cannabisnews.com: Hempfest Can Be Held, but Permit Issue Murky





Hempfest Can Be Held, but Permit Issue Murky
Posted by FoM on June 15, 2000 at 12:49:58 PT
By Dan Scanlan, Times-Union Staff Writer 
Source: Florida Times-Union
A federal judge in Jacksonville will allow a medical marijuana rights group to hold its scheduled Hempfest at Metropolitan Park on Saturday but denied the group's request for an emergency injunction to stop enforcement of a city ordinance requiring a permit and payment for city services such as police.
U.S. District Judge Harvey Schlesinger's ruling Tuesday says the Florida Cannabis Action Network may not even need a festival permit, but he added that the event can't have music and still be considered a "forum to dispense political speech."Organizer Scott Bledsoe said music is included in the noon to 8 p.m. event as part of the group's right to free speech as they gather petition signatures and promote the medical aspects of the illegal drug.Schlesinger's order "says he is not sure that music is music or free speech, so we may not be a festival, just a free-speech event," Bledsoe said. "If they [city officials] come out and say we need a permit, we will . . . make them cite us an ordinance. Our sole purpose is not musical entertainment, but free speech and a political rally."City special events director Theresa O'Donnell said she wants to meet with organizers in the hopes of getting a permit drawn up. And while live music is against the judge's order, she said that can be discussed.Gary Edinger, attorney for the marijuana rights group, said if the city does mandate a permit, he may try to get an emergency hearing with the judge to reconsider an injunction.The group wants to get a question on the 2002 state ballot to legalize medical marijuana use, and members say they have collected about 45,000 of the 435,000 signatures needed.Hitting Home:The third annual Hempfest is scheduled to run from noon to 8 p.m. Saturday at Metropolitan Park. Published: Thursday, June 15, 2000 © The Florida Times-Union Related Articles & Web Site:Florida Cannabis Action Networkhttp://www.jug-or-not.com/can/index.html Floridian's For Medical Rightshttp://www.medicalrights.org/Cannabis Group Seeks Injunction http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread5843.shtmlFunds Awarded to Research Marijuana Patch http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread4832.shtml
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