SEATTLE HEMPFEST 2008 RECAP

Record-high temperatures and turnout made this year’s annual Seattle Hempfest in Myrtle Edwards Park truly an event to remember. The two-day (August 16-17), volunteer-run “protestival” boasted an audience of around 150,000 people—making it the largest and best-run marijuana rally in America.
   

“It started as a protest for the first Gulf War back in 1991,” explains Hempfest creator/director Vivian McPeak. “We held a six-month peace vigil at Gasworks Park, and in that process we birthed the idea of throwing Hempfest. Since then, its pretty much taken over our lives.”
   

But the attendance and heat index weren’t the only things high this weekend—with nary a policeman in sight, the vast crowd of pot enthusiast lit up and toked down freely, reveling in a level of freedom nearly unprecedented in the U.S. From costumed characters to political candidates, from die-hard old hippies and activists to teenaged skateboarders and even entire families, the diverse crowd enjoyed the unusually warm, clear weather by strolling the “green mile” along the scenic Seattle waterfront, browsing the wares of countless vendors and soaking in the sun—along with a healthy dose of music and activism.
   

The five stages were abuzz from 10 a.m. til 8 p.m. each day with hundreds of speakers (such as NORML founder Keith Stroup, “Emperor of Hemp” Jack Herer, and famous travel author/host Rick Steves) and dozens of performers, including Kim Manning, Los Marijuanos, the Herbivores and L.D.T. Mo-Thugs (featuring members of Bone Thugs-n-Harmony). Other highlights included a 5-foot joint passed through the crowd and a 4:20 wedding ceremony on the main stage. And of course, HIGH TIMES was there representing—with senior editor Bobby Black manning the booth (which we shared with NORML and Jack Herer), and speeches from Miss HT 2007 Sarah Newton and HT associate publisher (and Hempfest veteran) Rick Cusick.     
   

“Sometimes, even good people make bad laws,” shouted Cusick. “When that happens, other good people stand up and try to change those laws. There is no better example of good people standing up and trying to change the law than the 2008 Seattle Hempfest!”