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Pot advocates gather for Hempfest [WA]
    #7308706 -

Pot advocates gather for Hempfest
August 18, 2007 - seattlepi.com

Organizers bill the event as a human rights movement -- and thousands of people showed up along the Seattle waterfront Saturday to support it.

Wearing T-shirts with images of marijuana leaves, an array of advocates -- including teens, young adults, mothers and the middle-aged -- descended on Myrtle Edwards Park for the annual Hempfest.

About 150,000 people were expected at the two-day event, which calls for greater tolerance of marijuana and hemp use. Organizers say the gathering, which costs about $200,000 to produce, is the largest legal reform rally of its kind in the country.

As smoke filled the air, people relaxed and listened to reggae and folk music. Edmonds travel guru Rick Steves returned from Europe for the event and proclaimed that responsible marijuana use by adults is a civil liberty.

He referred to the Declaration of Independence and its call for life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. "I think that's what America is about," he said.

Many Europeans, he added, do not consider marijuana use to be a big problem. Instead, they compare it to drinking alcohol.

But in the United States, marijuana gets lumped in with heroin and is feared, he said.

Festival crowds were so large Saturday that people were shoulder to shoulder in many areas.

Teenage boys sported Mohawk-style haircuts. Mothers pushed babies in strollers past older supporters with flecks of silver in their hair.

People wore sunglasses, as well as plenty of black clothing and fake marijuana leaf leis around their necks. Preachers talked about the gospel, fortunetellers sat on the grass and hawkers sold posters, clothing and food.

Near one entrance, Portland resident Tristin Ulysses, 25, sold smoking pipes that his friend made out of glass.

"I don't smoke pot. But I believe in doing whatever you want within the bounds of reason," he said. "It's ridiculous it's illegal. Other things hurt people more."

Advocates argue that marijuana should be regulated similar to alcohol and also allowed for medicinal purposes.

They believe users who are nonviolent offenders should be provided treatment -- and not given prison terms.

But the National Institutes of Health, a leading research organization funded by the federal government, notes that marijuana can cause memory problems and distort perception.

Long-term use can be addictive and can increase the possibility of cancer.

Shelton mother Christine Matthew, 22, believes critics are biased, noting that legal substances, such as alcohol, can affect the body and cause fatalities.

"I want to change the world," she said with her 3-month-old son next to her. "I think hemp in and of itself is a miracle solution to many problems."

Hemp can be used for clothing and biofuel, she said.

Many people showed up to enjoy the day, one in which the Seattle police didn't crack down excessively on users inside the festival's gated area.

Kyle Thayer, 17, arrived from Federal Way and quickly realized that many attendees were enjoying the leafy substance.

He even smoked marijuana out of a small glass pipe while police officers watched.

"They didn't care," he said. "There are good people here. There are some crazies, but it's Seattle. Everyone is chilling."

Woodinville resident Jane Gallagher, 50, showed up at the event out of curiosity. "It's pretty amazing to see everyone," she said. "It blew me away."

With the park crowded, Montana resident Steve Kemple and his friends walked their bicycles on the pavement.

They forgot that the festival would be in full swing. But the marijuana supporters did not surprise the 50-year-old, who was visiting for the weekend.

Besides, he said, his friends often tell him: "There's always something going on in Seattle."


Norm Stamper, former Seattle Police Chief, speaks at Hempfest

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Re: Pot advocates gather for Hempfest [WA] [Re: veggie]
    #7308777 -

this article made me vry happy :smile: go hemp


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These are not the answers you should be questioning.

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Re: Pot advocates gather for Hempfest [WA] [Re: Invisible_Woe]
    #7308797 -

Hempfest in Olympia this next weekend, 25-26. www.olyhempfest.com


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All I know is something like a bird within her sang

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Re: Pot advocates gather for Hempfest [WA] [Re: purplegreens]
    #7309501 -

hempfest is actually kind of boring once you go... but the principals are right and the people are cool so I go every year and spend some money anyway :laugh:.  go seattle.


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Light the doobie till it glows like a ruby
After which they couldn't find the villain like Scooby.

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Re: Pot advocates gather for Hempfest [WA] [Re: Shroomgobbler]
    #7311304 -

hempfest, boring???


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All I know is something like a bird within her sang

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Re: Pot advocates gather for Hempfest [WA] [Re: purplegreens]
    #7311339 -

It was fucking awesome, one of the best things I've ever been too.


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Hi  :scrambled:

My god... it's full of stars...

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Re: Pot advocates gather for Hempfest [WA] [Re: Shroomgobbler]
    #7311452 -

hempfest is the shit i wanna go!
nice video btw its great to see people using logic instead of ignorance/arrogance to deal with drug policy. if only the people in power did the same.


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Re: Pot advocates gather for Hempfest [WA] [Re: Phish_Dude]
    #7313297 -

But, having hempfest here in seattle is like preaching to the choir.  We don't have rednecks here.  When hempfest can be accepted in the bible belt, we'll be getting somewhere. :wink:
RR


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Download Let's Grow Mushrooms



semper in excretia sumus solim profundum variat

"I've never had a failed experiment.  I've only discovered 10,000 methods which do not work."
Thomas Edison

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Re: Pot advocates gather for Hempfest [WA] [Re: RogerRabbit]
    #7315533 -

coming soon: Topeka Hempfest;)


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