]

I was at the Alpine Valley shows and scoring dope was hard to do. I never imagined that a Phish show would be harsh on Shakedown Street. If you go to a Phish show and are offended by dope, stay home and watch it on dvd.

[PerpetualBurn]

They are required by every city they play in to hire police to run security at the event. Every major event that has any involvement with drugs (raves, reggae concerts, etc.) has to do this.

[Metal_Edog]

First: Anyone who posted criticizing drug users who drinks (and I'm sure there's some idiots who did) is a hypocrite and should drop dead ASAP

Second: Anyone who believes that all drug users are junkies and weak minded addicts should have a look at my science degree first before they call me weak minded.

Third: Anyone who believes that someone would only use drugs to "make the music enjoyable" is completely out to lunch and needs to take a step back. Sure it's partly about "enhancing" the effect of music but it also helps facilitate the entire spectrum of social interactions that happen at a concert.

Fourth: I think it's valid for Phish to get police to confiscate money and drugs from people who are clearly there to push drugs and do nothing else, but leave the casual users who are hurting no one else alone.

And anyone who thinks it's valid to complain about "breathing that shit in" at an outdoor show, you tools should go hit up the campground next and tell all the kids roasting marshmallows and hotdogs stop lighting campfires and see how far that gets you.

Get off your high (pun intended) horses people.

[Nirvana00125]

I wonder if anyone has considered that maybe Phish was paying cops to have drug pushers arrested? If you're going to attend a concert(whether its Phish or not) with the intention of getting high, then bring your own stash(herpderp) if you didn't then oh well, try to bum it off people. Anyone who's been to a concert(of any sort) should know that cops really only go after dealers/pushers and people who are being obnoxious or causing problems while they're high or drunk. It's not like cops just went around busting everyone with a bag of pot in fact the cops even stated that a majority of people they arrested were attempting to sell drugs. As for taking their money, it's standard procedure to take money that people made off of selling drugs or attempting to buy drugs when you arrest them.

Not trying to put people who use drugs down or anything but everyone keeps making out Phish or cops to be the bad guys. Has anyone considered that Trey has recently(well it's been like 7 years now) overcome his addiction? He probably just doesn't want to tolerate all the BS that comes with a drug friendly audience.