Pubdate: Thu, 19 Jan 2012
Source: Daily Astorian, The (OR)
Copyright: 2012 The Daily Astorian
Contact:  http://www.dailyastorian.info/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1629
Author: Chelsea Gorrow

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE A HEMP FESTIVAL?

Nature's Choice's Nick Clark Seeks City Council's Support for a 
Medical Marijuana Fiesta; Legality Questioned

Marijuana tents, food carts, hemp products and more are proposed for 
the city of Astoria's first hemp festival, if Nick Clark of Nature's 
Choice has his way.

Clark appeared before the Astoria City Council Tuesday night, in an 
effort to gain the city's support of a medical marijuana fiesta, 
anticipated to take place in August.

City Manager Paul Benoit compared the festival with the brew fest as 
far as the city's involvement is concerned - overseeing traffic, 
safety, appropriate sites and possible access to city property - 
while members of the City Council, as well as Mayor Willis Van Dusen, 
appeared dumbfounded.

"How would you describe a hemp festival?" Van Dusen asked.

Clark explained it would be similar to HempFest in Seattle.

"There's vendors, medical marijuana, there's hemp, there's product," 
Clark said.

Hemp, Clark explained, is not smokable, but rather a fiber used to 
make products including clothing and paper.

"Marijuana is used for medicine, it's used for many different 
things," Clark said.

And the legality of the festival is still a cause for concern.

Clark told the council that signs would be posted for no smoking or 
drug use, except for in sponsored medical tents that may require a 
medical marijuana card to get inside.

"We're going to post it, saying that, but whether or not they do it, 
they're going to be subject to whatever the officers want to do," Clark said.

Clatsop County Sheriff Tom Bergin said he was stunned when he first 
heard of the Hemp Festival's formation because medical or not, it is 
still illegal to smoke marijuana in public and it's illegal under any 
circumstances to sell the drug.

"The law still is that its illegal to sell the stuff - no ifs, ands 
or buts," Bergin said. "People are deciding to push the envelope and 
if the city asks for our help, we will do what's right within the 
confines of law. But I think this is something that needs the city's 
attention on whether or not they will support something like this.

"If this is truly a medical issue, then why are they trying to expand 
this into the public view?" Bergin asked. "Most medical issues are 
private and to me this is wrong, but what do you say? Why would they 
want to exploit this? I just don't understand."

Astoria Deputy Police Chief Brad Johnston said Astoria Police will be 
watching carefully if the festival does take place.

"We find that there's a little bit of misinformation in the name 
itself," Johnston said. "Hemp is very different than marijuana and to 
advertise it as a hemp festival but actually have it be a celebration 
of hemp and marijuana is a little disingenuous."

Johnston said the police have spoken with Clark and have advised him 
that the department would aggressively prosecute any violations of 
the law, including distribution or possession and anyone openly 
smoking the drug.

Astoria Police will also be watching out for those driving under the 
influence of marijuana, which is just as dangerous and illegal as any 
other intoxicant.

"We have concerns about the use of medical marijuana as an intoxicant 
and it's something that if people are abusing it or using it in 
conjunction with operating a motor vehicle, it can be very dangerous 
and we will be patrolling for that just as much as any other DUII," 
Johnson said.

Johnston said Astoria Police will actively resist any festival that 
promotes illegal activity. If the festival can successfully be 
planned without promoting or supporting violations of the law, 
Johnston said they will work with Clark to make it a successful event.

Clark also invited the council to an event at 6 p.m. Feb. 20, 
"Cannabis and Cancer," at the Astoria Events Center.

"It will be a one-hour video and then we'll have a couple of cancer 
patients who have survived cancer ... that will be talking - who used 
cannabis to do it," Clark said. "And we want you guys to come down 
and watch it."

Van Dusen thanked Clark for coming. No action was taken.

Benoit said Wednesday that the city will be fair, but safe.

"I know very little about it," Benoit said. "I know they've had 
conversations with the police department and there are any number of 
festivals and street fairs throughout the city, so as long as it's 
legal and well-planned, we'll do what we need to do as a city to 
support it. We'll treat it the same as any other festival."

Benoit said that like other events held in town, the city is not 
involved in the planning or logistics of events, but rather reviews 
the plans to make sure everything has been thought through, including 
adequate security, traffic safety.

It will also be reviewed to ensure it is not a public nuisance or a hazard.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom