The Fifth Annual Hempfest occurred at its origin in Jacksonville Beach, Florida at the Seawalk Pavilion on April 20, 2002. The all day "fest" dubbed a "Free Speech Rally" this year attracted more visitors than ever before to the brand new and delightful bandshell and park on the ocean. Visitors from 7 to 71 took in the music, information and opinion relating to the reform of all laws associated with cannabis. This year's event encouraged a more local focus on changing the climate for cannabis users in the Northeast Florida region.

Previous events have been bogged down in federal court litigation over such things as the content of banners, paying for police, outrageous insurance requirements, and stifling fees. Ordinances in both the cities of Jacksonville Beach and later in Jacksonville have been found unconstitutional by US District Judge Harvey Schlesinger. No lawsuits were filed as in 3 of the previous 4 events. The Hempfest was not without City interference and meddling.

Approximately two weeks before April 20, Hempfest Directors Scott Bledsoe and Michael Johnson met with city officials to discuss the plan of the event. At this time the city changed the requirements previously agreed upon by Hempfest and City Special Events Coordinator Marilyn Matejcek. The city asked for $400 rental (up from $200) of the park, plus an additional $400 deposit, plus $1,000,000 liability insurance policy, plus porta johns (public restrooms in easy walking distance), plus other things. The city had agreed to not deposit the $400 check for the additional deposit but did anyway. Payment on that check was promptly stopped. The festival ended up having to purchase the insurance for $400 and paying the $400 rental to the city.

The park was packed from 2PM until 9PM attendance estimates ranged from 1,000 (from the Florida Times Union @1PM) to 6,000 by the local Fox affiliate WAWS 30. Eleven Local bands entertained the visitors including the Steve Walker Band which was recently featured on Cinemax's Mule Skinner Blues show (See Here). Music however was not the only draw. Doug Klippel of the Duval Libertarian Party, Kevin Aplin of Florida CAN, and Heath Wintz of Students for Sensibile Drug Policy gave some of the many interesting speeches during the event.

The Florida Times Union reported eighteen arrests at the festival, at least 10 for possession of marijuana (see: Here & Here) None of the hempfest organizers witnessed a single arrest. There were rumors during the festival that one man had been arrested on the beach by two undercover police dressed in bikinis, however no one seems to have any clue of where the others were arrested. Hempfest organizers are attempting to gain access to arrest records to verify locations and times of arrests. (also see the bottom the page: Here)

All in all however, the festival was a huge success and reached more citizens than ever before, new faces amongst some old friends made for a great event. Hempfest organizers got their jab in to the media however with a letter to the editor printed in Times Union's Shorelines Section .

So what is next in Jacksonville?
Hempfest organizers are forming JAXCAN a Jacksonville Based chapter of Cannabis Action Network that will serve the counties of Duval, Clay, Nassau, and St Johns in Northeast Florida. This in an effort to fundraise locally and involve citizens in the more immediate concerns of the area.

A Local Ballot initiative? JAXCAN will take up the possibility of a local ballot initiative to eliminate the fear of arrest for possession of small amounts of cannabis. Currently the police have discretion to arrest or not arrest those people. It takes a mere 20,000 signatures to get a county ordinance on the ballot.

The next JAXCAN meeting is open to the public and will happen on the first Wednesday in June. E-mail hempsterdude@aol.com for more info regarding this meeting.

Peace to all
Scott Bledsoe