Hemp — cannabis plant fibers extracted from the stem and used to make items such as rope, strong fabrics and paper. A fiber so popular it’s the focus of an annual Moscow celebration.
All of the plant’s diverse uses will be displayed at the 23rd Annual Moscow Hemp Fest from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. in the Big Room of the Latah County Fairgrounds Saturday.
Due to soggy conditions in East City Park, the location changed so music and food vendors could be outside with craft vendors and information tables inside.
Arlene Falcon, owner of Tye Dye Everything and director of Hemp Fest, said it is no coincidence the festival is the same weekend as the University of Idaho Moms’ Weekend each year.
Arlene Falcon | Courtesy
“The festival was founded purposefully for Moms’ Weekend when a former UI student complained about not having much to do with his mom,” said Falcon, who has served as the director for 13 years. While hemp deserves to be celebrated and used creatively, Falcon said the main theme of this year’s event is “Free Idaho,” in order to petition for the legalization of medical marijuana in the state.
While the petition itself got approved, Falcon said it will not be ready in time for this Saturday, but will be ready for the Boise Hemp Fest.
“Medical marijuana is medicine for the people who use it and a substitute to opioid pills as a pain reliever,” Falcon said. “It is great that CBD (cannabidiol) is legal and available, but we are trying to get the same thing to happen for medical marijuana for patients to use.”
Speakers include Steve Phun, a Seattle Hemp Fest activist and stage emcee; Serra Frank, an activist and director of Boise Hemp Fest and Adam Assenberg of Colfax, Washington, an activist and medical marijuana patient, among others.
Local bands playing include The Maple Bars, The Palouse Project, Andru Gomez, Bad Apples and many more. The festival also includes musicians from surrounding areas of Spokane and Lewiston. New this year will be a DJ between sets and The Lunar Clan Belly Dancers from Lewiston.
“My favorite part (about the festival) is all of the great people I meet through it, and also making a statement— turning the Hemp Fest from just a party to a political statement and level of activism that creates petitions and awareness,” Falcon said.
To learn more about the speakers, music, food and shopping, visit moscowhempfest.com or the Moscow Hemp Fest’s Facebook page.
Allison Spain can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @allisonspain1