Seattle Hempfest

Cannabis Activists and Enthusiasts Set Record Attendance in Paradise

The Seattle Hempfest organized its 19^th year of cannabis freedom and hemp education on Seattle’s pristine waterfront with hundreds of thousands descending on three adjoined parks to celebrate the cannabis plant. This year’s beautiful weather and jam-packed line-up saw a record number of people come out to show their support. You cannot imagine the beauty of close to 200,000 people standing up for their rights to use cannabis in a bright and colorful festival setting draped along a serene a beautiful backdrop of Elliott Bay unless you have been to Hempfest. Simply put, it is Paradise.

As you approach the venue from the south along Alaskan Way, one is taken aback by the sheer volume and diversity of the massive crowd approaching the festival. The street is lined with cannabis loving people of all types making their way to the park to be a part of the action. Most ascend a large stairway through Olympic Sculpture Park and are greeted by an enthusiastic group of volunteers who kindly remind the crowd that Hempfest is run completely from their donations and that it costs over a quarter of a million dollars to put on. Staff members solicit donations in pink 5 gallon buckets and most everyone is more than happy to give a couple of bucks to ensure that this event is here to stay. After being checked by security (just for booze and weapons, as they could care less about your paraphernalia) a festivalgoer descends on one of the most beautiful scenes in the world…Hempfest.

Colorful characters of all sorts await their arrival, with people encouraging folks to register to vote, to go green, and to be an active member of the call for cannabis change. Seattle Hempfest is the largest gathering of hemp, cannabis, natural living, and eco-friendly vendors in the world, with hundreds of unique and interesting booths set up all throughout the massive park. From an extensive amount of hand-blown glass distributors, to clothing designers and distributors, to cannabis gadget salesman of all shapes and sizes, there was everything a cannabis and hemp connoisseur could ever need for their magical Hempfest journey. Cannabis reform policy groups lined the park educating any and all passing by with the truth and knowledge about using cannabis. Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP), The Hemp and Cannabis Foundation (THCF-Main Sponsors of the Event), NORML, Marijuana Policy Project (MPP), Cannabis Action Network (CAN), and many other new and old policy faces were letting their activist blood be immersed in the rich spirit that comes with hundreds of thousands of interested people passing by, hoping to learn more about cannabis. They provided a wealth of thorough and thoughtful information to the community, as they beat the drums of education and freedom.

There are six stages of excitement at Hempfest and not a bad show in the bunch. The Hemposium is the first stage as you enter from the south. The large open tent with a stage at the far end was busy with learning. Activists from all over the world sat on panels discussing cannabis related issues, including medical aspects, legal issues, political happenings, and social change. The tent was a great place for people to get out of the sun and take some time to better understand cannabis history, and learn of current issues we face as a movement. Many interesting topics turned into wonderful discussions from the community on how to best serve the needs of cannabis users moving forward. It was a great forum for learning and understanding of the bigger cannabis picture.

Around the bend the thunderous applause of Hempfest’s biggest crowd erupts every time the festival’s director, Vivian McPeak, says the words hemp, cannabis, weed, or pot. The crowd is insane at 4:20 with like-minded people for as far as the eyes could see and billowing clouds of cannabis filling the Seattle skyline, wafting ever so gingerly towards the Space Needle. Ron Jeremy plays the harmonica as the entire park erupts in cheers. Bands and speakers fill the schedule with lively entertainment and a strong message of cannabis freedom. It is a majestic view to see such a large contingency of onlookers excited about cannabis and enjoying this peaceful “Protesival” with folks from all walks of life. It takes a lot of people to make a world, and it looks like most of them come to Seattle Hempfest. The place was packed. A 150 x 60 foot banner from Advanced Nutrients that asks the crowd, “Do You Want Big Fat Sugary Buds?” fills the sky being pulled by a helicopter. You can bet the crowd did want sugary buds. The Main Stage was alive with activism all weekend and Vivian McPeak did not disappoint with his message of freeing Hemp, Cannabis, and the people who are hurt by its prohibition. It was a moving message and a consistently motivational one that forced the crowd to confront their own activism and commitment to the cause.

