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Seattle Hempfest History: 1991 - Present
Seattle Hempfest started out as a humble little gathering of stoners and has grown into one of the most sophisticated marijuana/hemp policy reform events
in America. Originally billed in 1991 as the "Washington Hemp Expo", the first Hempfest started in Volunteer Park where it would stay for three years.
With a meager attendance of only 500 people, and a staff that consisted of 20 members of the Seattle Peace Heathens Community Action Group, there was no
way to know that we were sowing the seeds that would someday make Pacific Northwest history.
The fallout from Jack Herer's groundbreaking publication, "The Emperor Wears No Clothes", was just beginning to permeate the atmosphere of sinsemilla society and the time was right for a new wave of marijuana activists to emerge on the political scene.
Hempfest 1993 brought 5,000 supporters, featured a "Bong-A-Thon", and an even stickier and more beautiful example of nature's magical foliage. As the event got better, so did the music, and '93 featured great Seattle bands such as Stickerbush and Bam Bam (both defunct) and established the hard drivin' rockin' reggae act, Herbivores, as Seattle Hempfest's House Band. Hempfest was growing at the same rate as the increasing public awareness of the half-truths, lies, and misinformation generated by our government for over 60 years, and it became apparent that we would have to find a larger site...Volunteer Park had been maxed out.
Featuring the legendary Seattle band, 7 Year Bitch, and the sensational act of El Steiner, '94 brought out 15,000 people and blew the lid off of Seattle while creating a snarled traffic cluster for miles around. This was the last year that Hempfest was able to exist without charging fees for vending and forming a formal, city-approved security force. The mosh pit that ensued for 7 Year Bitch's performance put a serious scare on the organizers, as bodies surfed the crowd and the brave and daring dove from the stage like doobies being thrown to the crowd. As the event grew exponentially in size and notoriety, the cost of production and promotion grew as well. The need for sound equipment, staging, scaffolding, radios, and advertising required the introduction of musical benefits and merchandising to offset the monetary demands of our growing phenomenon. Famed Seattle clubs such as The Ditto, Crocodile Cafe, Rckndy, The Off Ramp, and The OK Hotel all opened their doors to help raise green energy for the cause. To date, literally hundreds of Northwest bands have contributed by playing gigs for free, and without any promise of playing the "big kahuna".
The sheer girth and magnitude of Hempfest '94 brought the scrutiny of city officials and alarmed residents (traffic was clogged for miles) who saw a sleeping giant just starting to wake from a haze of political apathy and indifference. Up to that point not a single uniformed officer had ever stepped foot into Hempfest. That would change. A growing concern from police, parks department, and neighborhood groups would be reflected in a series of negotiations that would span many months and involve as many subcommittee meetings to determine our ability to meet the new demands of the Special Events Permit that was now required of us. The negotiations culminated with assistance from the ACLU, and required a $1,000,000 insurance policy, the addition of hired licensed, bonded and insured security, emergency evacuation plans, an on-site ambulance and paid EMTs. Meetings with concerned community groups soon followed, establishing Hempfest as a legitimate political rally, not merely a "pot party in the park", as had been previously claimed by our critics.
Blessed with searing hot weather for years, '97 produced a staggering contrast by delivering a torrential downpour of epic proportion, closing down the mainstage several times, but creating an atmosphere of solidarity reminiscent of the tribal consciousness and determination of Woodstock. The defiant and courageous spirit of '97 is symbolized by the presence that year of the late medical marijuana movement hero, Ralph Seeley. Despite the agonizing pain of terminal bone cancer Ralph made an articulate address to the rain-drenched hempsters looking on. Only 25,000 showed up for Hempfest '97, but those who attended were grateful. We started earlier in '98 and later expanded the inner core group to around 30 people. The size and complexity of the event, as well as the cost of production, continued to build. The most powerful thing that had happened the previous year was the introduction to Hempfest of the amazing Nora Callahan and her inmate advocacy organization, The November Coalition. By putting names, faces, and stories behind the prisoners of the War On Drugs, the November Coalition proved to be one of the fastest-growing organizations of its kind. THe November Coalition has since become the most formidable foe of America's criminal war on its own people. In 1998 we realized to fight for medical, industrial, or personal marijuana use for adults means to fight the greater War On Drugs, as it is this policy that is preventing all aspects of the cannabis plant from being utilized in this nation. It was Nora Callahan who helped us broaden our speaker range to include not only the hidden victims of the Drug War, the families of the prisoners of war, but to introduce of an audio CD featuring the actual voices and words of the prisoners themselves, as well as the suit-and-tie national-level drug policy warriors, those who have been fighting in the trenches alongside us for