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Rallying for hemp
By MICHAEL CANNING
© St. Petersburg Times, published February 22, 2001
Lots of advertisers like to put captions next to likenesses of George Washington this time of year. In most cases, our first president is saying things like "Zero down!" or "No payments till June!"
Well, how does "I grew hemp" strike you? That's a logo used by Florida Organization Reformed Marijuana Laws Inc., a Zephyrhills group that wants marijuana legalized. FORML is throwing a Washington's Birthday Hemp Festival, which is equal parts celebration and protest, with live music, speakers and vendors Saturday at Lowry Park.
But you can't lump FORML in with unoriginal advertisers in its appropriation of Washington's likeness. "Washington was a farmer who advocated the production of hemp," said Michael Palmieri, FORML's executive director. "He grew it. The Declaration of Independence, the first and second drafts of it, were printed on hemp."
Palmieri is quick to evoke historical perspective when explaining his cause. "Just because a law is on the books doesn't mean it's right," he said. "At one time slavery was on the books, and that didn't mean it was right. Prohibition . . . was repealed. The drug war is the same way. You cannot legislate morality or people's appetites."
But today's pro-hemp movement doesn't just demand the right to smoke it. "There's over a hundred thousand uses for it," Palmieri said. "Anything that can be made from a petroleum product can be made from cannabis hemp." He also added that hemp can be used in alternatives to lumber, paper and construction materials, such as a hemp-lime mixture that is said to outperform concrete. "You can make preformed walls that are so strong that it blows the mind, man."
Palmieri said he doubted that marijuana would be sold or used during the event, "in front of police officers, anyhow," he added. "It's a huge park. I'm sure what people do in their privacy, I'm sure they will be doing," he said with a chuckle. "We're not going to be smoking pot on the stage. But we believe people have the right to be civil disobedient." Arrests have been common occurrences at the event's three previous editions, and Palmieri is expecting a police presence, both uniformed and undercover. "We're going to be on the alert for them," he said.
Sgt. Sophie Teague of the Tampa Police Quick Uniform Attack on Drugs squad confirmed that police will be in attendance.
The day's speakers will include Peter Brady from Cannabis Culture magazine; Darrell McCormick, a 2000 U.S. Senate NPA (no political affiliation) platform candidate from Florida who supports marijuana legalization; medical marijuana user Cathy Jordan; and Jeffrey Brown, a Rastafarian who sees marijuana smoking as a religious sacrament.
In between speakers, seven regional music acts will perform: Low 2 the Left, Space Hippy, Eve's Reason, Psychedelic Breakfast, Harvest, Burden Fly and Woven.
Set up throughout the grounds will be information booths, petitions for legalization and vendors selling food, products made from hemp, arts and crafts, and tie dye clothing.
PREVIEW
WHAT: Florida Organization Reformed Marijuana Laws Inc. (FORML) Washington's Birthday Hemp Festival
WHEN: Saturday, noon to 6 p.m.
WHERE: Lowry Park bandshell, 7530 N Boulevard
COST: free
CALL: (813) 779-2551
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