Sacramento Hempfest 2011
Sprawling along the bank of the Sacramento River, at the Rio Ramaza Marina Park, organizers held Sacramento's version of Hempfest, attracting several thousand visitors and raising medical marijuana awareness in the area.
As is all too common with similar events, the line to enter was both long and slow. Card-carrying medical marijuana patients were allowed to bring in a personal (eighth of an ounce or less) amount of Cannabis for use in the medical marijuana section.
Parking was odd, and generally included a $5 round trip shuttle fee. The chain link fence portion at the entrance that funneled the crowd into pat downs and detecting wands was a reminder of how complacent Americans have gotten about being touched and searched by strangers. I'm as guilty as any - I waited my turn and showed my papers like everybody else. At least as far as such things go, it wasn't particularly invasive or draconian.
Assorted vendors were hawking a variety of wares ranging from marital aids to handcrafted stash boxes. There were glassblowers on hand giving lessons, medical marijuana recommendations, dispensary tents and hydroponic booths to visit. Artisan stalls sold trinkets and gifts of art and function. The food available for sale was a dizzying assortment of each of the four major munchie food groups: chewy, crunchy, sweet and salty. The members of law enforcement on hand appeared to be genuinely more interested in keeping everyone safe than in hassling people. They were friendly, smiling and even enjoyed a few ears of fresh roasted corn with attending citizens.
As public marijuana use becomes more frequent, it is important to maintain a courteous relationship with the members of society who do not smoke, including those who may not approve. Something I appreciated as a visitor was that the large outdoor medical marijuana smoking section was popular, but not elbow-to-elbow crowded.
Miss Medical Marijuana 2011 Kati Jane attended, and was very gracious when I asked for a photo. I had the honor of speaking at the event on both Saturday and Sunday. I talked about basic marijuana growing and held a Cannabis gardening Q & A with the audience. The theme of the festival might have been marijuana, but it was the music that I thought gave the best value for the admission price. A variety of musical acts took to the main stage and entertained the crowd. Several musical groups, such as Ms. Lacy, Fiva in the Funk House and Real One, rapped and rocked the audience.
The price of a ticked bought hours of solid musical entertainment. Some of the acts had more heart than skill, but I personally prefer that to acts with more skill than heart. The variety of music played meant that there was appeal for more than one taste in music. It was a fun festival to attend and I hope they continue for many years to come. California's capital is far behind places like L.A. and Oakland when it comes to medical marijuana acceptance; it is nice to see progress being made.
Peace, love and puka shells,
Grubbycup
S
Soft Secrets
