Rep. Dennis Kucinich is headline speaker at Seattle's "Hempfest"

The Plain Dealer ^ | 8-19-2011 | Sabrina Eaton

[bimboeruption]

Cleveland Democratic Rep. Dennis Kucinich is making yet another trip to the left coast over the weekend - this time to be a headline speaker at Seattle's "Hempfest," which advertises itself as "The World's Largest Protestival."

Kucinich is scheduled to address the event on Saturday afternoon, right after Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn. Other luminaries slated to address the three day gathering at Seattle's Myrtle Edwards Park include Wayward Bill of the United States Marijuana Party, representatives of "Moms for Marijuana" and "Gramma's for Ganja," as well as someone from High Times Magazine who goes by the name "Stinkbud."

According to an online publication called "The Weed Blog," a record crowd is expected. Last year's festival drew 150,000 people over two days.

Kucinich's congressional district in Ohio is in danger of elimination because of redistricting. He says he is weighing a run for office in Washington state, and has visited there frequently this year. While Ohio will lose two congressional seats next year because of slow population growth, Washington state is adding a seat.

On Friday, Kucinich confirmed he's made no decisions about where he'll run for office. He said he decided to address Hempfest because it's one of Seattle's largest community events, and he believes marijuana use should be decriminalized. He said his congressional campaign committee pays for trips he takes to Washington to appear before nonprofit groups.

Kucinich said he's scheduled to return to Cleveland on Aug. 28, where he'll attend a sculpture dedication at the Ukrainian cultural garden. He also plans to be a grand marshall at Cleveland's Labor Day parade, and attend the weekend's Polish festival at St. John Cantius, as well as the St. Elias and St. Rocco's church festivals.

[jdsteel]

C’mon, Cleveland. Kick the wacko out, please.

[RonBush]

I am always skeptical of conspiracy theories, but I did a little research and according to wikipedia, which has links to other documentation, you are totally correct about Hearst's role in criminalizing marijuana. Thanks for the info. Here is the wikipedia link:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legal_history_of_cannabis_in_the_United_States

[RonBush]

By the way, just because I think marijuana should be legal doesn't mean I think it is a good thing. I think it is really bad for you, just like alcohol and tobacco. I don't use any of these harmful unhealthy substances, but that doesn't mean I think the government should keep other people from using them.

I know I am inconsistent on this, but even though I am sure marijuana should be legal, I am not sure about heroin and cocaine. These are so destructive and addictive. I understand the argument for legalization is the same as for marijuana, but if I a had to power to make these legal I am not sure what I would do.

[John D]

Prolly why the forced ignore of Ron Paul by presstitutes even though he won Iowa.

How so? His supporters were so stoned they did not even know how to vote. It was a double edged sword for cut and run. He had to keep them stoned enough that they would vote for him (nobody who was not stoned could possibly vote for the surrender monkey), but he also had to keep them sober enough to be able to vote.

[Lexinom]

I would not feel so all alooooooooone,
AAAEEEERYBODOY must get stooooooned!