- Hash Bash
was a fixture of the Hash Bash for 19 consecutive years before his death in late 2006. [cite press release
title = 36th Annual Ann Arbor Hash Bash
publisher = Michigan NORML
date = 2007
url = http://www.minorml.org/
accessdate = 2007-04-09]Ann Arbor has very lenient laws regarding the possession of marijuana – a $25 fine first $50 second $100 third (and subsequent) offense -- and is a simple civil infraction rather than a criminal offense, such as misdemeanor or felony (see "
Marijuana laws in Ann Arbor, Michigan "). Even so, the campus of theUniversity of Michigan sits upon state property, and so anyone caught with marijuana on any campus location is subject to the more strict state marijuana laws. As this is the case, there is a separate but heavily related event following Hash Bash just off campus known as theMonroe Street Fair , where there is usually a live show accompanying the many street vendors selling extravagantbong s and other paraphernalia, along with a Michigan NORML booth.The second annual Hash Bash, in 1973, attracted approximately 3,000 participants. That year, state representative
Perry Bullard , a proponent of marijuana legalization, attended and smoked marijuana, ["3,000 Hold 'Hashbash' at Michigan," "Chicago Tribune", 2 Apr. 1973, p. 14.] an act which later earned him criticism from political opponents. [Associated Press, " [http://www.pub.umich.edu/daily/1998/oct/10-19-98/news/news7.html Former Ann Arbor Rep. dies at age 56] ," "Michigan Daily", 19 Oct. 1998.]Hash Bash participants did not encounter significant police interference until the seventh annual event, in 1978, when local police booked, cited, photographed, and released those participants alleged to be using illegal substances. ["Around the Nation: Police Arrest Drug Users at Michigan 'Hash Bash,'" "New York Times", 3 Apr. 1978, p. A14.]
Recent Hash Bash Dates
*
2007 : 35th annual -April 7 - [http://theprocessonline.blogspot.com/2006/12/chef-ra-crosses-over.html memorial to Chef Ra]
*2006 : 34th annual -April 1
*2005 : 33rd annual -April 2
*2004 : 32nd annual -April 3
*2003 : 31st annual -April 5
*2002 : 30th annual -April 6 - [http://hightimes.com/ht/entertainment/content.php?bid=29&aid=3 Chef Ra's report]*
2001 : 29th annual -April 7 External links
* [http://www.olyhempfest.com Official Olympia Hempfest Website]
* [http://www.monroestreetfair.com/ Monroe Street Fair] official site
* [http://www.mlive.com/news/annarbornews/index.ssf?/base/news-22/1176015677126190.xml&coll=2 "Pro-pot event gets touch of Hollywood"] - Geoff Larcom for the "Ann Arbor News," April 8, 2007.References
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