The year is 2020, and Seattle, Washington is experiencing a construction boom. America has mostly rebounded from the economic downturn of the first decade of the century. Old, failed policies of prohibition did more damage than good to society, while ignoring potential renewable resources and undermining respect for the rule of law. Eleven years after the decriminalization, taxation, and regulation of cannabis and hemp, America has experienced nearly a decade of new found freedoms.

In 2007, in the United States, there were 872,720 arrests for marijuana, but only 597,447 arrests for violent crime. In 2020, marijuana arrests practically do not exist. The resources that used to go to enforcing marijuana laws have been redirected at abuse education, treatment, and harm reduction; there has been a positive impact on hard drug addiction and abuse as well.

Civil liberty is not the only benefit that the repeal of cannabis prohibition has added to American life. Since the federal government changed marijuana's schedule from a Schedule 1 controlled substance, and federally taxed cannabis, billions of tax dollars have been raised. Industry has flourished under the new relaxed laws that allow the production of industrial hemp strains of cannabis used for food, fuel, fiber, and the intoxicating strains used for medical applications and recreational use by adults.

Hemp as Biomass Fuel
Hemp as a biomass fuel producer requires the least specialized growing and processing procedures of all hemp products. The hydrocarbons in hemp are being processed into a wide range of biomass energy sources, from fuel pellets to liquid fuels and gas. Development of bio-fuels has significantly reduced our consumption of fossil fuel and nuclear power. Eco-friendly hemp has replaced most toxic petrochemical products. Businesses now use hemp in manufacturing biodegradable plastic products: plant-based cellophane, recycled plastic mixed with hemp for injection-molded products, and resins made from the oil. Most new cars on the road today have hemp composite parts for door panels, dashboards, and luggage racks.

Hemp seed is nutritious and contains more essential fatty acids than any other source, is second only to soybeans in complete protein (but is more digestible by humans), is high in B-vitamins, and is a good source of dietary fiber. Hemp seed is not psychoactive and cannot be used as a drug, and it is slowly becoming a staple in the American diet. The hemp foods industry has exploded since the laws were changed, and hemp foods are sold in most supermarkets.

Hemp as Paper Pulp
Hemp produces more pulp per acre than timber on a sustainable basis, and it is now used for every quality of paper, significantly reducing the use of old growth or second growth timber. Hemp paper manufacturing has reduced waste water contamination. Hemp's low lignin content has reduced the need for acids used in pulping, and the creamy color that lends itself to environmentally friendly bleaching instead of harsh chlorine compounds have been easier on the environment. Less bleaching has resulted in less dioxin and fewer chemical by-products. Hemp fibers are longer, stronger, more absorbent and more mildew-resistant than cotton. The new fabrics made of at least one-half hemp block the sun's UV rays more effectively than older fabrics.

Since hemp can be grown organically, and since only 8 out of about 100 known pests cause problems, hemp is now grown without herbicides, fungicides, or pesticides. Since hemp is a natural weed suppressor (due to fast growth of the canopy), it is being used more and more for everything from preventing soil erosion to being used as a rotation crop. Hemp fiberboard is found to be twice as strong as wood-based fiberboard. No additional resins are required due to naturally occurring lignins. Hemp plastics can be more impact-resistant than steel, and hemp fiber insulation is being used often in construction. Construction products such as medium density fiber board, oriented strand board and even beams, studs and posts are now made out of hemp. Because of hemp's long fibers, the products are stronger and/or lighter than those made from wood.

Hemp as Medicine
The area that has generated the most capital has been the medical marijuana industry. Since the repeal of prohibition, rigorous clinical medical trials have revealed that cannabis is a therapeutic, cost-effective, and relatively benign natural treatment for the symptoms of a variety of different medical conditions. Since pot can effectively ease many people's chronic pain without putting strain on the body's organs and with no fear of overdose, many opiate- based narcotics have been replaced by cannabis. The result has been a decrease in prescription drug abuse and deaths, and cannabis has revolutionized pain management in America. Because cannabis is safe and non-toxic, patients can self-titrate, taking only the dosage needed to manage their conditions. Other drugs can be used in conjunction with cannabis without fear of drug interaction because cannabis is physically harmless.

Boost to the Economy
The combined tax revenue, jobs created, and commerce generated by all of the industries utilizing cannabis since the repeal of prohibition have been largely credited for playing a role in the long-term recovery of the U.S. economy. The extra revenue that has been both saved and generated by the repeal of cannabis prohibition has been spent on reducing hard drug abuse, which in return has reduced gun demand and crime.

Worldwide Celebration: Seattle Hempfest 2020
Celebrating the success of the cannabis reform movement, America's premier cannabis event, the Seattle Hempfest, issued this press release today:
"WA - Seattle- Eleven years after the decriminalization, taxation and regulation of cannabis and hemp, the world's largest pot rally is celebrating over a decade of new found freedoms. Hempfest recently added a third contained smoking grotto within the event, to compliment the medical marijuana tents that have stood for several years. The event is also now entirely powered by and made of Hemp. From the food to the stage banners, from the generators to the staff shirts, the world's most useful plant is on display everywhere you look at Seattle Hempfest."

The 2020 Seattle Hempfest features a wide display of examples of how cannabis/hemp have revitalized America's economy, helped to alleviate world hunger, assisted in combating soil erosion, helped aid America's farmers, provided biomass fuel, and replaced many opiate-based pain narcotics. Cannabis/hemp is routinely used as fuel, and is found in agriculture, construction, medicine, nutrition, mercantile, manufacturing, cosmetics, and environmental restoration and preservation. This versatile fiber has penetrated most commercial industries in one way or another and has touched the lives of millions of Americans. Hemp has even assisted in fighting climate change.
Originally vociferous opponents of decriminalization, law enforcement agencies are lauding the new policies for freeing up tens of thousands of jail and prison cells to make room for serious, violent offenders, as well as for saving millions of crime fighting dollars that have gone towards fighting anti-terrorism, domestic abuse, property crimes and white collar crime. The federal government has been able to funnel millions of dollars formally used for locking up pot smokers towards marijuana and drug abuse prevention education and treatment centers for those addicted to harder substances.

This year Seattle Hempfest will be offering a blast from the past with music exclusively from 2009, celebrating the first year of measurable change in America's war on all things cannabis. 2009 is being honored because it was the beginning of the financial depression that is largely credited for setting the stage for legalization. The American economy required the boost that both the legalization of industrial hemp and the taxation and regulation of marijuana ultimately produced to get the American economy back on track. The United Nations declared 2009 the "International Year of Fiber" and promoted hemp fiber as a desirable alternative to synthetics.

Hempfest 2009 squeaked through the year of America's first recession of the new millennium, after generous contributions from attendees made the difference. Hempfest is asking that this year's attendees contribute liberally this year, as the cost of production is over $1,000,000.

Mayor Krist Novoselic will be making the keynote speech at this year's Hempfest. Mayor Novoselic's city-run medical marijuana dispensary has already saved the city money that used to be spent on cost-prohibitive, addictive, and potentially toxic pharmaceutical drugs, and is being looked at by the mayors of other municipalities as a pilot project for their cities.