Further down the coastline you pass the Laughs Comedy Tent, with the likes of WCC’s own Ngaio Bealum and many other local comedians, packing the stage with laughs and putting smiles on faces. The McWilliams stage hosted lively bands and veracious speakers, focusing on the cutting edge styles and hardcore music of an array of entertainers. Further down the line, kids could dance the day away at the Dance Safe Tent, which filled the area with bass lines and electronic music from a host of talented DJ’s. At the far north end of the park was the Seeley Stage that hosted alternative, folksy, hip-hop, and alternative acts, including Pyrex who shut the show down on Saturday night with an inspired performance. The event was lined with act after act of awesome music and motivating speakers that dedicated their time and resources to the cause. Most bands and speakers are paid nothing for their efforts and most cover their own travel costs to be a part of this historic and wonderful affair. There were no gigantic names on the line up, but every act was solid. I could not imagine what they would do if another 50,000 Snoop fans showed up anyway. The stages were so packed already they would have had to rent barges to hold the overflow.

By time you walked the miles of cannabis filled fun and excitement you were hungry. There were delicious food vendors, from natural and vegan delicacies to burgers and barbecue. The teriyaki chicken sticks are always a crowd favorite. Ben and Jerry’s had a cool and delicious treats, or you could opt for a chocolate dipped stick with fruits of all flavors at Shiskaberries. Many vendors were selling hemp foods to embolden the spirit of the fest and one booth was providing “Hempfest Coffee” by the cup or by the pound. Of course there were plenty of strolling vendors providing people with cannabis infused treats of all sorts, including crispy treats, brownies, ever flavor of cookie you could imagine, and even medicated Twinkies. People were experiencing cannabis in many forms of delicious goodness and besides a few people who needed to break for a nap under a tree, there were no issues with the crowd’s use of cannabis foods and preparations.

Many people lined the beauty on the waterfront and enjoyed sitting in groups sharing, discussing, and celebrating their use of cannabis. Many cannabis inspired attendees created cool statues of stacked rocks from the waterfront to form sculptures that rivaled gravity and gave Olympic Sculpture Park a run for their money. In the distance, parasailing enthusiasts floated above Elliot Bay with Mt. Rainier as a serene backdrop. The water was filled with boats of all shapes and sizes, some sailing up and down several times enjoying the crowd and the energy that was erupting from shore. Cannabis filled the bay and there were no visible incidents of law enforcement interfering with folks’ good time. It was a peaceful and beautiful two days in cannabis paradise.

After the festival ended there were some after parties and events. Seattle is beautiful at night, as the entire city is reflected in the water and it is a breathtaking sight to see. The Edgewater is a favorite hotel of those traveling from out of town to attend the event, as it is one of the most beautiful and hippest hotels on earth. The hotel staff is extremely accommodating and it serves as a wonderful gathering place for activists who want to enjoy one another’s company after a long day of fun in the sun. The parties were rather quiet this year, maybe because I was not throwing them, but it was still a great time and wonderful opportunity to spend time with activists from across the country. The city is full of fun and adventurous nightlife for those that were looking for excitement into the night. After a long day at Hempfest, this writer wound it down pretty early and hit the sack with my Edgewater teddy bear.

There are not words that can clearly express the meaning and beauty of the Seattle Hempfest. The dedication to this cause is immense as over 1000 volunteers spend the better part of two weeks setting up, operating, cleaning, providing safety, cleaning, and returning the park to its original beauty. The effort is commendable because it is no easy feat corralling hundreds of thousands of cannabis users and enthusiasts in a park with little incident and peaceful camaraderie. The staff is dedicated to this cause year-round and puts incredible thought into the layout and implementation to make this event the biggest and most successful cannabis inspired event in the world. There is really nothing like it. Our hats off to the crew for being such wonderful hosts and bending over backwards to educated and celebrate the cannabis plant. It gets better every year and has become so popular that they continue to expand the event further down the waterfront to accommodate the crowd. It is a spectacle of freedom and a powerful message that this movement is for real. To learn more or find out how you can help this event continue to grow visit www.hempfest.org. Thanks again to Hempfest for two days of complete paradise and incredible activism. If you did not make it this year, mark your calendar for next. You will not be disappointed.

Another spectacular Hempfest this year. Damn, those kids work hard to make that happen. It was nice getting out to speak and do some work for the magazine. To all I met on my journey, it was great to see you. This was a special Hempfest to me, as I was able to take part in the activism of it all for the first time and spoke on 5 occasions at different stages in the park spreading the message of, "Organize. Educate. Be Active." It was an inspiring moment when my children joined me on stage to watch me speak to the massive crowd. It was a great weekend for sure. If you were there, you know it was packed to the gill and record numbers of cannabis enthusiasts came from around the globe to be a part of it all. If you were not there, you missed out on one of the most beautiful things on the planet. I like to call it the 1/8 wonder of the world. It is an event like no other and i was glad to be a part of it. Get there next year if you missed it. You will not be disappointed.