Pubdate: Mon, 19 Aug 2002
Source: Seattle Times (WA)
Copyright: 2002 The Seattle Times Company
Contact:  http://www.seattletimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/409
Author: J.J. Jensen

HEMPFEST CROWD RALLIES FOR POT-POLICY REFORM

Around 75,000 people were living the high life yesterday as they packed 
Seattle's Myrtle Edwards Park for Hempfest 11, one of the largest 
marijuana-reform rallies in the world.

This year's two-day event, which organizers estimated drew an all-time high 
of 150,000, served as an opportunity for marijuana smokers to show their 
"Pot Pride" and for supporters of drug-policy reform to unite and support 
the city's Initiative 75. The initiative would make law enforcement's 
lowest priority enforcement of laws on personal marijuana possession.

Hempfest director Dominic Holden, 25, a Seattle waiter, became involved 
with the event in 1994. Growing up in the Central District, he said he 
witnessed police harass his African-American friends about marijuana use 
but look the other way when whites were involved.

"The vast majority of marijuana smokers are like all other adults and have 
jobs and families," he said. "In a nutshell, Seattle Hempfest advocates 
adults who use marijuana responsibly should not be treated as criminals, 
and nonviolent drug offenders need alternatives to incarceration such as 
treatment and job training."

Allen St. Pierre, executive director of National Organization for the 
Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML), noted that "people here are mellow, chill 
and very, very tolerant and I don't see that as a bad thing."

Every so often, groups of younger people shared some shifty looks and 
ducked down to the waterfront to pass a joint, while others weren't afraid 
to fire up a doobie while they sat in the grass and listened to bands and 
pro-marijuana speakers.

Seattle police were there, but Officer E.A. Greening told The Associated 
Press on Saturday, "We're just monitoring things in case things go bad. 
Everybody is getting along."

Newcomers and Hempfest veterans alike said they enjoyed coming for the 
music, culture and being around others who want marijuana laws relaxed.

"As far as marijuana possession, it's kind of minor -- people don't go 
around killing each other on pot. It would cut down on a lot of crime and 
help a lot of people with illnesses if they legalized it," said Shun Tate, 
29, of Tacoma. "I hope lawmakers realize how calm and rational people are 
when it comes to marijuana."

"It helps with cramps, too," added his wife, Retina.

Organizers hoped the support for Hempfest would show lawmakers that 
citizens want marijuana laws reformed. Organizers have submitted almost 
20,000 signatures in their effort to get I-75 on the ballot.

The event featured thousands of volunteers, 50 political organizations and 
hundreds of exhibits, vendors and speakers, including Seattle City 
Councilman Nick Licata and Roger Goodman, director of the King County Bar 
Association.
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MAP posted-by: Tom