HEMP FESTIVAL AIMS TO HEIGHTEN PUBLIC AWARENESS

AYLESFORD - The bucolic community of Aylesford in the heart of the
Annapolis Valley is gearing up to stage Atlantic Canada's first-ever hemp
festival, a two-day event aimed at raising awareness about the use of
medicinal marijuana.

Fox Mountain Camping Park is the selected venue for a weekend extravaganza
starting July 31 that will include concerts by some of the province's top
bands.

The non-profit group Maritimers Unite for Medical Marijuana (MUMM) plans to
use the festival to highlight its ongoing concerns about the growth, supply
and distribution of medicinal marijuana.

MUMM chairwoman and mother of four, Debbie Stultz-Giffin has suffered with
multiple sclerosis for six years. Five years ago she was deemed unfit to
continue full-time work. Only when using marijuana medicinally on a daily
basis does she feel like a normal human being, she said.

"At present, 400,000 Canadians require medicinal marijuana and 86 per cent
of the population is in support of changing existing laws," she said.

MUMM isn't impressed with recent marijuana decriminalization measures. A
statement issued by the organization says that "all consumers, distributors
and growers of medicinal marijuana should be provided with immediate legal
amnesty. Compassion clubs should be acknowledged for their experience and
expertise in the medical marijuana arena."

The organization's two-day festival will feature several guest speakers,
renowned musical artists and numerous vendors offering everything from
marijuana memorabilia and paraphernalia to on-site chair massage to
intuitive readings.

Barbecued food will be available both days and a large on-the-spit style
pork roast barbecue is planned for Saturday evening.

On the entertainment side, headliner The Terry Edmunds Band from Halifax
will link up with other groups such as blues, rock and country outfit City
Fish, Muddy Creek and the Blue Marble Band.

Gary Kilburn, in charge of security, said he'll run a tight ship.

"There will be 20 or more trained staff for the duration of the festival.
We will conduct regular patrols of the immediate grounds while staying on
top of crowd control, stage privacy, etc. There will be zero-tolerance
toward the misuse of drugs and alcohol." He reminds festival-goers that the
park does not allow glass bottles on the premises.

Overnight camping on Saturday is encouraged and the wheelchair-friendly
campsite is fully equipped with electrical hook-ups, showers and canteen
facilities.

Festival tickets are $25 in advance and $30 at the gate.

To find out more about the festival, go to chair@mumm.ca.