Yes the Portland Parks Bureau has denied a permit for Hempstalk to be held in 2015. :bigcry: http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2014/11/portlands_hempstalk_marijuana.html Perhaps they'll find a new venue, but at this point it looks like, after 10 years and enormous growth in attendence, the event might not happen the same year marijuana becomes legal in Oregon. How fucked is that?!
They don't need it to be at the Tom McCall Waterfront. I'm sure they'll find a new location. It doesn't necessarily have to be inside of Portland's city limits.
Well with legalization the counter culture festival element evaporates. Hemp festivals become not grass roots political or counterculture venues but predominately trade shows and keggers. I have vended at that festival and I heard they had difficulty obtaining permits almost every year. It was my favorite among many I attended in the northwest from eugene to bellingham. Becoming primarily commercial ventures however I think festival organizers will find it increasingly difficult to find public spaces for just the price of a permit and a commitment to clean up after. I hope we don't see the end of cultural festivals for one because it is one of the few places that a young person can go and see a schedule of live bands and hear great music without paying a cover.
The waterfront is way too nasty anyhow and that festival is just a shit vendor fest. We need the Cannabis Cup here.
Bullshit, I've been to 5 Hempstalks and they've always been awesome. And I was at the waterfront 2 days ago to see Greg Allman and there's nothing nasty about it. Cool your jets!
You went to Bluesfest? It is nasty. It's full of hobos, streetkids, and tourists. There's always trash splattered around. I work downtown and ride my bike through that garbage every day. Come on down on Monday after all this shit is over and watch the huge clean up crews scrub the vile nasty hot dog shit and stuff off the pavement while the streetkids blankly stare away... then you'll see the true horror of the waterfront.
