MADISON: What began as an anti-war protest 40 years ago that soon morphed into a cannabis legalization rally will celebrate the beginning of its fifth decade October 1-3, 2010. The Great Midwest Marijuana Harvest Festival has long been a fall ritual in Madison as much as University of Wisconsin Badger Football or Halloween on State St.
Sadly, this year will not be the anticipated celebration of the passage of the Jacki Rickert Medical Marijuana Act but yet another call to action as the fight for reefer sanity rages on both in Wisconsin, and much more successfully in other states.
The 40th Annual Harvest Fest will follow the format used in recent years, a Friday evening benefit to kick off the weekend, live music, speakers, informational tabling and vending on Saturday afternoon at the Library Mall at the end of State St., and Sunday’s traditional Parade to the Capitol for a concert and rally.
HF35 Dr. Mikuriya, Keith Stroup, Ben Masel.
According to the brand new Harvest Fest website, the 2010 festival will feature a not only some familiar faces but also some new ones. Festival organizer Ben Masel, who has been the driving force behind Harvest Fest for the last 38 years, will be speaking along with Wisconsin colleagues Gary Storck and Jacki Rickert. Their fellow “Medical Marijuana Commando Squad” member, Jim Miller from New Jersey, is also returning.
NORML Founder Keith Stroup, who last spoke at Harvest Fest 35 in 2005, is also on the bill again this year. And a retired judge from California, Judge Jim Gray, will be making his first Harvest Fest appearance this year. Also returning is Mason Tvert, a Colorado activist and the Founder of Safer Alternative For Enjoyable Recreation (SAFER), who spoke at HF 39 last year.
Judge Jim Gray
The festival will also feature a great array of homegrown Wisconsin music across a range of genres. Returning favorites include Nama Rupa, Baghdad Scuba Review, Ifdakar and Groovulous Glove with more to be announced. Bands appearing for the first time include Phish tribute band Phun and Milwaukee reggae band, Recalcitrant.
The Friday night event, the 8th Annual IMMLY/Madison NORML Medical Cannabis Benefit, happens at the Frequency at 121 W. Main, a block from the Capitol. Music will be provided by Brok’n Arrow and the Shanahan-Riddiough Band, and as with the prior seven events, will feature the traditional sing along version of the Wisconsin medical cannabis anthem, “Legal Medicine Blues”.
The fact this is the 40th speaks to not only Madison's place as a cannabis-friendly town as well as the fact that this is also a protest against marijuana prohibition, a protest that will be entering its FIFTH decade this October when number 40 convenes.
Thousands and thousands and thousands of people have attended Harvest Fest over these years. Almost everyone who has lived in Madison has a HF story, even if just from crossing paths with the parade or passing through on the way to a Badger football game. The magic starts again Oct. 1.
Comments
Yes, I'll be at the Harvest Fest this year but I'm still very torn about attending. I'm sad and angry that the State(of Wisconsin)still won't do the correct thing for myself and so many others and LEGALIZE IT!
On the other hand I'm so happy to be going again because of how much fun is to be had! I guess I'll just wander on down there and let my Freak Flag Fly.
I hope to see as many of you as I can there.
If it were legal would you have a freak flag to fly?
I'm extremely disappointed in the Great State of Wisconsin for not straight out beating California to the headlines and legalizing marijuana. I however, am against the selling of marijuana. Marijuana should not be a commodity advertised for sale. Marijuana should be legal to smoke, legal to grow, and illegal to sell. The blatant selling and profiteering of this easily grown plant would make me sicker than a terminally ill marijuana user wishing to make their own decisions on what they put into their bodies before they die. It's normal to want to make those decisions for yourself based on what you enjoy and don't enjoy. People should not hide behind the veil of medical marijuana to get their foot in the door to legalization. Don't be a coward. I'll see you all at the Harvest Festival.
Yes, I have a bone to pick with California and Mexico and Canada. Why does our state suffer the economic consequences of prohibition? Why does a quarter of a billion dollars get sucked out of our local state economy and sent to outside producers of marijuana on an ANNUAL BASIS? It is a travesty that our legislator do not see the pressing need to retain these hard earned dollars with-in our STATE borders. Face the facts 37% of 20-40 year olds smoke marijuana and purchase on a regular basis from outsiders who are more than happy to supply our appetite for marijuana. Take a look around at your local head shop / adult video store and look at the clientel purchasing marijuana pipes. It spans the ages, there are grandma's in there purchasing pipes. The underground market is alive and well and unstoppable to law enforcement. Enact laws now that will stem the tide or continue to enrich the lives of people who do not care about our laws. VOTE NOW AND CHANGE OUR ANTIQUATED LAWS.
I'm sooo excited this is my 1st year attending and I really hope I have a blast!
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