cannabisnews.com: Tents Sprout on Fields During Marijuana Festival!





Tents Sprout on Fields During Marijuana Festival!
Posted by FoM on May 30, 1999 at 08:10:20 PT
Source: Weedstock
Town of Fairfield Almost twice as many people showed up this year for the annual Weedstock Festival in Sauk County as last year, perhaps showing that good weather can influence people more than marijuana.
About 2,000 people, some claiming to be from as far away as England, were gathered Saturday for the festival, which promotes the legalization of marijuana, and more were still coming in. A sea of tents, buses and just about anything else that could provide a little shade cascaded across a rolling green hill in the lush Sauk County terrain. The festival, which runs until Monday, was held in the same location on Marcus Gumz's farm off Highway 33 last year. But the cold, rainy weather last year kept the crowd down to about 1,300. This year, the festival-goers -- who paid $35 for the weekend -- basked in the warm temperatures. Around them, vendors sold bongs, pipes, tie-dyed clothes, cold drinks and signs that read: "Thank You for Pot Smoking." A frozen dessert sandwich advertised as being made from hemp quickly sold out. There were few problems with the crowd, according to law enforcement officials from Sauk County, Columbia County and the Wisconsin State Patrol. Officers were patrolling the area with drug-sniffing dogs. "We have issued a lot of written warnings, traffic citations, possession charges, a couple of warrant pickups, one OWI (operating while intoxicated)," said Lt. Tom Pollard of the Sauk County Sheriff's Department. The annual gathering meant 12-hour shifts and no holiday time off for deputies on the Memorial Day weekend, but Pollard said they were used to it. "We haven't had any disturbance complaints," Pollard added. Weedstock organizer Ben Masel had some complaints, though -- about the size and intensity of the law-enforcement force. Masel said some officers were making up traffic violations as an excuse to pull people over. "We even had people pulled over because their tires were bald, which the officer noticed at night, as they are driving at 35 miles an hour -- not likely," Masel said. A Minnesota man said his bus had been searched by Saturday afternoon. "The second time they had dogs and found nothing," he said. He declined to give his name for fear his employer would see it. Wendell Holmes of Madison said: "I don't have to smoke pot; I'm here just to get high on the good time." Most folks were simply enjoying the beautiful weather, the campfires and the music tent. Robin Cardell made the trip from Oshkosh in a blue bus with a group called Amnesty 2000. The group wants all victimless criminals released from the prison system by 2000. "These are productive members of society that for whatever reason smoked a little pot," Cardell said. "They are still productive." Barbara Peterson, a Madison activist and former emergency-room nurse working in the safety tent at the festival, said there had been no problems beyond a bit of dehydration. "I've actually treated two dogs, but my main point is it's nothing like you would see at a Badger football game, where a large amount of alcohol is involved," Peterson said. Peterson said she has been an activist most of her life. "My uncle is David Dellinger of the Chicago Seven," the protesters indicted after the 1968 Democratic National Convention, she said. "I believe strongly in the decriminalization of something that has brought so much to society for years." http://www.jsonline.com/
Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help




Comment #2 posted by Angelia Brown on May 31, 1999 at 13:05:26 PT:
Bravo!
   I give a standing ovation to all who attended weedstock! Especially how some showed the cops that their control tactics (especially the dogs) were in vain once again! Maybe more people other than myself will start fighting these unconstitutional searches and road checks with the dogs. It serves no other purpose than to make our human rights invalid. My only regret is that I could not attend! More power to the green activists! My love to everyone that went!
[ Post Comment ]

Comment #1 posted by FoM on May 30, 1999 at 08:13:59 PT
Happy Days!
Here is the direct link to the above article! Have a great weekend!Peace, FoM!http://www.jsonline.com/news/metro/apr99/990530revelerstentssproutli.asp
[ Post Comment ]

Post Comment


Name: Optional Password: 
E-Mail: 
Subject: 
Comment: [Please refrain from using profanity in your message]
Link URL: 
Link Title: