Pubdate: Sat, 07 Dec 2013
Source: Seattle Times (WA)
Copyright: 2013 The Seattle Times Company
Contact:  http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/409
Author: Bob Young
Page: 1

COOL NIGHT TO FIRE UP A FATTY

Hundreds Celebrate Legal Pot Anniversary at Seattle Center Party

To some, smoking pot freely at Seattle Center was liberating, a step 
out of the shadows. For others, it was a chance to partake in a 
little history - and at least one joint the size of a burrito.

The one-year anniversary celebration of legal weed in Washington drew 
almost 800 tokers by 7 p.m., despite the frigid cold. Most of them 
crowded into a tent in the fenced-off party area, which quickly 
filled with sweet smoke, making it what's called in pot parlance a "hot box."

Alison Holcomb, chief author of the legal pot law, said Hempfest 
volunteer Nathan Messer asked her, "Is this the largest legal hot box 
in the world?"

Why not celebrate in the warmth of home with friends?

"That's like posing the same question to someone in a beer garden," 
said Duncan Rolfson, 21, of Tacoma. "It's more fun to enjoy something 
social in public."

"This is kind of history in the making," said Lauren Donat, 21, of 
Seattle. "And I want to be able to say to my kids, 'Isn't it funny we 
had to actually fight to do it.'"

"We all have jobs, we're normal people, we're consenting adults," 
said Kyra Bottoms, 23, a Seattle barista.

The crowd kept mostly out of sight in the tent, behind a screened 
fence and another security fence that created a smoking "moat" 
required by the city.

Ben Davis brought his 20-month-old son Kieran to the Seattle Center 
Armory to see its elaborate holiday train set. Davis said he wasn't 
at all bothered by the nearby party, which he wasn't even aware of 
until asked about it by a reporter. "I think it's a pretty apt place 
to have a pot party in a state that just legalized it."

Aaron Mitchell, 34, of Honolulu, Hawaii, was one of the first lined 
up outside at 3 p.m., waiting for the gates to open. Mitchell said he 
was in Seattle visiting a sick uncle and saw a news report about the 
party. Mitchell was another partygoer who wanted to be part of 
history. "I want to tell my grandchildren I was part of this 
revolution that took the wave across America for the betterment of mankind."

The party suggested that some might even be moving to Washington 
state for legal weed.

Like Mitchell, Keith Cannon, 28, was one of the first to arrive at 
the party. Cannon said he moved to Seattle from Tennessee four months 
ago, in part for the pot camaraderie. "It's such a universal 
language, and being here unites us," he said, waving at the waiting 
line, "under one banner."

The party started with one glitch. A short stretch of fence above the 
pavilion, near the monorail station, had not been screened. And until 
party organizer Ben Livingston got the fence company back to fix the 
problem, outdoor smoking was delayed.

But by 4:20, which is pot code for time to be getting buzzed, 
partygoers had packed the tent and their pipe bowls, and the party 
was in full swing. Musician Jim Page played inside a nearby building, 
and music was piped into the hazy tent, which was warmed by a few 
space heaters.

Visiting media included the BBC and CBC Radio-Canada.

On hand to help pot activist Livingston with the bash were his 
brother, sister and father.

Surveying the scene at 5 p.m., Livingston smiled and said, "We needed 
a bigger tent."

The adults-only party was free and booked through 11 p.m. By 6:40 
p.m., 758 people had gone through security and joined the party; 554 
had checked out by that time, according to security.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom