Cannabis News Media Awareness Project
  Marijuana Backers Pack Park in Seattle
Posted by CN Staff on August 18, 2002 at 06:28:09 PT
By The Associated Press  
Source: Seattle Times 

cannabis An estimated 80,000 people packed Myrtle Edwards Park along the city's waterfront yesterday for the first day of Hempfest, a weekend festival aimed at changing the nation's laws to allow decriminalization or legalization of marijuana.

Hempfest is billed as the largest such event in the world. Seattle police were out in force and reported no major problems.

"This stuff never hurt nobody," said Bud Mack, 54, a Vietnam veteran who attended Hempfest with his daughter, Rainbow.

Thomas Pudmaroff, a floor-covering specialist from Federal Way, has attended all 11 Hempfests held at the park. He now volunteers.

Pudmaroff smokes marijuana every day to help alleviate pain from severe migraines he's been suffering for 17 years — and he wants the drug to be legal.

Ted DeBray, 35, came from Port Angeles to show his support for marijuana use.

"I think it should be legal," he said. "I'm 35 and haven't smoked since I was 17, but a lot of my friends do. I'm a criminal-defense lawyer and I see firsthand that the war on drugs is a complete failure."

To outside observers, Hempfest appears to be a just a big party with loud music, food, and booths selling pipes, trinkets and tie-dyed clothing. There was no shortage of joints, pipes or puffy clouds of pot.

Hempfest director Dominic Holden likes to call it a "protestival."

"Art and politics have always come together well historically in American civil-rights movements," Holden said. "Our strong message is that the drug war has failed and we have viable alternatives."

Source: Seattle Times (WA)
Published: Sunday, August 18, 2002
Copyright: 2002 The Seattle Times Company
Contact: opinion@seatimes.com
Website: http://www.seattletimes.com/

Related Article & Web Site:

Seattle Hempfest
http://www.seattlehempfest.com/

Seattle Hempfest - Cannabis Culture
http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13778.shtml


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Comment #2 posted by FoM on August 18, 2002 at 07:17:45 PT
News Brief - Associated Press
SEATTLE: 80,000 Turn Out for Hempfest, More Expected at Park Today

The Associated Press

http://www.tribnet.com/news/local/story/1618494p-1736050c.html

An estimated 80,000 people packed Myrtle Edwards Park along the city's waterfront Saturday for the first day of Hempfest, a weekend festival aimed at changing the nation's marijuana laws.

Seattle police were out in force for the event, but there was no shortage of joints, pipes or puffy clouds of pot.

"This stuff never hurt nobody," said Bud Mack, 54, a Vietnam veteran who attended Hempfest with his daughter, Rainbow.

Organizers said they expect a larger turnout than last summer, when 150,000 people attended. Hempfest is billed as the largest such event in the world.

Four people were arrested, KCPQ-TV reported Saturday night.

Published 12:30AM, August 18th, 2002

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Comment #1 posted by The GCW on August 18, 2002 at 06:51:37 PT
2 interesting... perspectives.
As Top Prosecutor Boarded Plane, Son Arrested On Marijuana Charge

Published: Aug 16, 2002

MIAMI - The 18-year-old son of Miami-Dade County's top prosecutor was arrested Thursday on charges of carrying marijuana when he tried to board a flight to Puerto Rico with his mother and aunt. Justin Robert Rundle, the son of Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle, was charged with one count of misdemeanor possession of marijuana.

http://tampatrib.com/floridametronews/MGAPXDRLX4D.html

http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v02/n1525/a03.html?397

Would they have let Me on that plane, with out a high raknker???

Is this more Florida empire special treatment made clear for all to see? Shouldn't this be mandatory for all others that enter the same situation, to be allowed on the plane?

&

Here is a story about a place going broke that has the police quote, they will rely on drug (& plant) related forfieture (theft) to pay the bills.

Eufaula Tribune, The (AL) -15 Aug 2002 http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v02/n1519/a10.html?1110 BARBOUR COUNTY SINKS FURTHER INTO RED -

Sheriff Marshall Williams Jr. said the affiliation will also expedite prosecution of drug offenders and allow property connected to the arrests to be seized immediately.

Property seized in connection with drug arrests will follow the officer, even if the arrest is made outside Barbour County. With the DEA affiliation, Barbour County will receive 70 percent of any money or property seized. The county has already seized about $40,000 in money and property this year.

Several commissioners voiced their concern that this would take a deputy out of service, but Commissioner Jimmy Jones said he is not used as a deputy now, but only as a Drug Task Force agent. Commissioner Henry Franklin opposed the action and Commissioner Kenneth Earl Ivey abstained.



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