Pubdate: Fri, 16 Aug 2013
Source: Washington Times (DC)
Copyright: 2013 Associated Press
Contact:  http://www.washingtontimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/492
Author: Gene Johnson, Associated Press

NO POLICE BUSTS, JUST DORITOS AT HEMPFEST

Cops Will Be Armed With Chips at Festival

SEATTLE (AP) - A few things will be different at this year's 
Hempfest, the 22-year-old summer "protestival" on Seattle's 
waterfront where tens of thousands of revelers gather to use dope 
openly, listen to music and gaze at the Olympic Mountains in the distance.

The haze of pot smoke might smell a little more like victory, after 
Washington and Colorado became the first states to legalize marijuana 
use by adults over 21. Having won at the state level, speakers will 
concentrate on the reform of federal marijuana laws.

And the Seattle police - who have long turned a lenient eye on 
Hempfest tokers - don't plan to be writing tickets or making arrests. 
They'll be busy handing out Doritos.

"I think it's going to be a lot of fun," said Sgt. Sean Whitcomb, 
department spokesman and junk-food-dispenser-in-chief. "It's meant to 
be ironic. The idea of police passing out Doritos at a festival that 
celebrates pot, we're sure, is going to generate some buzz."

The idea isn't just to satisfy some munchies. The department has 
affixed labels to 1,000 bags of Doritos urging people to check out a 
question-and-answer post on its website, titled "Marijwhatnow? A 
Guide to Legal Marijuana Use In Seattle." It explains some of the 
nuances of Washington's law: that adults can possess up to an ounce 
but can't sell it or give it away, that driving under the influence 
of pot is illegal, and that - festivals aside - public use is illegal.

Organizers are expecting as many as 85,000 people each day of the 
three-day event, which begins Friday and is the first Hempfest since 
voters passed Initiative 502 last fall.

The vote legalized possession of marijuana and set up a system of 
state-licensed marijuana growers, processors and stores to sell taxed 
and regulated weed. Officials are still writing rules for the new pot 
industry, with sales scheduled to begin next year.

Hempfest executive director Vivian McPeak said that despite the 
state-level legalization, work remains as long as pot is illegal 
under federal law. The event is free, but Ms. McPeak is asking 
attendees to contribute $10 to offset the $800,000 cost of Hempfest 
so it can continue next year.

"It's going to be the most interesting Hempfest we've ever had 
because it's going to be part victory celebration," Ms. McPeak said. 
"That said, we feel it's very important to remind everyone that as 
long as it's still a Schedule 1 drug under the Controlled Substances 
Act, it's not legal anywhere. The job's not done yet."

The event will feature 117 musical acts on six stages and more than 
100 speakers, not to mention 400 vendors offering informational 
pamphlets, colorful glass bongs, food and art.
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