years. With the passing of our hero Ralph Seeley in January of 1998, we dedicated our second stage as the Ralph Seeley Memorial Stage. We were honored to have Ralph's wife Judith speak from that stage (Judith passed away shortly after Hempfest '98). The second stage is now known as the "Seeley Stage" in honor of Ralph and Judith. Hempfest '99 was the last of the century, and tens of thousands of supporters came out to show the world that the Pacific Northwest is a bastion of political awareness and activism. The same year that WTO paralyzed Seattle with property damage and violence, Hempfest kept its reputation as a civil, orderly demonstration against the Drug War as thousands poured into the long park for music, speakers, and a dose of freedom. The year 2000 brought more attendees than eve to listen to speakers and tunes and catch some Seattle sunshine. The year also saw the introduction of our terrific compilation CD, "Hemplennium". Hemplennium features cuts from various Northwest musicians, including Merl Saunders with Jerry Garcia, John Trudell, Herbivores, High Times Cannabis Cup Band, and Phat Sidy Smokehouse. 2001 saw the introduction of another day to the Hempfest formula. The first-ever two-day Hempfest went off with nary a hitch, breaking records over the course of the two days. The theme was No Prison for Pot, and an amazing array of bands and speakers all answered the call for an end to the Drug War and its injustices. The highlight of the event was Woody Harrelson taking the stage at 4:20 to address the screaming crowd. We alo had several digital cameras and a hydraulic boom on-site to record the event for our upcoming documentary. In 2002 we threw out all the stops and declared Pot Pride! Seattle City Council member Nick Licata received a Green Ribbon Award for excellence in cannabis activism, and we paid lasting respects to our beloved brother Robert Lunday. Robert passed away suddenly from natural causes at 34 years old. He founded Hemp.net, a Seattle-based internet service provider. Robert's philanthropic and drug policy reform efforts were monumental and he will be forever missed. 2002 also saw city initiative I-75 qualify for the next year's ballot. 2003 hosted a victory for the Pacific Northwest pot movement as I-75 won by a considerable margin. The Seattle city law makes simple possession the lowest enforcement priority, directing local resources toward violent and property crimes. 2003 also saw an amazing speaker lineup, including actor/activist Woody Harrelson, famous travel writer and TV host Rick Steves, and former Dallas Cowboys center Mark Stepnoski. Second Coming and Joules Graves rocked the mainstage. Vicci Martinez played a set that almost caught the mainstage on fire in 2004, and movement heroes Ed Rosenthal, Eddy Lepp, Kyle Kushman and Dana Larsen were among the line-up of guest speakers. 2005 was the year that almost everybody came to speak at Hempfest. Movement luminaries such as Rob Kampia from the Marijuana Policy Project, Jack Cole of Law Enforcement Against Prohibition, Stephen Gaskin from the Farm Commune and medical patient Angel Raich came to address Hempfest's massive crowd. This was also the last year with the old entrance of Myrtle Edwards Park, as construction continues on the Seattle Art Museum's Olympic Scultpure Park. We have great plans for 2006, but you'll just have to wait for it all to happen. Join us, it is fun making "hempstory" while working for ideals, principles and values you believe in. Hempfest for Victory! Vivian McPeak |
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In 1992 organizers placed two large budding sinsemilla plants on the small amphitheater in Volunteer Park. Hempfest's reputation as a politically
flamboyant but professionally astute public assembly had begun to develop. We were amazed that 2,000 hempsters showed up for the second annual event.
Seattle's grunge scene was starting to zenith and there was no shortage of bands chomping at the bit to support the cause. We were honored to have Herer
himself as our keynote speaker that special year.
By 1994 a strong tribe of dedicated volunteers had been established, and it became clear that a very special and unique spirit of community had developed
around this group, a spirit that has only grown stronger with the passage of time. The move had been made to beautiful Gasworks Park, a former petroleum
production site, huge towers and stacks still standing - ironic for an event promoting alternative sources of energy.
'94 was also the year we picked up the most kick-ass graphics design team that any Hempfest has ever had. Jamie Sheehan, Hempfest's art director, and
world-renowned music art poster luminary Art Chantry, collaborated on our famous cigarette pack poster, produced both on hemp paper as well as 100% hemp
burlap. This poster was the first of many designed by this team to win national awards for art design and creativity.
Despite the criticism, none of us were ready for the success of Seattle Hempfest '95. The event was now located at Myrtle Edwards Park, downtown on
Seattle's beautiful waterfront. Police reports said 25,000 people attended, but local news media proclaimed that the '95 event drew an estimated 50,000
people. They were greeted by speakers like Jack Herer, Chris Conrad, Dennis Peron, Bill Conde, and Elvy Musika.
Hempfest gained international acclaim and proved that hemp/marijuana reform
supporters could gather by the tens of thousands peacefully and responsible. Elated from a successful event, but exhausted from the high-stress diet of
marijuana activism, organizers took 1996 off to produce the first-ever statewide