JUDGE CLOSES CAMPGROUND WHERE DRUGS WERE ALLEGEDLY SOLD

CASSOPOLIS - Rainbow Farm's Memorial Day weekend will not include
Hempfest 2001 or any other kind of party.

Cass County Circuit Court Judge Michael E. Dodge granted an injunction
Monday afternoon closing the campground immediately through noon on
Tuesday, May 29.

Cass County Prosecutor Scott Teter and Assistant Attorney General
David Tanay sought the injunction following a three-year investigation
into the alleged sale and use of illicit drugs at the campground on
Pemberton Road east of Vandalia.

Attorneys for the campground argued the festivals are protected by the
First Amendment's guarantee of the right to free speech since Hemp
Fest participants are campaigning for the legalization of marijuana.

Five people were arrested May 9 for alleged drug trafficking at the
campground, and the owner, Grover Crosslin, 47, of Vandalia, was
arrested later. Crosslin is scheduled for a hearing May 24.

Investigators from the Southwest Michigan Enforcement Team said they
were able to buy marijuana, cocaine, methamphetamine, hashish, LSD,
and prescription drugs at festivals held at Rainbow Farm from 1999
through April of this year. They said the Vandalia campground has been
listed among the top "stoner spots" in the country in High Times
magazine, and drug dealers and users from all over the country
attended the festivals.

Detective Lt. Michael Brown, commander of SWET/South Haven office,
said Rainbow Farm concerts were popular with teens across Southwest
Michigan.

He said students from Buchanan, Lakeshore, Bridgman, Coloma, and other
area high schools had attended the festival concerts in the two years
SWET was working undercover at Rainbow Farm.

Teter said he had filed suit jointly with the state attorney general
to close Rainbow Farm for one year, the maximum allowed under the
state nuisance abatement law. Teter said they also had filed to seize
the land under the civil forfeiture law.

Monday's injunction will be enforced by the Cass County Sheriff's
Department and the state police.

They will issue passes to residents of Pemberton Road and all
non-residents will be turned away. Teter said any resistance in
response will be grounds for arrest.