HEMP AID 98!

Arrived down a dusty country lane to the Rainbow Farm in south-central
Michigan about noon Saturday of Memorial Day weekend for Hemp Aid 98! A
peaceful gathering of over 3,000 people in support of The Rainbow Farm
Initiative and other legalization efforts across the country.

I was met at the gate by the Rainbow Farm's computer guru, TP Doug, who
brought me to the Activist's Booth and Hemp Center. The Rainbow Farm's
information center always plays host at the Rainbow Farm events as well as
traveling to nearly 20 hemp shows and festivals around the country each year.

After more introductions all around, I looked over the display of materials
being passed out. A good collection of NORML and other literature, but
taking up about a fourth of the table space were selected printouts of
various articles from the news item database of The Media Awareness Project
(MAP) of DrugSense. I added my small pile of flyers to their much larger
collection. I also spent some time passing out MAP literature to folks who
visited the booth.

It wasn't long before I met a couple people I hadn't seen since 1976;
Gatewood Galbraith, Candidate for Governor in the state of Kentucky, and
the noted author, Stephen Gaskin. I then had the pleasure of meeting Nora
Callahan of The November Coalition and discussing the superb work the
Coalition is doing for our POWs. The Prison Cell booth of The November
Coalition, and the 1934 car that had brought them via the back roads of the
U.S. from the west coast was right next to the Hemp Center.

Elvy Musikka and I talked off and on most of the afternoon and evening. I
had met Elvy just a year earlier during the first Journey for Justice in
Ohio. Elvy is a great speaker, replete with her container of government
supplied rolled joints. She was also having a release party for her second
music CD: "Truth & Love Are One - The songs of one of eight people in the
United States who can legally use medical marijuana - Elvy Musikka." Folks
interested in obtaining the CD may write P.O. Box 6076, Hollywood, FL
33081. Copies may also be obtained from The Rainbow Farm website listed below.

A personal highlight under the warm sun was sitting in the shade in the
Rave Tent with Rich O'Grady of the MAP news posting team, and his wife and
two dogs, talking technical editor stuff.

All of the speakers were super! I must say that Gatewood was in fine form.
With all his campaigning over the years, he has really got his delivery
down with a hard hitting, thoughtful, message for change - including voting
and participating in the process. For example: Gatewood said: "Did my
father's generation hit the beaches of Normandy and Iwo Jima so their
children would have to pee in a cup to hold a job in America?"

Other speakers included: Bill Bradley (Chairman, Van Buren County
Libertarian Party), Nora Callahan (The November Coalition & High Times
Freedom Fighter of the Month), Captain Cannabis (Super Hero), Tom Crosslin
(Rainbow Farm), Derrik A. DeCraene (Head Gear Magazine), Bill Finn (Liquid
Magazine), Robert J. Fritakis (Columbus Institute For Contemporary
Journalism), Stephen Gaskin, Marvin Marvin, Elvy Musikka (medical
marijuana recipient) and John Q. Public (S.L.A.M. Magazine).

The thousands present, averaging one third my age, enjoyed the hemp and
live music. It was hard to tell how many took the political messages
seriously, but it was not for lack of trying. This was a very message
oriented event!

The Van Buren County Libertarian Party registered nearly a thousand new
voters for the state of Michigan. Geoffrey Fieger (Candidate for the
Democratic ticket for Governor in the state of Michigan) was the most
talked about politician at the event, with the possible exception of
Gatewood Galbraith.

Providing the music were: Zany Bullshit Band, Dig Pin, The Rozen Bombs
Captain Cannabis, Skaba-Du, THC, Jetta & The Jellybeans, Dave Snider, Klub
Poppa, Forearm Shiver, Rezzin Wild Bill Durkin, Bent Frame, Dangerous
Neighbors, Musical Graffiti, Steam Powered Airplane, Olive Lucy, and Solid
Gold

Additional entertainment included a Fire Show By Spoon, Laser shows by Next
Level Productions, and a Nightly Hippie Slide Sponsored by Liquid Magazine,
a sky drop of prizes by Head Gear Magazine, and a Hemp Fashion Show.

Also present were over thirty vendors of food, accessories and clothing.
Two thirds of these vendors carried hemp products. Everything hemp from
twine and jewelry to fine clothing and snowboards.

As for me, I enjoyed my breaks up on the porch of the farm house, in the
shade, a good two blocks from the stage, where the sound level did not make
my ears ring.

A highlight of the evening was the live MAP CHAT, from the office of the
Rainbow Farm. It was great being able to discuss with an international
audience the happenings at HEMP AID 98! Nora Callahan joined us, enjoying
the live internet discussion with a good sized group of folks, including a
half dozen members of The November Coalition.

State and County police were doing their holiday patrol of the nearby state
highways and county roads. To our knowledge, there may have been twenty
arrests and they all stemmed from traffic violations and/or open container
violations. There was absolutely no police presence at the event. Remember,
obey all traffic laws and NEVER consent to a search!

Groups and organizations benefiting from this event were its sponsor The
Columbus Institute For Contemporary Journalism, as well as The November
Coalition, Mid-Michigan NORML (E. Lansing), North Coast NORML (Cleveland)
and The Hemp Center.

Thanks to all the folks who helped make this successful and peaceful event
possible. I may be getting a little old to handle three days of 'primitive
camping', but I really enjoyed the day.

WEBSITES:

The Rainbow Farm:

http://www.rainbowfarmcamp.com/

The November Coalition:

http://www.november.org/

Gatewood Galbraith:

http://www.gatewood.com/

The Media Awareness Project and DrugSense CHAT:

http://www.MAPinc.org/

Your reporter,

Richard Lake

Sr. Editor for the MAP news service at http://www.DrugSense.org/