HEMP FEST TO RETURN TO QUAD

On Saturday, University of Rhode Island Students for Sensible Drug Policy
will sponsor the sixth annual Day for HOPE Hemp Fest on the Quadrangle from
11 a.m. to 11 p.m.

The event, which will be held rain or shine, is free of charge.

Micah Daigle, president of SSDP, said the goal of Hemp Fest is to raise
awareness about the group and the fairness of the U.S. government's
domestic drug policy.

Headlining the musical portion of the event is Zox, a Providence-based band
that "successfully lac[es] the searing melodies of classical violin into
high-energy reggae-infused rock," according to the band's Web site. Zox
will take the stage at 9:30 p.m., Daigle said.

Other bands scheduled to play include Raisin Hill, Dead Cat Bounce, the
Black Rebels, Fungus Amungus, Loose Leaf and Contraband.

"It's a pretty good mix," Daigle said, "everything from jazz to rap to jam
bands to reggae."

A variety of vendors will be selling food and beverages, including
Kingston's International Pockets, the Alternative Food Cooperative of
Wakefield, Ronzio Pizza and the Garden Grill Cafe of Pawtucket. Individuals
and businesses will also be selling jewelry, tie-dyed T-shirts, clothing
and tapestries, Daigle said.

To raise money for next year's event, SSDP will be taking donations and
plans to sell T-shirts and jewelry. During the day, SSDP will be
registering people to vote and collecting signatures for petitions. A
number of information booths will be set up to provide the public with
information on the legislation individual drug and the U.S. war on drugs.

Daigle said SSDP has spent just under $10,000 for Hemp Fest. The URI
Student Senate granted most of the funding for the event, he said.

Hemp Fest will be held rain or shine. In the event of wet weather, Daigle
said the event will be held in Edwards Hall Auditorium. With sunny weather,
the auditorium will be used to show a film on defending individual rights
in the event of a police encounter.

Last year's Hemp Fest, which was held in Edwards because of weather, only
attracted about 600 people, Daigle said. However, this year the group
expects somewhere between 2,000 and 3,000 people to attend.

On-campus parking will be available to the public in the Fine Arts Center
parking lot, Daigle said, while designated public restrooms for the event
are located in Edwards and the Memorial Union.

Campus police will also patrol the perimeter of the Quad to ensure there is
no violent activity, Daigle said.

"In the six years we've had it [Hemp Fest], there have been no arrests or
problems with people abusing substances or disturbing the peace," he said.
"It's always been a peaceful event."