YPSILANTI, Mich. - The 39th annual Hash Bash, which was held in downtown Ann Arbor on April 3, was a bit of a letdown to seasoned veterans of the event as cold weather and rain discouraged many from attending or staying long.
The clear weather in the morning brought close to 5,000 hash bash supporters to the diag to hear several speakers from advocacy groups talk about the challenges still facing marijuana legal reform as well as the benefits that have come from the legalization of medical marijuana.
Among the speakers was John Sinclair whose 1971 arrest for possession of two joints inspired the first Hash Bash as well as Matthew Abel, a Michigan attorney who has built his career advocating for marijuana consumers. When Abel asked the crowd why they were there someone yelled, "To smoke weed" leading Abel to lament that because the rally was on University property, lighting a joint could be a ticket to jail.
As the morning rally drew to a close, the rain started and several people took shelter in Nickels arcade or in nearby businesses. Keddy Gonzales, 19, of Ann Arbor said that he has been coming to Hash Bash since he was 13 and it "always rains at Hash Bash". Ethan Lockwood, 19, of Ann Arbor offered his own explanation of the inclement weather saying that the reason it was raining was to, "water the weed plants man."
When the rain stopped there was a mass migration to Monroe Street as people went to listen to live music or sneak a joint on the lawn. The pungent aroma of marijuana smoke filled the air on the approach to the Monroe street fair. Several people were smoking pipes, blunts and joints right out in the open while they socialized.
People from advocacy organizations and growers shops passed out flyers and were quick to talk about the benefits of becoming a licensed caregiver. One flyer described it as a "Legal, Safe, and Easy" way to supplement your income.
Most of the attendees of the Monroe Street Fair seemed less concerned about medical marijuana than recreational marijuana. Ryan Hutchinson, 24, of Ypsilanti said "I don't have cancer, I just want to get high." a sentiment that was echoed by Tim Distorek, 20, of Redford "I like smoking pot and I think it should be legal."
Two women who said they were from "downriver" said that they had waited to come out until the afternoon so they wouldn't be outside in the rain. Jay Roberts, 24 of Ann Arbor said the rain doesn't discourage him because he is a "die-hard" supporter of the Hash Bash. Roberts said that since receiving a year of probation for a possession of marijuana charge in 2007 he has taken Hash Bash more seriously, "for me it's personal, but I still respect those who just come out to get high."
As the rain began again the crowd dispersed leaving only a few hundred people on Monroe Street. A couple of blocks away a group of tie-dye and hemp clad people began a game of hacky sack. "It's not Hash Bash without hacky sack in the rain," said a man who called himself "Big-Country", when asked why he came to Hash Bash Big-Country said, "To smoke weed and hang out."
Big Country said he likes smoking weed because, "it brings people together." He used the diversity of the Hash Bash crowd as an example, "people from all walks of life are here to get high and have fun."
One woman who didn't give her name said she supports the live and let live attitude that goes along with marijuana consumption, "nobody wants to make war when their high."
When compared to past years, this year's Hash Bash missed the mark on turn-out. The rain caused a lot of people to leave early or to not come out at all, even though it rained in '06, '07 and '08 ('09 was dry and sunny) the weather caused people to leave early. This year also missed the mark on the Monroe Street fair which was smaller this year than in many previous years.
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