MEDICAL MARIJUANA TAKES CENTER STAGE AT RIO RAMAZA

A marina in south Sutter County known for hosting zydeco music and
pirate festivals will be opening its doors for something else next
month: A three-day event dedicated to education, promotion and a bit
of celebration of marijuana.

Billed as the first annual Hempfest Sacramento - even though it's
neither in the city nor county of that name - the event will have both
speakers and performers and should draw 10,000 to 15,000 people,
according to organizers.

"Every day is going to be a knowledge day," said events coordinator
Kristina Wheeler, who lives in Sacramento. "This is a big event going
on, and we want people to be fully aware."

Much of the Aug. 19-21 festival will center on medical marijuana, with
a physician on hand to issue medical marijuana cards and a separated
area for patients to puff a little medicine.

Wheeler said several speakers will give presentations on marijuana,
both from a medical perspective and to advocate for legalization, as
well as the related hemp plant.

There will also be on-site camping, food, drink and musical
performances, including appearances by rapper Warren G and a member of
Bone Thugs-N-Harmony.

Tickets are $20 per day or $40 for all three days, and each day will
have a different focus, Wheeler said: Aug. 19 for me ical marijuana
dispensaries, Aug. 20 for growers and Aug. 21 for medical marijuana
patients.

Wheeler said she has been in contact with county and Sheriff's
Department officials about the event and has taken all the proper
precautions, including hiring for a robust security presence.

Sutter County Sheriff J. Paul Parker said he has been assured no
marijuana will be sold on site, and usage should remain confined to
the area for patients.

"These are all more informational type things," he said, adding,
"We'll be down there."

Parker said he is not sure yet how deputies will respond if they spot
someone smoking marijuana outside the designated area, during one of
the musical performances, for example.

But his biggest concern is over traffic. The event site on 10000
Garden Highway, Rio Ramaza Marina, is only accessible by a two-lane
road running north and south.

With the expected numbers of attendees in the thousands, getting in
and out could be slow at best and potentially hazardous at worst.

Still, Parker said, "We're used to handling large crowds," adding the
annual Sikh parade in Yuba City draws more people than Hempfest
probably will.

Sutter County spokesman Chuck Smith said the county doesn't have any
particular concerns because it doesn't have the authority to govern
the event site.

Because the marina existed before the county adopted planning
ordinances in the 1960s, he said, it's grandfathered in without
requiring permits.

"The county is obviously concerned about everyone's health and
welfare, so we want everyone to act safely and responsibly," he said.

Susan Ramon, event coordinator for the marina, said organizers came to
her after they couldn't get a permit in Sacramento.

She was tempted to say no at first too, she said.

"I had to do some homework," she said. "But it's a very interesting
concept."

Whenever she has discussed the event with organizers, they've
voluntarily offered to hire more security, she said, and similar
events in the Bay Area have gone on for years with no problems.

For those who might be opposed to a pro-marijuana event regardless of
its viability or legitimacy, Wheeler said she would encourage an open
mind.

"This is a substance that's been around for many years," she said. "We
want to make this as safe, knowledgeable and fun as we can possible
do."