T
The420Guy
Guest
Hash Bash, the annual Ann Arbor rally to support the legalization of
marijuana, was in full force Saturday afternoon, drawing a crowd that
event organizers estimated reached 3,000 to 4,000 people.
Carrying signs declaring "Hemp for Peace" and "Smoke pot not Iraq,"
community members, University students and out-of-town participants
protested both the war on drugs and the war on Iraq at the 32nd annual
event.
Traditional festivities included the rally at noon on the Diag and an
after-party on Monroe Street.
Some participants wore necklaces of plastic hemp leaves, while others
dressed up in costumes - including a self-proclaimed "Jointmann."
"A lot of people dress up because they like the anonymity," said event
organizer Adam Brook.
Brook, who also served as the master of ceremonies for the event, said
Hash Bash was well attended despite the cold weather and snow, although he
said warmer temperatures would have drawn a larger crowd.
"The University can try to stop us, the city can try to stop us, the
federal government can try to stop us, the state can try to stop us, but
nobody screws us like Mother Nature," Brook, an Ann Arbor resident, said.
This year's event also saw a low number of arrests for possession of
marijuana, which Brook said was unlike previous years.
"We've taken extraordinary steps to prevent arrests," he said.
"We get the crowd to sit down (on the Diag) and then the cops can't get by
because there's a wall of people, which is good because there were
hundreds and hundreds of people smoking pot," he added.
Department of Public Safety Sgt. Stacy Richmond said only one participant
was arrested for possession of marijuana, a misdemeanor that could include
penalties of one year in jail or a $2,000 fine under state law.
Additionally, DPS cited three participants for youth tobacco misdemeanors
and two vendors for violating city solicitation ordinances.
A youth tobacco violation is "like a ticket," Richmond said. "They could
get 90 days in jail, but it usually turns out to be a fine."
Richmond added that the vendors were each fined $50 and ticketed, but
declined to say what they were selling.
Ann Arbor Police Department Sgt. Laura Anderson said the AAPD did not
arrest or cite anyone as a result of Hash Bash. All arrests and citations
took place on the Diag.
Brook said he was displeased that anti-war protesters met on the Diag at
the same time, and was disappointed that anti-war activists never support
the Hash Bash efforts.
"There's been a war on drugs for longer than a war on terrorism or a war
on Saddam (Hussein)," he said.
Brook expressed pride in the force and attendance of Hash Bash. "This is
the largest rally on campus," he said.
Author: Elizabeth Anderson
Source: Michigan Daily
Contact: daily.letters@umich.edu
Website: The Michigan Daily
Pubdate: Monday, April 7, 2003
marijuana, was in full force Saturday afternoon, drawing a crowd that
event organizers estimated reached 3,000 to 4,000 people.
Carrying signs declaring "Hemp for Peace" and "Smoke pot not Iraq,"
community members, University students and out-of-town participants
protested both the war on drugs and the war on Iraq at the 32nd annual
event.
Traditional festivities included the rally at noon on the Diag and an
after-party on Monroe Street.
Some participants wore necklaces of plastic hemp leaves, while others
dressed up in costumes - including a self-proclaimed "Jointmann."
"A lot of people dress up because they like the anonymity," said event
organizer Adam Brook.
Brook, who also served as the master of ceremonies for the event, said
Hash Bash was well attended despite the cold weather and snow, although he
said warmer temperatures would have drawn a larger crowd.
"The University can try to stop us, the city can try to stop us, the
federal government can try to stop us, the state can try to stop us, but
nobody screws us like Mother Nature," Brook, an Ann Arbor resident, said.
This year's event also saw a low number of arrests for possession of
marijuana, which Brook said was unlike previous years.
"We've taken extraordinary steps to prevent arrests," he said.
"We get the crowd to sit down (on the Diag) and then the cops can't get by
because there's a wall of people, which is good because there were
hundreds and hundreds of people smoking pot," he added.
Department of Public Safety Sgt. Stacy Richmond said only one participant
was arrested for possession of marijuana, a misdemeanor that could include
penalties of one year in jail or a $2,000 fine under state law.
Additionally, DPS cited three participants for youth tobacco misdemeanors
and two vendors for violating city solicitation ordinances.
A youth tobacco violation is "like a ticket," Richmond said. "They could
get 90 days in jail, but it usually turns out to be a fine."
Richmond added that the vendors were each fined $50 and ticketed, but
declined to say what they were selling.
Ann Arbor Police Department Sgt. Laura Anderson said the AAPD did not
arrest or cite anyone as a result of Hash Bash. All arrests and citations
took place on the Diag.
Brook said he was displeased that anti-war protesters met on the Diag at
the same time, and was disappointed that anti-war activists never support
the Hash Bash efforts.
"There's been a war on drugs for longer than a war on terrorism or a war
on Saddam (Hussein)," he said.
Brook expressed pride in the force and attendance of Hash Bash. "This is
the largest rally on campus," he said.
Author: Elizabeth Anderson
Source: Michigan Daily
Contact: daily.letters@umich.edu
Website: The Michigan Daily
Pubdate: Monday, April 7, 2003
