Daily Camera Page 1B

Hempstock seeks to teach

But opponents see smoke screen for legalizing pot
By JASON GEWIRTZ
Camera Staff Writer

Music fans had Woodstock, and now those supporting marijuana legalization
will treat themselves to Hempstock.

The Saturday event in Boulder commemorates the 60th anniversary of the
Marijuana Tax Act, which placed a prohibitive tax on growing and
distributing hemp in the United States. Shortly after World War II, hemp
and marijuana which hemp produces under specific circumstances were
made illegal to cultivate.

While Hempstock '97, sponsored by the Boulder County Libertarian Party, the
Boulder Hemp Initiative Project and the Colorado Cannabis Coalition, has
garnered interest from several former, current and wouldbe politicians, it
has also attracted its share of detractors who argue the event is sending
the wrong message.

"We're trying to educate people on all the uses the legal and the
illegal," said Laura Kriho, one of the event's organizers.

Speakers at Hempstock '97, which will be from noon to 7 p.m. Saturday at
the Central Park bandshell in Boulder, include County Commissioner Paul
Danish and former state senator Lloyd Casey. Organizers are expecting
between 500 and 1,000 people to attend.

The event also will feature Elvy Musikka, one of eight people in the
country who receives federally grown marijuana for medicinal purposes.
Musikka uses the drug to treat his glaucoma.

Danish has been speaking for about 10 years on the issue of legalizing hemp
in the United States. He said there are three main areas regarding the
legalization of hemp and marijuana: industrial uses, medicinal uses, and
recreational uses. He supports all three.

"When I first jumped into it, I thought there'd be a firestorm of
controversy, and there hasn't been," Danish said. "I think if you take a
look at what the effects of this drug are, by almost any criteria, this one
is certainly no more harmful than alcohol, and probably less so."

As far as recreational marijuana use, Danish said he favors legalization.

"(Marijuana) is a gateway drug to illegal drugs. The way to close the gate
is to make it legal," he said.

To others, opening the gate is the problem, not the solution. Jann Scott,
who works with people in Boulder County who are trying to recover from drug
abuse, said he is not opposed to legalizing hemp for industrial uses, or
marijuana for medical purposes.

But recreational use is another issue.

"I think that every single responsible parent in this community should be
incensed by (the event)," he said.

Scott argues that recreational use of one drug will lead to increased use
of other drugs and added that there should be an added police presence at
Saturday's event.

Ellen Cunningham, with the city manager's office, said a similar hemp event
in 1993 did not require additional police presence. "They've never had any
problem before," she said, "so the chances of hiring extra police are
probably nil."