FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 7, 2010

After a sometimes contentious battle with the City of Seattle, Seattle Hempfest is permitted for a 2-day event: Saturday and Sunday, August 21-22, 2010 from 10am to 8pm. Seattle Hempfest has given in to the City’s budgetary concerns and postpone their quest for a 3-day event until 2011.

Seattle Events, A Non-Profit Corporation sought a third day for their popular Seattle Hempfest event due to very high attendance during 2009. “Our 2009 festival caused much concern for safety in our volunteer community." says Vivian McPeak, Executive Director of Seattle Hempfest. "We thought the city would be cooperative in our efforts to maintain public safety."

The City of Seattle was initially amicable to Hempfest's 3-day safety plan in the winter of 2009. But the city's budget cuts and broken bureaucracy lead to a sudden shift in policy. On June 22nd the Special Events Committee under the new Chair Joanne Orsuchi voted to deny the event an additional day

Hempfest filed an administrative appeal on June 24th in hopes of receiving a 3-day permit. However, the City of Seattle responded by issuing an even more restrictive 2-day permit. The producers of the event decided to resolve the issues over the permit. They believed that they were unlikely to win an administrative appeal in the City of Seattle and that there was not enough remaining time to both fight a lawsuit and produce an event scheduled for next month.

Hempfest remains concerned about the public's safety and the effects of the city’s queuing plan on the crowd and surrounding neighborhood. The Seattle Police Department’s after action report described the event as “at capacity” on Saturday. “I like what the city has proposed” says John Davis, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Seattle Events, “but it does not address the fundamental issue of numbers. Just because the queuing is different does not mean you have solved the problem. The only option that presents itself is to turn away attendees which violates their constitutional right of freedom of assembly.”

When asked what the plan is for next year McPeak says “We are going to file our permit early and make sure that the City acts within the legally prescribed time-line to issue or deny our application. This will leave us plenty of time to deal with any unforeseen issues.” Does this mean they are going to fight for a third day next year? “Yes it does.” says McPeak.