HARVEST FESTIVAL RETURNS

Hemp lovers had a homecoming of their own this weekend as the Harvest
Festival returned to UW-Madison Saturday.

Hundreds of people filled Library Mall with large posters of marijuana
leaves, music and informational booths to celebrate the benefits of this
natural fiber.

The festival served to promote the use of marijuana in America.

"This looks like a 60s revival," UW freshman Suzanne Adelman said. "I feel
like I am at home ... this is how my friends are."

People wearing t-shirts that read "Smoke pot or die" and "Thank you for pot
smoking" took advantage of this opportunity and the beautiful weather to
celebrate their favorite plant.

"I think that it is great that they do this during homecoming," Dana Beal,
co-founder of marijuana legalization group "Cures Not Wars," said. "I would
advise my kids to smoke pot instead of drink beer. There is only a 2 percent
risk of side effects from marijuana as opposed to alcohol."

Beal, one of the promoters of the event, spoke to the crowd about various
issues concerning hemp and marijuana use.

"Everything ever told by the government about marijuana is a lie," Beal
said.

He is also promoting the Million Marijuana March which will take place on
May 1 in New York, Atlanta, San Francisco, and Chicago. Other cities across
the world will be having simultaneous marches as well.

Beal said he wants other cities such as London, Amsterdam, Johannesburg,
Cape Town and Melbourne to participate in order to create a balance.

"Imagine, one million people marching while holding up one million joints,"
Beal said.

The crowd ranged from self-proclaimed deadheads to political candidates such
as Paul Steinberg, a libertarian candidate for District Attorney.

"This is an event for people to express their own opinion,'' one freshman
who wished to remain anonymous, said.

Many students who attended the festival agreed that they would like for
marijuana to be legalized in the United States.

"I definitely think that marijuana should be legalized," said Nate
Bjurstrom, a high school student visiting from Milwaukee.

Jake Nielsen, also from Milwaukee, said he felt legalization would have a
peaceful effect on society.

"If marijuana were legalized, there would be less crime and less fighting
between the police and the underground," Jake Nielsen said.

Beal advised students who would like to see marijuana legalized to take
immediate action.

"People need to get involved, not only by attending events such as the
Harvest Festival, but through demonstration, lobbying, and writing to the
editor if they want to have marijuana legalized," Beal said.

Although the Harvest Festival is a historically peaceful event, police
presence was necessary.

"Not in recent history have we had to take any type of reinforcement
action," Madison Police Department Lt. Bill Housley said. "There are things
that I would rather be doing with my Saturday afternoon, but police presence
is necessary at an event like this."

Not all people attending the festival feel that marijuana use is completely
safe.

"Smoking marijuana is a personal choice. When it is done in your own home
and no other people are involved it's okay," a visitor from Milwaukee who
wished to remain nameless said.

Checked-by: Don Beck