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." 
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D