Celebrating All Things Cannabis

HEMPFEST DRAWS THRONGS TO MYRTLE EDWARDS PARK

They poured into Myrtle Edwards Park on the Seattle waterfront
Saturday -- thousands of cannabis-lovers in Seattle to network and
celebrate their favorite green plant.

Some listened to activists discuss the benefits of medical marijuana.
Others roamed the park looking for the newest models of bongs.

Yet more lounged about on the grass listening to live music and
openly smoking joints. Meanwhile, police officers walked by
impassively, tolerating the pungent odor of marijuana smoke.

"It's a beautiful thing, man," said 17-year-old Brad Taylor, who said
he was attending Seattle Hempfest with his friends for the first
time. "No one's hassling us, everyone here is totally into this stuff."

As Hempfest kicked off its 17th year in the Emerald City Saturday
morning, attendees widely agreed that it remains the country's
premier event for marijuana users. Though other cities host similar
celebrations, organizers say none are as large or important as
Seattle's version.

More than 1,000 volunteers have been accredited for Hempfest this
year to deal with the roughly 100,000 people who are expected to attend.

And the list of special guests reads like a who's who of the most
prominent proponents of legalizing marijuana, including a veritable
parade of physicians singing the praises of the drug.

Among those scheduled to make an appearance were the leaders of most
of the country's big marijuana lobbying groups.

Rick Steves, the well-known Washington travel author and ardent
marijuana supporter, was among those scheduled to make an appearance.

Though leaders are still pushing the decriminalization of marijuana,
organizers said this year's Hempfest is different from past versions
because industrial hemp, or cannabis used for non-drug purposes such
as paper or biodiesel fuel, is now a big focus.

"It's kind of our main thing because this country is really missing
out on how it can be used positively for everyone," said volunteer Dale Rogers.

Still many people seemed less interested in industrial hemp or the
intricacies of marijuana reform than figuring out the best ways to
get a nice buzz.

Chris McClatchy said sales of bongs in the tent where he was working
were brisk.

Several young people gathered around, carefully studying the merchandise.

"I mean, don't you think we'd sell a lot of stuff at a festival like
this?" McClatchy asked. "Hell yeah we are!"

The mood throughout the day seemed mostly jovial and friendly,
despite large crowds and the heat.

Among the only disruptions was a group of street preachers who stood
carrying signs with phrases like "Jesus is Lord" as they loudly
condemned attendees as heathens.

Police monitored the situation -- at one point separating a preacher
and another man who were in a heated argument -- but said the
preachers had a right to be there because the park was a public place.

A Hempfest leader said the protesters show up each year and added
that a group of transsexuals were en route to frighten off the
preachers, something that also takes place each year.

More Information

For information on Sunday's Hempfest lineup, visit the website,
http://hempfest.org/drupal/