Potheads for Kerry

Festival celebrates hemp, also stirs political pot - By Tan Vinh

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2002012173_hempfest22m.html
from JoeUser Forums
Festival celebrates hemp, also stirs political pot
By: Tan Vinh, Seattle Times


Amid the bong sales, the drug-reform speeches and a certain aroma that permeated the annual pro-marijuana festival yesterday, Hempfest was also a venue for another cause: getting John Kerry to the White House. Regulars who attend the two-day festival to hear the usual cry of "legalize marijuana" also found organizers campaigning to get pot users to vote for Kerry. About 100 Democratic activists passed out Kerry/Edwards buttons and stickers and tried to register voters yesterday at the 13th annual gathering at Myrtle Edwards Park along Seattle's waterfront. With an expected 150,000 visitors over two days, Hempfest is billed as one of the world's largest pro-marijuana rallies. As organizers see it, that's a gold mine for Kerry, since the crowd is largely anti-President Bush. Said Hempfest spokesman Dominic Holden, "Bush has had a disastrous drug policy — criminalizing sick and dying people who need medical marijuana and campaigning against citizen initiatives to implement drug-law reforms." Organizers set a goal of signing up thousands of new voters. Some Kerry supporters also were recruiting campaign volunteers. A Kerry campaign spokesman said the efforts were orchestrated by independent groups that are not associated with the official Kerry campaign. Walter Duncan, a 32-year-old graduate student and a Kerry supporter, decided to pick up a clipboard and sign up voters because "this is going to be a close election ... and this would be a good place to find" Kerry supporters. Chris Martino, 35, a Kerry volunteer from Seattle, signed up 15 new voters within an hour. "It's not exactly an evangelical Christian group. It's a left-leaning crowd," he said. Hempfest's milelong stretch of booths features vendors selling anti-Bush T-shirts, bumper stickers and signs reading "Smoke Bush." The event also drew campaigns for Ralph Nader and the Libertarian ticket. Hempfest organizers said the event's political overtone underscores the clout that pot smokers have, as evidenced by the passage of I-75, the initiative that made marijuana the city's lowest law-enforcement priority. The initiative was approved by 58 percent of Seattle voters last September.
Tan Vinh: 206-515-5656 or [email protected]
democrat
16,176 views 26 replies
Reply #1 from JoeUser Forums Top
Too funny. The Democratic party is no friend of the marijuana legalization movement.

Thanks for the article.
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Reply #3 from JoeUser Forums Top
I was at a hemp fest in Columbus,Ohio in June. It was a great festival. They had many speakers against Bush. I did not see many pro-Kerry people, but maybe that has picked up momentum since June.
Reply #4 from PolMach Forums Top
whew those are some ugly teeth.

well, at least they're voting for kerry instead of nader. This way at least we get a slightly marginally better president then before.
Reply #5 from JoeUser Forums Top
she must have spent all her money on weed and couldn't afford toothpaste - that is my best guess.
Reply #6 from PolMach Forums Top
I'd say that most ganga freaks are more likely to vote democrat than republican. Though Clinton supported the war on drugs, there was a greater feeling that he was much more sympathetic to "the cause". This feeling became more pervasive during the liberal '90's and many states and towns had grassroots (no pun intended) campaigns to decriminalize marijuana. Those same organizations are now feeling quite a bit more heat under the weight of the current administration and may blame this on republicans.
Reply #7 from PolMach Forums Top
If this interests anyone, Nevada is trying to pass an initiative to legalize marijuana, along with taxation and regulation, and increased penalties for selling to minors. An interesting statistic the brought up is that in the Netherlands, where pot is legally but tightly regulated only 30% or so of teenagers have tried pot, while in Nevada, where it is currently illegal, over 70% have. Tells you something about America's "war on drugs"
Reply #8 from JoeUser Forums Top
Threre are people in every state trying to legalize pot. I'd like to know what you base the statement "Nevada is trying to pass an initiative to legalize marijuana, along with taxation and regulation".

You pretend that the whole state, or the most powerful people in the state, are trying to puch it through. Care to mention names? Care to prove that it isn't a dead effort?
Reply #11 from JoeUser Forums Top
Threre are people in every state trying to legalize pot. I'd like to know what you base the statement "Nevada is trying to pass an initiative to legalize marijuana, along with taxation and regulation".


Actually, Baker, allow me to field this one.

In the 2002 elections, an initiative to legalize marijuana was defeated by a 54 to 46% margin. In repeated elections, the margin has decreased substantially every time.

This fall, yes, there will be an initiative for exactly the initiative described. This is heavily advertised on the television statements and enjoys strong support. It is not a "dead" movement; in fact, the recent 46% gives reasonable hope as to its passage.

I am speaking as a Nevada citizen.
Reply #12 from PolMach Forums Top
The Nevada initiative is sponsored by the Committe to Regulate and Control Marijuana. If they win a lawsuit saying that their initiative was illegally thrown out, then it will be placed on the November 2 ballot.
Reply #14 from JoeUser Forums Top
Does pot rot your teeth or make you forget you have them? lol
Reply #17 from JoeUser Forums Top
I dont know why Kerry is bothering!!! I imagine half the pot smokers wouldn't rock up to vote anyways!!!

you know - chillin on the couch n shiz

BAM!!!
Reply #18 from JoeUser Forums Top
i kept tellin mom those pix would show up on the net someday if she wasnt more careful.  i guess she got zoned and forgot.
Reply #19 from PolMach Forums Top
The debate of mari - hey, what's that smell? I'll be right back guys...
Reply #20 from JoeUser Forums Top
how many habitual mary-j smokers do you know that actually vote, btw - i have signed up more voters than that on my ass--> Just kidding!


Reply #21 from JoeUser Forums Top
About 100 Democratic activists passed out


Sounds like a alot of fun....
Reply #23 from PolMach Forums Top
why are pot smokers more likely to be Democrats?

Democrats are more likely to advocate for a bigger government that has regulations against such frivolous things.

As you move right on the political spectrum you get less and less gov't intervention...libertarians, for example, are generally the most conservative people out there and they don't support many drug laws.

A big gov't can prevent you from getting pot....a small gov't will have a hard time trying to stop you.
Reply #24 from JoeUser Forums Top
why are pot smokers more likely to be Democrats?


I think if they really put some thought into it, they'd be Libertarians. Unfortunately the Democratic party has inherited a "hippy chic" from the 70's that they don't deserve.
Reply #25 from JoeUser Forums Top
sure they do - i don't know any conservatives that smoke pot - but the people that i do know that get stoned are mostly extreme liberals