Seattle Hempfest

{{short description|Cannabis festival in Seattle, Washington}}

{{Infobox recurring event

| name = Seattle Hempfest

| native_name =

| logo =

| logo_caption =

| image = Nick Licata at Seattle Hempfest.jpg

| imagesize =

| caption = Seattle city council member Nick Licata speaking at the 2009 Seattle Hempfest

| date =

| begins =

| ends =

| prev = {{start date|2020|10|10|df=yes}} – {{end date|2020|10|11|df=yes}}

| next =

| frequency = Annually

| location = Myrtle Edwards Park, Seattle, Washington, U.S.

| years_active = {{age|1991|08|01}}

| first = {{start date|1991|08|01}}

| attendance = 100,000

| genre = Political

| budget = $1,000,000

| patron =

| organised = Seattle Events, a Non-Profit Corporation

| people =

| member = Hempfest Central
Seattle Peace Heathens Community Action Group

| website = {{URL|http://www.hempfest.org}}

| footnotes =

}}

Seattle Hempfest is an annual event in the city of Seattle, Washington, United States, (and the world's largestAccording to the 2007 Seattle Hempfest program, p. 22, "As far as we can tell, it is [the biggest pot rally anywhere], and it dwarfs its closest counterpart." annual gathering) advocating the legalization of cannabis.According to the 2007 Seattle Hempfest program, p. 3, they advocate "the decriminalization of marijuana for responsible adults, legal access to medical marijuana…, and legal domestic hemp production." Vivian McPeak serves as the organization's executive director. Founded in 1991 as the Washington Hemp Expo,McNerthney 2007 a self-described "humble gathering of stoners" attended by only 500 people,"Seattle Hempfest History: 1991-present", Seattle Hempfest. Accessed 23 August 2007. and renamed the following year as Hempfest, it has grown into a three-day annual political rally, concert, and arts and crafts fair2007 Seattle Hempfest program, p. 22. with attendance typically over 100,000. Speakers have included Seattle city council member Nick Licata, actor/activist Woody Harrelson (2004), travel writer and TV host Rick Steves (2007), (2010),2007 Seattle Hempfest program, p. 6. An essay by Steves appears on p.16–17 of the 2007 program. 2012 Green Party speaker Jill Stein, Dallas Cowboys center Mark Stepnoski (2003),[http://www.seattlehempfest.com/2003.php Hempfest 2003 achieves Pot Peace!], on official Seattle Hempfest site. Accessed online 24 August 2007. and former chief of the Seattle Police Department Norm Stamper (2006). Hempfest has also in recent years attracted such well-known performers as Fishbone (2002),Mike Cust, [http://cannabisculture.com/articles/2663.html Seattle Hempfest rocks hard!], Cannabis Culture, February 24, 2003. Accessed online 24 August 2007. The Kottonmouth Kings (2004),Philip Dawdy, [http://www.seattleweekly.com/2004-08-18/news/2004-hempfest-highlights.php 2004 Hempfest Highlights], Seattle Weekly, August 18, 2004. Accessed online 24 August 2007. Rehab (2006),[http://hempfest.org/drupal/?q=node/15 Seattle Hempfest History] on Hempfest official site. Accessed online 24 August 2007. and Pato Banton (2007)Monica Guzman, [http://blog.seattlepi.nwsource.com/thebigblog/archives/120109.asp News update: Former police chief Stamper backs out of Hempfest], August 15, 2007 on the official blog of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Accessed online 24 August 2007. to its five stages[http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/outdoors/2003203519_nwwfestivalfocus17.html Marijuana policy reform is emphasis at Hempfest], Seattle Times, August 17, 2006. Accessed online 24 August 2007. spread throughout Myrtle Edwards Park and Elliott Bay Park, on Seattle's waterfront.[https://hempfest.org/vendors/index.php?main_page=conditions Vendor Policies], on official Seattle Hempfest site. Accessed online 24 August 2007.