First Amendment Audit at Sunnyside Dispensary – What Happened?

The First Amendment gives us the right to record on public sidewalks, but how often do businesses and the public truly understand and respect this right? In my latest audit, I visited Sunnyside Cannabis Dispensary to see how they would react to someone filming from the sidewalk.

Customer Reactions & Public Interactions

During the audit, I had a few interactions with customers. One moment that stood out was when a young woman and an elderly man were picking up their order from the drive-through window. The young woman asked me what my problem was and later questioned if I was getting paid for filming. The older man she was with looked like Dale from King of the Hill. He was making various gestures with his hands that looked like a middle finger or gang signs. As they pulled off, he displayed his Medical Marijuana card for the camera.

Another interesting encounter happened when a passerby stopped to ask if I was making a YouTube video. When I gave him my business card and explained that I was filming a First Amendment audit, he seemed pleased and even recommended other locations I could check out.

The Store Manager’s Response

At one point, the store manager came outside to confront me. However, once I explained that I was filming in public, he seemed okay with it. He mentioned that it was unusual for someone to film their store from the sidewalk but wanted to make sure I didn’t have any problems with the dispensary. Unlike some audits where businesses overreact, this one was fairly calm.

Challenges & Lessons Learned

One of the biggest challenges of the day was getting used to the DJI Osmo Mobile 6 gimbal. This was my first time using it, and while it helped stabilize my shots, there was definitely a learning curve. One of my takeaways for the day is I need to do a better job with my camera movements.I also wasn’t happy with the audio in this video and will use the DJI Mic Mini for the foreseeable future.

Watch the Full Audit Here!

What do you think? Did Sunnyside Dispensary handle this well? Could they use a refresher on public photography laws? Drop a comment on the video and let me know!

Support the Channel & Stay Connected

If you enjoyed this audit and want to see more, don’t forget to:

Subscribe to my YouTube channel: Good Citizen News Network

Your rights matter. Stay informed, keep filming, and let’s continue holding public spaces accountable. Thanks for watching and supporting the movement!

#FirstAmendmentAudit #PublicPhotography #KnowYourRights #SunnysideDispensary #GoodCitizenNewsNetwork