THE SWEET SMELL OF HEMPFEST

With the sweet sound of birds chirping in the mild air, and trees almost in
full bloom, students and members of the community gathered on the
University of Rhode Island's Quadrangle for the fourth annual Hempfest on
Saturday.

Arranged by the Hemp Organization for Prohibition Elimination (HOPE),
people of all ages attended the free show to enjoy the sounds of Foxtrot
Zulu, Carlos Washington and the Giant People Ensemble and other local bands.

Vendors selling food, books, jewelry and other items lined up along the
sidewalks. While some browsed the tables, taking in the sweet aroma of
incense, others laid down on the soft grass, enjoying the music.

HOPE, whose primary focus is to educate people about the hemp industry and
the difference between hemp and marijuana plants, has been in charge of the
show for the past four years.

This year's message was focused on the current proposition to ban hemp
products-food, seeds, oils-made from hemp.

"The THC in hemp is so negligible it's useless as a drug," Adam Horowitz,
co-president of HOPE said.

Despite the threat of rain, with a few drops falling here and there, the
turnout this year was the best so far.

"We felt it was excellent," Horowitz said. "We felt pretty lucky. It's
getting bigger every year."

A large part of the celebration is the bands, many of which vary in style.

"We try to get diverse musical acts," Horowitz said. "We try to unify
people from all different cultures on and off campus."

The vendors also enjoyed the atmosphere.

"We've done this the last three years," Toar Winter, co-author of "Get
Stoned and Read This Book," said. "The weather's great, the bands are
great; it's nice to see people interested."

The tradition of hempfest began with two seniors during the 1998-1999
school year, when Horowitz was a freshman.

"It was their brainchild and we just took it from there," Horowitz said.

Organizing events like these, has not always been easy, though.

During their first year in existence, HOPE was recognized by the Student
Senate but was not considered a level-one organization, which meant they
were not eligible to receive funding.

As a result, the first hempfest was small and HOPE was forced to raise
money through donations from WRIU and other groups, Horowitz said.

The only bands they asked were local and offered to play for free.

The organization obtained level-one status during their second year, but
not without a fight.

Initially HOPE was considered a political organization, Horowitz said.
Student Senate had to develop a special committee to define what political
meant.

To be a political organization, the group had to be affiliated with a
candidate or party, none of which applied to HOPE.

After the decision, HOPE became eligible to receive funding.

This year the group had just over $3,500 in their budget for the show-money
that comes from contingency funds and alcohol-free grants, Horowitz said.

Last year URI Students for Social Change co-sponsored the event, adding
$5,000 to HOPE's $2,000. This year the Student Entertainment Committee
co-sponsored, aiding with $900.

"We really appreciate that," Horowitz said.

Next year's budget is $8,600.

"We are really optimistic about where the organization is going," Horowitz
said. "We've seen a tremendous evolution in the group."

Saturday's show was testimony to the improvement in the organization. The
two police officers, hired as a requirement, stood watching.

They usually hang around and enjoy the event also, Horowitz said. So far,
there have never been any arrests.

"It's just a really great vibe," Horowitz said.