cannabisnews.com: Home of Hempstock May Repeal Assembly Rules





Home of Hempstock May Repeal Assembly Rules
Posted by CN Staff on February 22, 2003 at 11:22:57 PT
By The Associated Press
Source: Associated Press
Starks — Residents will vote in two weeks on whether to repeal a mass-gathering ordinance that was created in reaction to an annual festival held by a group advocating the legalization of marijuana. The ordinance, approved in 1995, regulates sanitation, noise, security and other health and safety issues in this town of 500.Supporters of the ordinance say it's needed to control Hempstock, an annual multi-day event held at a farm on Route 43. 
Critics say the measure unfairly targets the Maine Vocals, the pro-pot group that sponsors the event, and that the battle over the ordinance is costing the town thousands of dollars in legal fees."It has cost our town a lot of money, a lot of time and it has not been in the best interests of the town," said Cindi O'Connor, a partner of Harry Brown, owner of the farm where the concerts are held. O'Connor said the state already has regulations that control mass gatherings.Selectman Cynthia Kimball said the ordinance addresses residents' concerns about noise, parking and sanitation. Before the ordinance was passed, there were problems with festival-goers urinating on residents' lawns, but the situation has since improved, she said.The town tightened its ordinance in 2001. The old rule required a permit for gatherings of 2,000 or more people that last for at least 12 hours. The town changed the rule to require permits for events where 750 people gather for six hours.In the past two years, the town has denied the festival a permit. A public hearing on the proposed repeal of the ordinance is scheduled for Monday in Starks. The vote will be held March 7.Source: Associated PressPublished:  Saturday, February 22, 2003Copyright: 2003 Associated Press Related Articles & Web Site:Maine Vocalshttp://www.mainevocals.org/Quiet Prevails at Pot Festivalhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13780.shtmlStarks Receives Application from Hempstock  http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13282.shtml
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