Seattle Hempfest

Seattle Hempfest is an annual event in Seattle, Washington, the world's largest [According to the 2007 Seattle Hempfest program, p. 22, "As far as we can tell, it is [the biggest pot rally anywhere] , and it dwarfs its closest counterpart."] annual gathering advocating decriminalization of marijuana for uses including but not limited to medicinal, industrial, and recreational. [According to the 2007 Seattle Hempfest program, p. 3, they advocate "the decriminalization of marijuana for responsible adults, legal access to medical marijuana…, and legal domestic hemp production."] Founded in 1991 as the Washington Hemp Expo, a self-described "humble gathering of stoners" attended by only 500 people,"Seattle Hempfest History: 1991-Present", Seattle Hempfest. Accessed 23 August 2007.] and renamed the following year as Hempfest, it has grown into a 2-day annual political rally, concert, and arts and crafts fair [2007 Seattle Hempfest program, p. 22.] with attendance typically over 100,000. Speakers have included Seattle city council member Nick Licata, actor/activist Woody Harrelson (2004), travel writer and TV host Rick Steves (2007), [2007 Seattle Hempfest program, p. 6. An essay by Steves appears on p.16–17 of the 2007 program.] former Dallas Cowboys center Mark Stepnoski (2003), [ [http://www.seattlehempfest.com/2003.php Hempfest 2003 achieves Pot Peace!] , on official Seattle Hempfest site. Accessed online 24 August 2007.] and former chief of the Seattle Police Department Norm Stamper (2006). Hempfest has also in recent years attracted such well-known performers as Fishbone (2002) [Mike Cust, [http://cannabisculture.com/articles/2663.html Seattle Hempfest rocks hard!] , "Cannabis Culture", February 24, 2003. Accessed online 24 August 2007.] , The Kottonmouth Kings (2004) [Philip Dawdy, [http://www.seattleweekly.com/2004-08-18/news/2004-hempfest-highlights.php 2004 Hempfest Highlights] , "Seattle Weekly", August 18, 2004. Accessed online 24 August 2007.] , Rehab (2006) [ [http://hempfest.org/drupal/?q=node/15 Seattle Hempfest History] on Hempfest official site. Accessed online 24 August 2007.] , and Pato Banton (2007) [Monica Guzman, [http://blog.seattlepi.nwsource.com/thebigblog/archives/120109.asp News update: Former police chief Stamper backs out of Hempfest] , August 15, 2007 on the official blog of the "Seattle Post-Intelligencer". Accessed online 24 August 2007.] to its five stages [http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/outdoors/2003203519_nwwfestivalfocus17.html Marijuana policy reform is emphasis at Hempfest] , "Seattle Times", August 17, 2006. Accessed online 24 August 2007.] spread throughout Myrtle Edwards Park and Elliott Bay Park, on Seattle's waterfront. [ [https://hempfest.org/vendors/index.php?main_page=conditions Vendor Policies] , on official Seattle Hempfest site. Accessed online 24 August 2007.]

Early Hempfests "featured blatant marijuana smoking"; 60 people were cited for illegal marijuana use at the 1997 Hempfest, and about 20 were arrested the following year. Eventually Hempfest and the police reached a "modus vivendi": there was only one arrest in 2001. The political context surrounding marijuana in Seattle and Washington has changed considerably over the years. Washington legalized medical marijuana in 1998. In 2003, Seattle passed an initiative that made adult personal use marijuana offenses the city's lowest law enforcement priority.

The festival has an annual budget of approximately $200,000. [2007 Seattle Hempfest program, p. 23.]

The 2008 Seattle Hempfest, which took place August 16th - 17th, set a new record for attendance, topping 310,000 people. Also attending were the popular rap artists Bone Thugs in Harmony.

Notes

References

* 2007 Seattle Hempfest program
* [http://www.hempfest.org/history.php Seattle Hempfest History: 1991-Present] , Seattle Hempfest. Accessed 23 August 2007.
* Casey McNerthney, [http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/328174_hempfest18.html?source=mypi Where there's smoke, there's Hempfest] , "Seattle Post-Intelligencer", August 18, 2007. Accessed online 23 August 2007.

External links

* [http://www.hempfest.org Seattle Hempfest official site]
* [http://www.normlwa.org NORML Washington State chapter] A parent organization of the Seattle Hempfest
* [http://www.olyhempfest.com Official Olympia Hempfest Website]
* [https://hempfest.org/drupal/?q=node/58] Seattle Hempfest 2008 Speaker and Band line up