Template:Short description Template:Infobox recurring event
Seattle Hempfest was an annual event in the city of Seattle, Washington, United States, (and the world's largest<ref>According to the 2007 Seattle Hempfest program, p. 22, "As far as we can tell, it is [the biggest pot rally anywhere], and it dwarfs its closest counterpart."</ref> annual gathering) advocating the legalization of cannabis.<ref>According to the 2007 Seattle Hempfest program, p. 3, they advocate "the decriminalization of marijuana for responsible adults, legal access to medical marijuana…, and legal domestic hemp production."</ref> It was held every summer for 19 years, from 1991 to 2020, after which permission for vendors to use an access road was revoked and the logistical problems of getting vendors into and out of the park became an insurmountable obstacle. As of 2025, it's future appears uncertain.
Vivian McPeak serves as the organization's executive director. Founded in 1991 as the Washington Hemp Expo,<ref name=McNerthney>McNerthney 2007</ref><ref name=history /> a self-described "humble gathering of stoners" attended by only 500 people,<ref name=history>"Seattle Hempfest History: 1991-present", Seattle Hempfest. Accessed 23 August 2007.</ref> and renamed the following year as Hempfest,<ref name=McNerthney /> it grew into a three-day annual political rally, concert, and arts and crafts fair<ref>2007 Seattle Hempfest program, p. 22.</ref> with attendance typically over 100,000. Speakers included Seattle city council member Nick Licata,<ref name=history /> actor/activist Woody Harrelson (2004),<ref name=history /> travel writer and TV host Rick Steves (2007), (2010),<ref name=history /><ref>2007 Seattle Hempfest program, p. 6. An essay by Steves appears on p.16–17 of the 2007 program.</ref> 2012 Green Party speaker Jill Stein, Dallas Cowboys center Mark Stepnoski (2003),<ref name=history /><ref>Hempfest 2003 achieves Pot Peace!, on official Seattle Hempfest site. Accessed online 24 August 2007.</ref> and former chief of the Seattle Police Department Norm Stamper (2006).<ref name=McNerthney /> Hempfest also in recent years attracted such well-known performers as Fishbone (2002),<ref>Mike Cust, Seattle Hempfest rocks hard!, Cannabis Culture, February 24, 2003. Accessed online 24 August 2007.</ref> The Kottonmouth Kings (2004),<ref>Philip Dawdy, 2004 Hempfest Highlights, Seattle Weekly, August 18, 2004. Accessed online 24 August 2007.</ref> Rehab (2006),<ref>Seattle Hempfest History on Hempfest official site. Accessed online 24 August 2007.</ref> and Pato Banton (2007)<ref>Monica Guzman, News update: Former police chief Stamper backs out of Hempfest, August 15, 2007 on the official blog of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Accessed online 24 August 2007.</ref> to its five stages<ref name=Times2006>Marijuana policy reform is emphasis at Hempfest, Seattle Times, August 17, 2006. Accessed online 24 August 2007.</ref> spread throughout Myrtle Edwards Park and Elliott Bay Park, on Seattle's waterfront.<ref name=Times2006 /><ref>Vendor Policies, on official Seattle Hempfest site. Accessed online 24 August 2007.</ref>
HistoryEdit
Early Hempfests "featured blatant marijuana smoking";<ref name=McNerthney /> 60 people were cited for illegal marijuana use at the 1997 Hempfest, and about 20 were arrested the following year. Eventually Hempfest and the police reached a modus vivendi: there was only one arrest in 2001. About this time, the director was Dominic Holden, who was also campaign manager of an organization trying to make cannabis the city of Seattle's lowest law enforcement priority through a voter initiative, Template:Vanchor.<ref>Template:Citation</ref> The political context surrounding marijuana in Seattle and Washington has changed considerably over the years. Washington legalized medical marijuana in 1998. In 2003, Seattle passed I-75.<ref name=McNerthney /><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
The 2008 Seattle Hempfest, which took place August 16–17, set a new record for attendance, topping 310,000 people. The volunteers of Seattle Hempfest were awarded the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) award for "Outstanding Cannabis Advocate of the Year Award" on October 17, 2008 at the National NORML Conference for their efforts.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2011 Hempfest speakers included numerous elected officials, among them Ohio congressman Dennis Kucinich, Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn, City Attorney Pete Holmes, a return by Councilman Licata, and Washington State Representatives Mary Lou Dickerson and Roger Goodman.<ref>Jim Brunner, Kucinich joins local pro-pot pols at Seattle Hempfest, Seattle Times, 20 August 2011. Retrieved online 21 August 2011.</ref>
2013 saw the legalization of cannabis use in Washington state; that year's Seattle Hempfest featured performances by Everlast, Hed PE and DJ Muggs of Cypress Hill. As of 2013, the festival had an annual budget of approximately $700,000.<ref>2013 Seattle Hempfest program, p. 23.</ref>
The 2015 Hempfest named David Bronner, CEO of Dr. Bronner's Magic Soaps, the Cannabis Activist of the Year.<ref name="Dahl">Dahl, Kieran. "How a decades-old hippie soap brand became a touchstone of wellness culture". Vox, May 8, 2019.</ref>
The 2020 Hempfest was the most recent event. The organizers once stated that they were planning to return in 2024,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> but as of 2025 Hempfest's future is uncertain.
NotesEdit
ReferencesEdit
- Seattle Hempfest History: 1991-Present, Seattle Hempfest. Accessed 23 August 2007.
- Casey McNerthney, Where there's smoke, there's Hempfest, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, August 18, 2007. Accessed online 23 August 2007.