HEMP, MARIJUANA FOCUS OF BEACH EVENT

JACKSONVILLE BEACH - David Tillman shuffled through the crowd of hundreds
at yesterday's Hempfest, his eyes covered by dark sunglasses, using a cane
to guide himself.

As a band screamed out hard rock songs, and sunbathers enjoyed the beach a
hundred yards away, Tillman approached Hempfest organizers asking how he
could apply for a permit to use marijuana for medicinal purposes.

Tillman said he is blind in one eye and has nearly lost sight in the other.
He suffers from glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy, both of which have left
him almost sightless.

Marijuana is the one thing he thinks could save his sight.

''It drops my sugar levels 25 to 50 points, depending on the potency of
it,'' Tillman said. ''I would've saved my sight before, but I couldn't get
enough of it.''

The use of industrial hemp, an extremely low-potency form of marijuana, was
the main issue of the day yesterday. Hemp can be used to make products such
as rope, paper, even massage oil. Event organizers also were lobbying for
the legalization of marijuana for medicinal purposes, having visitors fill
out voter registration forms to get them active in politics.

Police reported eight arrests, seven for smoking marijuana and one
forselling drug paraphernalia. Two of those arrested are juveniles.

Jacksonville Beach's event was one of many across the country each year
aimed at trying to have the growing of hemp made legal in the United
States. While it is legal to use the product to make materials, it is
illegal to grow it.

All hemp used for manufacturing in the United States must be imported.

''You can use it as a material to supply the world with . . . paper, fiber,
food, medicine, clothing, just about everything,'' said James Dawson of
Gainesville, one of the organizers.

Wendy Marcum, assistant manager of The Body Shop skin and hair care store
at The Avenues mall, had a small table set up with hemp soap, elbow grease
and massage oil.

She said hemp can be used in more than 25,000 products. While her company
supports the legalization of industrial hemp growing in the United States,
she said she wasn't at the festival to support the legalization of
high-potency marijuana.

''Absolutely not,'' Marcum said. ''Industrial hemp is something that can
save the environment.''

At least one person at the festival didn't agree with the message,
especially the legalization of marijuana.

''My thoughts are, I came out here to show Jesus's love, that there is
another way,'' said Susann St. Christopher of Atlantic Beach. ''We've got a
lot of confused and lost souls out here.''

''Jesus didn't die so you could smoke hemp,'' St. Christopher said. ''If
you get high on living with Jesus you don't need to get high.''

Jacksonville Beach police Officer Richard Egger said the crowd was orderly.
Police would ''act appropriately'' if they saw anyone smoking marijuana, he
said, declining to elaborate.

At festivals elsewhere, people have smoked pot in the open to make their
point that it should be legalized, but organizers urged participants
yesterday to refrain from illegal activity.

''I think this is just really a small event and the people have a right to
be here,'' Jacksonville Beach City Manager George Forbes said. ''I really
think most people came to go to the beach.''

Festival organizers went to court to get restrictions on such events eased.
They said the city's ordinances saddled them with unreasonable financial
requirements and dictated the content.

Times-Union staff writer Kathleen Sweeney contributed to this report.