Seattle Hempfest is an annual event in the city of Seattle , Washington , United States, (and the world's largest annual gathering) advocating the legalization of cannabis . Vivian McPeak serves as the organization's executive director. Founded in 1991 as the Washington Hemp Expo , a self-described "humble gathering of stoners " attended by only 500 people, and renamed the following year as Hempfest, it has grown into a three-day annual political rally, concert, and arts and crafts fair 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), 2012 Green Party speaker Jill Stein, Dallas Cowboys center Mark Stepnoski (2003), 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), The Kottonmouth Kings (2004), Rehab (2006), and Pato Banton (2007) to its five stages spread throughout Myrtle Edwards Park and Elliott Bay Park , on Seattle's waterfront.
7-455: Early Hempfests "featured blatant marijuana smoking"; 60 people were cited for illegal marijuana use at the 1997 Hempfest, and about 20 were arrested the following year. Eventually Hempfest and the police reached a modus vivendi : there was only one arrest in 2001. About this time, the director was Dominic Holden , who was also campaign manager of an organization trying to make cannabis the city of Seattle's lowest law enforcement priority through
14-546: A voter initiative , I-75 . The political context surrounding marijuana in Seattle and Washington has changed considerably over the years. Washington legalized medical marijuana in 1998. In 2003, Seattle passed I-75. The 2008 Seattle Hempfest, which took place August 16–17, set a new record for attendance, topping 310,000 people. The volunteers of Seattle Hempfest were awarded the National Organization for
21-559: A temporary or provisional nature, intended to be replaced by a more substantial and thorough agreement, such as a treaty . Armistices and instruments of surrender are intended to achieve a modus vivendi . The term often refers to Anglo-French relations from the 1815 end of the Napoleonic Wars to the 1904 Entente Cordiale . On 7 January 1948, the United States, Britain and Canada, concluded an agreement known as
28-418: Is often used to describe informal and temporary arrangements in political affairs. For example, if two sides reach a modus vivendi regarding disputed territories, despite political, historical or cultural incompatibilities, an accommodation of their respective differences is established for the sake of contingency . In diplomacy , a modus vivendi is an instrument for establishing an international accord of
35-646: The Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) award for "Outstanding Cannabis Advocate of the Year Award" on October 17, 2008 at the National NORML Conference for their efforts. 2011 Hempfest speakers included numerous elected officials, among them Ohio congressman Dennis Kucinich , Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn , City Attorney Pete Holmes, a return by Councilman Licata, and Washington State Representatives Mary Lou Dickerson and Roger Goodman . 2013 saw
42-579: The legalization of cannabis use in Washington state; that year's Seattle Hempfest featured performances by Everlast , Hed PE and DJ Muggs of Cypress Hill . As of 2013, the festival had an annual budget of approximately $ 700,000. The 2015 Hempfest named David Bronner , CEO of Dr. Bronner's Magic Soaps , the Cannabis Activist of the Year. The 2020 Hempfest was the most recent event, with
49-477: The organizers stating they are planning to return in 2024. Modus vivendi Modus vivendi (plural modi vivendi ) is a Latin phrase that means "mode of living" or " way of life ". In international relations , it often is used to mean an arrangement or agreement that allows conflicting parties to coexist in peace. In science, it is used to describe lifestyles . Modus means "mode", "way", "method", or "manner". Vivendi means "of living". The phrase
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