Pubdate: Fri, 15 Mar 2013
Source: Michigan Times, The (MI Edu)
Copyright: 2013 The Michigan Times
Contact: http://www.themichigantimes.com/home/lettertotheeditor/
Website: http://www.themichigantimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4909
Authors: Alex Hinson and Christopher Essenmacher

'HASH BASH' EVENT HELD IN ANN ARBOR

"Pot's harmful? Poison ivy should be illegal," University of Michigan
graduate and High Times Editorial Director Dan Skye joked with the
3,000 people that collected in the Ann Arbor Diag for the 40-second
Hash Bash on April 6.

"Some of the hardest working cannabis activists are based in Michigan;
their task is made so much harder by politicians who have tried to
dismantle the state's medical marijuana program. But there's no
stopping this steamroller. Legalization in America-everywhere-is
coming soon. That's why Michiganders know they'll eventually win this
battle," Skye said.

Hash Bash originated as a protest of the arrest of Michigan native
John Sinclair. Sentenced to ten years in prison for possessing two
joints, Michigan residents joined together to protest what they saw as
a social injustice. Days after the first bash, John Sinclair was
released. Hash Bash is famous for John Lennon joining the protest for
the release of Sinclair, with his song titled "John Sinclair." Lennon
himself preformed at the first bash with Yoko Ono at his side.

This year, politicians, city council, lawyers, cancer survivors,
students, mothers, fathers, medical patients and many others gathered
peacefully on the first Saturday in April. Ann Arbor has some of the
most lenient marijuana laws in the country; simple possession is a
civil infraction and the punishment is limited to a small fine.

Speakers from all around the world came to educate and support the
decriminalization of marijuana. NORML founder Keith Stroup and
cannabis advocate Ed Rosenthal were some of the biggest names to speak.
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MAP posted-by: Matt