Source: Ann Arbor News (MI)
Author: Tom Gantert, News Staff Reporter 
Published: Sunday, March 21, 2004 
Copyright: 2004 The Ann Arbor News
Contact: letters@annarbornews.com
Website: http://www.mlive.com/aanews/index.ssf

Rich Birkett has been an organizer of the Hash Bash since 1988. He hopes the annual pro-marijuana event held at the University of Michigan Diag on April 3 will rebound after a low turnout last year. Birkett, 51, also ran for Ann Arbor City Council last fall to push his agenda for the legalization of medical marijuana. He lost as a Libertarian in the 3rd Ward. 

Q. How did last year's Hash Bash go? 

A. The low point was last year. ... The weather was absolutely horrendous. It was probably the worst turnout in Hash Bash recent history. My best guess is about 1,000 people showed up. 

Q. What was the biggest? 

A. We had as many as 10,000 in the early 1990s. 

Q. Is the city trying to squash the Hash Bash? 

A. The city in the past has been very opposed to it, as has the university. ... The event would be so much more if we didn't have so much resistance from the university and the city. 

Q. What have they tried to do? 

A. Deny permits, basically. That is about all they can do. Permits for vending and permits for street closing. 

Q. Is the vending ban around the Hash Bash still on? 

A. I'm not sure if they have this year. I am still considering a lawsuit on that very issue. 

Q. What is your claim? 

A. The vending ban, the city administrator exceeded his authority in putting in that ban. I may attempt to apply for another permit to do what the city administrator says I can't do. There are two types of permits the city has banned. Sidewalk occupancy permits are the ones that are stationary. The other one is a solicitation permit that allows you to move. Unless you are actually making a sale, you have to move on. 

Q. How has the Hash Bash evolved over the years? 

A. As of late, the focus has been on medical marijuana (use). That will be clearly the focus this year. We still have a few more signatures to collect to put it on the ballot as an Ann Arbor ballot initiative. 

Q. How many signatures do you need? 

A. We need 4,200, but we have collected 3,600. The initiative would waive the fine for medical marijuana patients. 

Q. Any speakers this year at the Hash Bash? 

A. We will have John Sinclair again. We also will have Jack Herer. He wrote the book "The Emperor Wears No Clothes." He is a major national marijuana law reform activist in California. John Sinclair's band will also be performing at the Monroe Street Fair and Block Party. 

Q. When is the last time you smoked a joint? 

A. I'll decline to answer that question. Why don't you ask if I plan to smoke at the Hash Bash? I don't plan to smoke at the Hash Bash. We don't want the university to use "smoking by the organizers" as a reason to deny permits. 

Q. How alive is the Hash Bash? 

A. Between bad weather and the fact the city has banned vending around the event the last several years, it has a negative effect. It is a function of the weather. If it is warm to sunny, there will be a lot of people. There could be anywhere from 1,000 to 5,000 people. 

Q. You ran for city council. How was the experience and why did you do it? 

A. To publicize the issues I have with the city. One reason would be to introduce a resolution and put in a charter amendment for medical marijuana. I find the city council meeting extremely hard to get through. Would I have enjoyed sitting through those meetings? Probably not. But they are necessary. 

Q. Do you think marijuana will be legalized? 

A. Absolutely. The road to legalization goes through Windsor. Just like the casinos were constantly voted down until Windsor got the casinos. Then the debate became, "Let's keep our money from going to Canada." Canada has a much better attitude about marijuana. They are much closer to legalizing marijuana than here. 

Q. How much longer will you be involved with the Hash Bash? 

A. At this point, it is indefinite. 


Hash Bash
http://www.hashbash.com

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