Moscow Hempfest: Fun as Usual

I always look forward to Moscow Hempfest each April. For one, I live in Moscow and it's one of the hippest events we have in this little town. And for the last two years I have designed the t-shirts, flyers, posters, and other promotional graphics for the event, so when Hempfest day is here that means my work is done! Once again we just about sold out of shirts this year, so that's a good sign. The theme was "Hemp Can Save the World" and we handed out information about the many uses of hemp (printed on hemp paper of course), sold the Hempfest shirts made of hemp fiber, and even had a couple of medical cannabis patients speaking on stage and helping at the event. The main goal of Moscow Hempfest is to raise awareness of this amazing plant and bring about change: namely, making cannabis legal again and undoing decades of government suppression and misinformation about the plant.

This year was the 11th Annual Moscow Hempfest and it was held on April 21st, 2007. We had a wonderful turn out despite a bit of rain and cool weather, and some great musicians came from all over (including many from the local area) to entertain merry hempsters all day. There was good food (although not enough vegetarian food in my opinion), lots of vendors with a variety of goods, non-profit groups offering information, and of course, many wonderful people in attendance. At the end of the day, there was a drum circle around a fire, the perfect ending to a wonderful event!

Hempfests seem to be sprouting up all over, taking after Seattle's monumental event held every August. I am rather surprised and quite impressed that Moscow (a small town of just over 20,000 people in very conservative Idaho) has had a Hempfest for 11 years. Spokane, Washington began holding a hempfest just recently, and Portland started one in the past few years as well. Each event has its own flavor, but all contribute to the hemp legalization movement and educate people about the wonders of this wonderful plant.

To everyone who helped make this year's Moscow Hempfest a success, even if that just meant attending it, thank you! As Moscow Hempfest expands and we face new challenges, we hope that Hempfest continues to grow strong, enlighten people, and inspire change. Having a great time is, of course, always part of Hempfest as well. How could you not be happy after having a Ruthie Roll for breakfast? :)