R22 Discussion Group

Brad,
With all the rain they get in Seattle it's now wonder they light up.

Rummy

In a message dated 8/18/2008 2:02:01 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time,  
dwbrad at gmail.com writes:

You  gotta love this city.  Here's an article from the Seattle  Post
Intelligencer.  The last paragraph is the clincher.  Stan's  economic
policies could be piloted here.

Dave

Last  updated August 16, 2008 4:13 p.m. PT

Celebrating all things cannabis --  Hempfest draws throngs to Myrtle Edwards 
Park
By MOISES MENDOZA
P-I  REPORTER

They poured into Myrtle Edwards Park on the Seattle  waterfront
Saturday -- thousands of cannabis-lovers in Seattle to network  and
celebrate their favorite green plant.

Some listened to activists  discuss the benefits of medical marijuana.
Others roamed the park looking  for the newest models of bongs.

Yet more lounged about on the grass  listening to live music and openly
smoking joints. Meanwhile, police  officers walked by impassively,
tolerating the pungent odor of marijuana  smoke.

"It's a beautiful thing, man," said 17-year-old Brad Taylor, who  said
he was attending Seattle Hempfest with his friends for the first  time.
"No one's hassling us, everyone here is totally into this  stuff."

As Hempfest kicked off its 17th year in the Emerald City  Saturday
morning, attendees widely agreed that it remains the country's  premier
event for marijuana users. Though other cities host  similar
celebrations, organizers say none are as large or important  as
Seattle's version.

More than 1,000 volunteers have been  accredited for Hempfest this year
to deal with the roughly 100,000 people  who are expected to attend.

And the list of special guests reads like a  who's who of the most
prominent proponents of legalizing marijuana,  including a veritable
parade of physicians singing the praises of the  drug.

Among those scheduled to make an appearance were the leaders of  most
of the country's big marijuana lobbying groups.

Rick Steves,  the well-known Washington travel author and ardent
marijuana supporter, was  among those scheduled to make an appearance.

Though leaders are still  pushing the decriminalization of marijuana,
organizers said this year's  Hempfest is different from past versions
because industrial hemp, or  cannabis used for non-drug purposes such
as paper or biodiesel fuel, is now  a big focus.

"It's kind of our main thing because this country is  really missing
out on how it can be used positively for everyone," said  volunteer
Dale Rogers.

Still many people seemed less interested in  industrial hemp or the
intricacies of marijuana reform than figuring out  the best ways to get
a nice buzz.

Chris McClatchy said sales of  bongs in the tent where he was working were 
brisk.

Several young people  gathered around, carefully studying the merchandise.

"I mean, don't you  think we'd sell a lot of stuff at a festival like
this?" McClatchy asked.  "Hell yeah we are!"

The mood throughout the day seemed mostly jovial  and friendly, despite
large crowds and the heat.

Among the only  disruptions was a group of street preachers who stood
carrying signs with  phrases like "Jesus is Lord" as they loudly
condemned attendees as  heathens.

Police monitored the situation -- at one point separating a  preacher
and another man who were in a heated argument -- but said  the
preachers had a right to be there because the park was a public  place.

A Hempfest leader said the protesters show up each year and  added that
a group of transsexuals were en route to frighten off the  preachers,
something that also takes place each year.

MORE  INFORMATION

For information on Sunday's Hempfest lineup, visit the  website,
http://hempfest.org/drupal/

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Hempfest