Ohio Hempfest

[Jim Finnel]

To legalize or not? That was the question at the rock 'n' roll-jamming, Hacky Sack-playing, tie-dye-wearing Hempfest on Ohio State University's South Oval yesterday.

The 21st annual Ohio event kicked off at noon with 36 vendors, 30-plus bands, scores of dreadlocks and a lot of pro-marijuana talk.

Zach Germaniuk, a 19-year-old OSU English major and president of Students for Sensible Drug Policy, said he logged some 600 hours of work in preparation for the event.

"This is a monumental project," said a shirtless, long-haired Germaniuk. "We want to engage people in a discussion or debate about public policy."

Germaniuk said the group wants the U.S. government to treat minor drug users like any other petty criminal: by simply fining them.

There seemed to be little debating yesterday, however. Most festivalgoers seemed content throwing a Frisbee or buying souvenirs: a Bob Marley shirt or a hat with a marijuana leaf.

Some lay on blankets in the grass, while others bought glass beads that could double as marijuana bongs. But the only smell in the air in the afternoon was incense, perhaps thanks to the occasional patrolling police officer.

"I made it clear to everybody that this is a substance-free event," Germaniuk said. "However, I'm not a baby sitter and I'm not responsible for the activities of other festivalgoers."

Twenty-year-old Tad Melton sat in the shade selling hemp jewelry he and his girlfriend made. The fibrous stem of the hemp plant can be made into rope and the leaves and flowers into marijuana. By 2 p.m. he'd made about $90, mostly by selling the braided bracelets. But Melton said he wasn't there for the money.

"It's just a reason to hang out for the day," he said. "People here are pretty laid-back. They're just here looking for peace."

George LaMuth and friend Jack Parker sat in the grass under a sycamore tree eating Sun Chips and listening to a pro-marijuana, anti-government speaker. Parker's 4-month-old black lab, Banjo, was at his side.

"It's everybody getting around, getting together," said LaMuth, who wore a red and yellow tie-dye shirt. "Even if you don't smoke weed, come down."

Germaniuk estimated about 2,000 people, mostly OSU students, visited by early afternoon. The event was to end at midnight.

Three years ago Hempfest almost came to an end. In 2004, OSU officials tried to cancel the event, saying organizers failed to follow university rules. A U.S. District Court judge, however, prohibited the cancellation.

Germaniuk said university officials this year treated the organization like any other student group.



News Hawk- User 420 MAGAZINE ® - Medical Marijuana Publication & Social Networking
Source: The Columbus Dispatch
Author: Gavin Off
Contact: goff@dispatch.com
Copyright: 2007, The Columbus Dispatch
Website: The Columbus Dispatch : Hempfest a low-key lobbying event

 

[Cherma]

What a great way to gather and have a group of people interested and talking about the non conforming laws that do not tax and regulate any cannabis products. Don't let the momentum stop. And in a peaceful manner.
Discussions of the Regulation & Taxation of all cannabis products must continue.
Keep researching the old prohibition laws on the books. Each state will have to have their own version should not the Federal Government repeal and abolish all Prohibition of Marijuana laws in every State.
Inform, educate, and keep on show & telling the overwhelming majority of people of your local and national cities that reform of the marijuana / cannabis laws that the United States are currently operating under need changing as they have in many states already.
The tax base revenue from every aspect of cannabis production will increase financial revenues and help keep sustaining many local and state governments. Let alone what the Federal Government of the USA will take in from the revenue of taxed cannabis. An estimated 4-6 Billion a year from Tax base revenue of Cannabis products.
It is time, that all laws pertaining to the Marijuana Tax act / prohibition are repealed and sent packing to the big joint in the sky.
It is time to have all 3 countries ( Canada, USA, Mexico) rally & use the trade agreements set forthe and abolish the Prohibition of Cannabis and initiate an import / export tax on all cannabis products that cross the 3 imaginary border lines.
Many liquor and tobacco companies are profiting greatly as are all branches of Government from the regulation and taxation of these products.
What is it that the liquor & tobacco companies have that is keeping and preventing the overturning of all marijuana prohibition laws?
To form businesses associated with all cannabis products is already in place by many different organizations, however many are still not viewed by the Federal Government of the USA as legal. California with its many Medical Marijuana dispensaries, have battled a "Tax" issue with these clubs. Many of them operating as non profit: Wake up and smell a bud or two: These dispensaries are big money making businesses that deserve and have received a lot of attention from many legitimate companies. Surprise that some clubs are still open and some are not. Pay all the taxes associated with these clubs and the profits from the sale and distribution of Medical Marijuana.
It is feared that many clubs that are still open & operating are done so by having inside people associated with Federal DOJ as an implementive stage to control and regulate these clubs that will eventually be ok'd by the USA Federal Government. The DEA is just doing their job. It is up to the people to incept and incorporate changes by the people that have been elected to represent them.