[420 Girl]

Smoking marijuana is not legal in Washington state, at least not yet. But this weekend, as they've done for the past 19 years, hundreds of thousands will light up on the shores of Elliott Bay.

Director Vivian McPeak calls Hempfest the world's largest marijuana policy reform event. "We believe it's the largest annual political rally in America," he said.

McPeak makes the rules abundantly clear. "Hempfest is the worst place to buy or sell anything illegal," but outside of that, pretty much anything goes, as long as things stay relatively calm. "They really hold our feet to the fire when it comes to public safety," McPeak said.

"This has generally been a peaceful event, and that's a good thing for everyone involved," said Seattle Police spokesman Jeff Kappel, who would not elaborate on the department's enforcement plans for the weekend, but told us the department's primary mission is public safety and crowd management.

In a written statement, City Attorney Peter Holmes tells KIRO-FM, "As we understand it, police officers working at Hempfest will take enforcement action if there are sales of marijuana or if they receive complaints."

With Holmes not budging from his campaign promise to keep marijuana cases off the docket, it's unlikely peaceful pot smokers have anything to worry about at Myrtle Edwards Park this weekend, except when it comes to Hempfest's future; money's tight.

"If we go in the hole $50,000 like last year, this will be the last Hempfest," McPeak said. Organizers are asking for a donation of $5 per day from all attendees. "If we got that from every person, conceivably we'd have a million bucks and we'd be unstoppable."

Seattle Hempfest runs August 21st-August 22nd at Myrtle Edwards Park. Admission is free.


NewsHawk: Ganjarden: 420 MAGAZINE
Source: MyNorthWest.com
Author: ALEX SILVERMAN
Contact: MyNorthWest.com
Copyright: 2010 Bonneville International
Website: Thousands light up for Hempfest


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