Oregon NORML Represents at
the 16th Annual Seattle Hempfest

Every year on the third weekend of August, Washington NORML pulls off the greatest hemp and cannabis "protestival" in the world - the Seattle Hempfest. Founded in 1991, the festival now draws up to 200,000 people, hundreds of vendors and non-profits, and dozens of great bands.

The weekend is dedicated to peaceful protest against the cruel prohibition of nature's most helpful plant: cannabis. The leaders and experts in drug policy reform, medical marijuana, industrial hemp, consumer cannabis, and prohibition politics from around the world gather to network and educate. The thousands of attendees come to purchase great glass, hemp clothing, art, and excellent food, while listening to music of all genres and speakers on various cannabis topics.

The entire festival takes place at the Myrtle Edwards Park on the waterfront in Downtown Seattle, so it makes a strong statement to the citizens and tourists who might otherwise not consider cannabis issues. The event is family-friendly, well-patroled and safe. It is all-volunteer and exists solely through donations, and the park is cleaner after Hempfest than it is before Hempfest.

Oregon NORML represents at Hempfest and in 2007 we were able to help sponsor the event and man our own booth. Madeline and Russ spoke onstage to huge crowds - we'll have the footage on our Labor Day Weekend episode of Oregon NORML Presents.

Our booth was at the South Entrance. We played the Busted video as people entered and exited the park, gathering crowds of up to 20 people learning how best to deal with common police encounters.

National NORML Founder Keith Stroup visited the booth and when he saw the dozens of young people learning about the Bill of Rights, he remarked, "This is a very important thing you're doing here." Hempfest organizers were also very pleased that our message was reaching Hempfest attendees just as they were leaving the event.

Pictures are now online in our Gallery. Well, not ALL the pictures. Let's just say that the Oregon NORML Qbit™ was a big "hit" among all the VIPs in attendance...