ANN ARBOR'S HASH BASH INITIATES THE SPRING OFFENSIVE

Thousands of merry 'hempsters' descended on Ann Arbor, Michigan April 3rd
for the 33rd annual Hash Bash. This year those in attendance were treated
to great weather, good speakers, and great parties.

Hash Bash has a long and colorful history beginning with the 1969
incarceration of Ann Arbor resident and activist John Sinclair. Sinclair
was sentenced to 10 years in prison for two marijuana cigarettes. This
injustice caused a huge public outcry.

In December 1970, John Lennon, Yoko Ono, Alan Ginsberg and other popular
political activists came to Chrysler Arena for a freedom rally in support
of Sinclair. Several members of this rally decided that on April 1 of the
following year they would all converge on the University of Michigan campus
for a national 'smoke-in.' This event is now known throughout the country
as 'Hash Bash'. In 1972, Ann Arbor voters approved a ballot initiative that
made marijuana possession a mere civil infraction punishable by a $5 fine.
Since then the fine has been raised to $25. Largely due to Ann Arbor's
lenient pot laws, the Hash Bash has grown in size and scope over the years.

Crowd size has varied from a mere 500 people in the frigid years to a
whopping 10,000 when the weather cooperates.

Apparently intimidated by the large crowds attracted to Hash Bash, the
University of Michigan and the city of Ann Arbor began efforts to eliminate
the Hash Bash in the 90's. City and University bureaucrats delayed or
refused to issue permits, arrested participants and generally did anything
they could to disrupt the Hash Bash. It is a true testament to the strength
of the cannabis culture that the Hash Bash continues to flourish under
these hostile conditions.

This year the city of Ann Arbor once again refused to issue vendor permits
and the University of Michigan would only issue a one hour amplified sound
permit. The day began with an 11am rally at the Ann Arbor federal building
attended by several hundred hardcore activists.

By noon, 3,000 people had gathered on the University of Michigan Diag for
the main rally.

The crowd was an eclectic mix of old hippies, young metal heads, college
students, middle-class families, and professionals. This year people were
treated to solid speeches by 'The Emperor of Hemp' Jack Herer, Dan Solano
of Police Officers for Drug Law Reform, John Sinclair and many other activists.

Jack Herer pointed out the many uses of the hemp plant and encouraged
everyone to tell their friends and families about this wonderful plant.

Other speakers detailed the current campaigns to legalize medical marijuana
by ballot initiative in Detroit and Ann Arbor and implored members of the
audience to get involved.

The rally was high energy and fast paced and before we knew it our 'hour of
power' had elapsed.

At exactly 1pm the UM police pulled the plug on the sound system and as
planned the crowd walked in unison to the Monroe Street Block Party. At
Monroe Street the mood turned from serious to festive as literally hundreds
of joints were sparked as participants stepped off of state property and
onto city property.

Because the University of Michigan is on state property the university
police enforce state law and therefore arrest pot smokers. Once you are off
campus though there is no threat of arrest, just a $25 ticket. Most people
are aware of this strange 'line in the sand' and waited until after the
Diag rally to begin the traditional Hash Bash smoke-out. The Monroe Street
Block Party was dominated by Dominick's, a two story cafe with a balcony in
front and a patio in back. Anyone in Dominick's that day must of thought
that they'd died and gone to Amsterdam as the large building practically
billowed the sweet smell of cannabis.

The day concluded with a screening of the film 'Busted: A Citizen's Guide
to Surviving Police Encounters' organized by Michigan NORML. Busted is a
very professional and highly informative video.

Busted was produced by the Flex Your Rights Foundation, a non-profit
educational organization whose mission is to train individuals to protect
their civil liberties during police encounters. The film conveyed valuable
information that every pot smoker needs to know in order to stay out of
jail and preserve their constitutional rights.

After the film, two defense attorneys and a retired police officer
conducted a question and answer session with the crowd that rounded out the
presentation. Closing out the Hash Bash with this empowering discussion
seemed a fitting end to a long day of drug war activism.