SEATTLE HEMPFEST REPORT, PT. 1

Got in this morning around 11 am and caught a cab into town. Checked into my room at the historic Edgewater Hotel, a famous rock and roll party spot from the late sixties and early seventies where bands like the Beatles, Rolling Stones and Led Zeppelin used to stay. In fact, this was the hotel where Zep's infamous "mudshark" incident took place (those of you who've read Hammer of the Gods know what I'm talking about—for the rest of you kids, Google it holmes!). My room is right next door the Beatles Suite, and looks out over the scenic Puget Sound, across which lie our stony neighbors to the north. The hotel is set up as an old fishing/hunting lodge, and the lobby is constructed almost entirely of antler, tree and stone.

I'd just gotten settled in, fired up a joint and got the wifi in gear when the first snafu struck—the power went out in the entire hotel. Having no electricity, and nothing particular to do, I grabbed my joint and a gourmet iced coffee and started walking over toward the space needle. I had no intention of going up there, mind you—being scared of heights as I am, but it was cool to get a nice, up-close view of it. And as it turns out, right next door was the Science Fiction Hall of Fame and Museum, and the Jimi Hendrix & Seattle music museum! It was a fanboy dream come true—not only did I get to see the actual metal skeleton from Terminator 2 and a life-sized Yoda, but fragments of the guitar Jimi smashed and burned at the Monterey Pop festival and the axe he played the National Anthem on at Woodstock.

I like this town already.

Anyway, as you can tell, the power's back on now. Hempfest doesn't start til tomorrow, but the the whole town is abuzz with anticipation. My sources on the ground tell me they're expecting over 200,000 people this year—the largest turnout ever—thanks to the gorgeous weather (90 degrees and not a drop of rain in sight!) and tomorrow night's performance by Bone Thugs & Harmony.

Well, gotta run—on my way to meet up with Norml's Keith Stroup and head over to the private pre-party at the local yacth club. Miss High Times 2007 Sarah is meeting me there later, along with the whos-who of the legalization movement—and we're all gonna blaze up some killer west coast headies. Check back here tomorrow afternoon, when I'll be reporting live from the heart of the action—at the High Times / Norml booth. Until then, stay stoned brothahs and sistahs...