Pubdate: Mon, 14 Apr 2014 Source: Michigan Times, The (MI Edu) Copyright: 2014 The Michigan Times Contact: http://www.themichigantimes.com/home/lettertotheeditor/ Website: http://www.themichigantimes.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4909 Author: Alex Hinson Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?275 (Cannabis - Michigan) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?253 (Cannabis - Medicinal - U.S.) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/people/John+Sinclair HASH BASH NOW 43 YEARS STRONG On a sun-kissed, crisp morning as the smoke rose over the crowd of onlookers, John Sinclair started off the high noon event in the Diag alongside his fellow activists, which include Adam Brook and Baby Bri. "Where the powers want our heads to be at, [is] up their ass," says Sinclair as he turns around to see two cops talking with Adam Brook, an activist much like Sinclair, and addresses the officers with "Ah, gentleman. We hope you will obey the laws of Ann Arbor here today [haha]." Ann Arbor is one of the few cities in Michigan that have limited using/carrying marijuana to a fine, except for on University of Michigan school grounds where the actual hash bash is located. Since 2008, Michigan has been a medical marijuana state, but there are some aspects that have changed for rallies such as the Hash Bash. "People should have the right to cultivate their own stuff. The man should not be able to control that. It's a great opportunity to have a big win [2016 ballot legalization]. The question is can we remember .. to know why we all started [for legalization]," said Ben Horner of the Michigan Medical Marijuana Report (MMM) before Hash Bash 2014. "The people who don't use cannabis don't realize its history. The people who use it are a little off, but the marijuana helps them. The average person would not understand that. It's not people's ability to get high, it's the question of should there be decriminalized sectors." When it comes to the annual Hash Bash, there has been a huge historical movement behind it. "Marijuana is a symbol," said Horner. "Power... cops 'n' robbers the whole thing about the man keeping us down and not letting [us] do what [we] want to do. Marijuana legalization has a great opportunity; the real sad part is it will get turned into commercial process. It then loses its culture. It loses its ambiance." Arrests over marijuana were originally part of poor White, African American and Latino communities and the law has been said to be used to arrest impoverished people or those of color. "Then the hypocrites try marijuana and realize it's awesome, but then, there are these laws that are still associated with black crime and low life people. Reefer madness," said Horner. "Racism is still [rapidly growing] in this country. The counties that attack the medical marijuana patients are the same counties that have racism problems. Anti-marijuana and racism go hand in hand. That's the tough part that is a field opportunity to make a movement of people." Over and over again you hear of medical marijuana patients that have been helped by this plant. Take Patty Rowley, 55, dog trainer and long time attendee of Hash Bash through the years, as an example. "I have been going for many years now. Very glad to see lots of support at the Hash Bash this year, which is actually a freedom rally. Originated because of unjust law enforcement. It was a party for freedom, which every American has. It has turned into, after all these years, an Independence Day rally of freedom (like Richie Havens would say at Woodstock)," said Rowley. The party did not stop after all the speakers in the Diag finished a little after 1 p.m., it continued onto the Monroe Street Fair where musicians and artists, along with many vendors, could continue celebration with minimal law enforcement to be seen. "It was a great turnout. It's great to see how many more people over the years are trying to be active in the medical marijuana community," said Cassie Warren a vendor for Michigan Organic Solutions at the street fair. Warren handed out 1000 gift bags before the high noon rally even started. As far as music goes, Anthony Arline of FlyCy of Flint attended to check out not only the smoking of the event, but also the music that was performed. "It was underfunded. Definitely could've used more sponsors, but when you're stoned you REALLY don't care," said Arline. "But if they want even a b-list artist, they need to provide better equipment. It was kind of embarrassing to see Bizarre go through that." - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D