HEMPFEST PROMOTES LEGALIZING MARIJUANA

Hemp Products On Display In Waterfront Park

SEATTLE -- Turn anywhere at Seattle's 10th annual Hempfest and you
could hear talk of marijuana in some form.

Hemp products -- in everything from granola to cat food to clothes --
were on display. Drug paraphernalia booths were set up between stands
of tie-dyed clothes and silver jewelry. Many in the crowd wore leis
of silk marijuana leaves.

The smell of pot wafted through the air as tens of thousands strolled
through Myrtle Edwards Park on the Seattle waterfront.

The two-day Hempfest, which featured speakers including actor Woody
Harrelson, aims to educate the public that adults who use marijuana
responsibly do not need to go to jail, Dominic Holden, director of
Hempfest, said Sunday.

"Most marijuana smokers, like the rest of America, work hard, pay
taxes, raise families and don't deserve to be treated like
criminals," said the 24-year-old Seattle resident.

Holden called for treatment, job training and accurate education
about drugs as an alternative to jailing nonviolent offenders who get
caught with pot.

Holden is also the director of Seattle city Initiative 73, which
would make busting potheads the lowest priority -- below even
jaywalking -- for police officers and prosecutors. I-73 needs 19,000
signatures to get on Seattle's ballot in 2002.

Holden estimated that more than 90,000 people had attended the
celebration by Sunday morning. The police department, which was
closely monitoring the crowd with officers on horseback and bicycles,
declined to give an estimate.

Dreadlocks, piercings and funky hats were common accessories in the
crowd. Among the parked vehicles were several Volkswagen vans covered
in bumper stickers proclaiming peace.

"Donating is not a crime," shouted 29-year-old Jon Axlen, a Hempfest
volunteer holding a bucket as people headed into the gated park. The
event was free, although a $5 donation was suggested.

Hemp is marijuana, but is cultivated for its fiber -- not to have a
high content of marijuana's mind-altering chemical.

Authorities say they would have a tough time telling who was growing
the plant for its fiber and who was growing it to smoke.

Supporters of legalizing hemp say the country's drug laws have robbed
farmers of a crop that can be used in a wide range of products,
including paper and clothing.

"It's a very renewable cash crop," said Dan Scott, 36, of Seattle.

Hempfest even featured a car that runs on fuel made of hempseed oil.

Terry Ross, 76, of Miami Beach, Fla., was visiting her daughter in
Seattle, and the two decided to attend Hempfest for the first time.

"It's quite exciting to see so many young people involved in policies
that they want to see changed," Ross said.