ANN ARBOR'S HASH BASH INITIATES THE SPRING OFFENSIVE

Thousands of merry 'hempsters' descended on Ann Arbor, Michigan April 3rd for the 33rd annual Hash Bash.  This year those in attendance were treated to great weather, good speakers, and great parties. 

Hash Bash has a long and colorful history beginning with the 1969 incarceration of Ann Arbor resident and activist John Sinclair.  Sinclair was sentenced to 10 years in prison for two marijuana cigarettes.  This injustice caused a huge public outcry. 

In December 1970, John Lennon, Yoko Ono, Alan Ginsberg and other popular political activists came to Chrysler Arena for a freedom rally in support of Sinclair.  Several members of this rally decided that on April 1 of the following year they would all converge on the University of Michigan campus for a national 'smoke-in.' This event is now known throughout the country as 'Hash Bash'.  In 1972, Ann Arbor voters approved a ballot initiative that made marijuana possession a mere civil infraction punishable by a $5 fine.  Since then the fine has been raised to $25.  Largely due to Ann Arbor's lenient pot laws, the Hash Bash has grown in size and scope over the years. 

Crowd size has varied from a mere 500 people in the frigid years to a whopping 10,000 when the weather cooperates. 

Apparently intimidated by the large crowds attracted to Hash Bash, the University of Michigan and the city of Ann Arbor began efforts to eliminate the Hash Bash in the 90's.  City and University bureaucrats delayed or refused to issue permits, arrested participants and generally did anything they could to disrupt the Hash Bash.  It is a true testament to the strength of the cannabis culture that the Hash Bash continues to flourish under these hostile conditions. 

This year the city of Ann Arbor once again refused to issue vendor permits and the University of Michigan would only issue a one hour amplified sound permit.  The day began with an 11am rally at the Ann Arbor federal building attended by several hundred hardcore activists. 

By noon, 3,000 people had gathered on the University of Michigan Diag for the main rally. 

The crowd was an eclectic mix of old hippies, young metal heads, college students, middle-class families, and professionals.  This year people were treated to solid speeches by 'The Emperor of Hemp' Jack Herer, Dan Solano of Police Officers for Drug Law Reform, John Sinclair and many other activists. 

Jack Herer pointed out the many uses of the hemp plant and encouraged everyone to tell their friends and families about this wonderful plant. 

Other speakers detailed the current campaigns to legalize medical marijuana by ballot initiative in Detroit and Ann Arbor and implored members of the audience to get involved. 

The rally was high energy and fast paced and before we knew it our 'hour of power' had elapsed. 

At exactly 1pm the UM police pulled the plug on the sound system and as planned the crowd walked in unison to the Monroe Street Block Party.  At Monroe Street the mood turned from serious to festive as literally hundreds of joints were sparked as participants stepped off of state property and onto city property. 

Because the University of Michigan is on state property the university police enforce state law and therefore arrest pot smokers.  Once you are off campus though there is no threat of arrest, just a $25 ticket.  Most people are aware of this strange 'line in the sand' and waited until after the Diag rally to begin the traditional Hash Bash smoke-out.  The Monroe Street Block Party was dominated by Dominick's, a two story cafe with a balcony in front and a patio in back.  Anyone in Dominick's that day must of thought that they'd died and gone to Amsterdam as the large building practically billowed the sweet smell of cannabis. 

The day concluded with a screening of the film 'Busted: A Citizen's Guide to Surviving Police Encounters' organized by Michigan NORML.  Busted is a very professional and highly informative video. 

Busted was produced by the Flex Your Rights Foundation, a non-profit educational organization whose mission is to train individuals to protect their civil liberties during police encounters.  The film conveyed valuable information that every pot smoker needs to know in order to stay out of jail and preserve their constitutional rights. 

After the film, two defense attorneys and a retired police officer conducted a question and answer session with the crowd that rounded out the presentation.  Closing out the Hash Bash with this empowering discussion seemed a fitting end to a long day of drug war activism.