Pubdate: Sun, 20 Jul 2003
Source: Register-Guard, The (OR)
Copyright: 2003 The Register-Guard
Contact:  http://www.registerguard.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/362
Author: Rebecca Nolan, The Register-Guard
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/hemp.htm (Hemp)

EVENT AIMS TO PLANT NEW NOTION OF HEMP

It was a peaceful Saturday afternoon at Alton Baker Park, site of the
first ever Emerald Empire Hempfest.

All kinds of people stopped by the free event to shop for hemp
products, to listen to music about the political plight of cannabis,
to sign medical marijuana petitions and to dine on hemp-based food.
There were old people, young people, big people, little people, people
wearing lots of clothes and people wearing almost nothing at all.

They shared a common belief: The marijuana plant is misunderstood,
undervalued and unfairly demonized.

"I'm a Christian, and I believe that God created the plant and put it
on this Earth for people to use it," said Peggy Staalberg of Eugene,
an artist who uses hemp paper, hemp canvasses, and hemp fabrics in her
work. "It's people who abuse it and misuse it."

One of the goals of Hempfest is to educate people about the myriad
uses of the environmentally friendly and easy-to-grow plant, said
Eileen Erdelt, one of three main organizers of Saturday's event.

Oregon voters demonstrated their faith in marijuana's medicinal value
when they approved the Oregon Medical Marijuana Act in 1998.

But talk to true believers and they just might convince you that
industrial hemp could solve many of the world's problems: The
development of hemp-based fuels could end the country's reliance on
foreign oil, which would, in turn, take humanity one step closer to
attaining world peace. Hemp paper would eliminate the need to cut down
trees. The plant grows without pesticides - like a weed - which is
better for the environment and could help lower cancer rates. It
replenishes the ozone layer. The Germans already use it to make a
revolutionary biodegradable plastic. It's highly nutritious with
essential omega-3 fatty acids that may lower cholesterol levels. And
its oils make a soothing lip balm.

"It's the answer for the future," Erdelt said. "We can easily turn
this country's economy over to sustainable agriculture and grow our
own fuel. Our economy is dying for it."

Convincing mainstream America that the plant and its products have
been senselessly stigmatized will be tough, Erdelt admits, but
Hempfest is a start. "That's hard for a lot of people because we've
been brainwashed by the media and the government for a long time," she
said. "It's a David and Goliath situation."

Although planned by different people, Hempfest also hopes to fill the
void left when Linn County officials ran lumberyard owner and
marijuana activist William Conde and his World Hemp Festival out of
Harrisburg in 2001 after police uncovered rampant drug use at the
popular three-day gathering. Conde is now living out a five-year
self-imposed exile in Belize.

Eugene's Hempfest is different because it doesn't charge admission,
Erdelt said. And there wasn't much obvious smoking of the celebrated
plant, although one guy was selling "kind" cookies for $5 each, I.D.
required. 
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