BRINNON — Attendees of Hempapalooza this weekend agreed on two things: A belief in the medical, recreational and political value of marijuana and the opinion the event should have drawn more people.
“We did something unprecedented and genuine,” said Nicole Black, the event’s organizer.
“We put on event that was open to the public, had medical marijuana as its topic. It has a great spirit and a really good vibe.”
The four-day festival, which ends today, was intended to bring cannabis enthusiasts together in a bucolic field at 1014 Duckabush Road adjacent to the Olympic National Forest, with preparation to accommodate 5,000 people.
That goal was not met as about 500 people including vendors were on site for the event.
What resulted was a cannabis-infused version of the old saying about life giving you lemons and then making lemonade.
“Just by doing this it was a success,” said Dan Kemmis of North Seattle, in character and with green robes as the “Emerald Wizard.”
“We had pictured this as a ‘business-to-consumer’ event, but it became a ‘business to business’ event. It became a kind of industry party where lots of nice relationships are being harvested.”
The site was a long meadow with camping around its periphery and vendors down the middle, then opening up into a large natural amphitheater that featured music, speeches and movies.
Many of the vendors were selling different varieties of medical marijuana, an offering available to those with a green wristband, signifying a medical marijuana authorization.
This included smokeable and edible products along with more creative offerings, such as a s’mores kit offered by Insain Medibles of Quilcene.
Recreational users without a medical authorization could partake in designated areas but could not purchase any product on site.
There were television and film tie-ins, including two movie premieres and an audition session for a reality show that helps to fund cannabis businesses.
The movie, “Star Leaf,” was filmed in the northwest and tells the story of a quest for a marijuana strain that induces wisdom.
At the movie’s end, the characters all decide to go surfing at LaPush.
“The message of the movie is to transmit a positive vision about the medical qualities of cannabis, because it can help you to find your truer self,” said assistant director Chris Durr.
Jeff Eichen of Port Townsend was using the gathering to get traction for his proposed documentary and book package, “Lifers,” which will tell the story of the estimated 50 to 100 people in the United States who are serving life sentences for marijuana infractions.
Ed Hogan of Port Angeles, who runs a marijuana lifestyle company called Cannacrombie, said the event was a good place to connect and prepare for the upcoming changes in the law that will restructure the medical marijuana process.
“People in the medical industry are forging partnerships with the people who have recreational licenses in order to preserve their workflow once the law is changed,” he said.
Eichen and Hogan were among those pitching their ideas to the Marijuana Show, a Web-based program that matches ideas with business proposals.
Show host Karen Paull characterized the show as “Shark Tank meets the Apprentice meets ganjapreneurs,” adding that the show will select 10 to 20 of the best ideas with a projected fall air date.
The low attendance was a frequent topic of conversation, with many saying there should have been more promotion and advertising in an effort to let people know it was happening.
Besides, Black said, all the event’s signs were regularly stolen.
She said she spent about $80,000 getting the event off the ground but views it as more of an investment than a loss.
She spent $15,000 getting power to the site and another $5,000 for a screen and projection system “because it would have cost us the same to rent or buy.”
There was enough success, she said, to pave the way for the future.
“We’ve set up the framework,” she said.
“We now have a place that can host this kind of event, we launched a new brand and a new venue with a single event.
“We are OK with the low attendance, because we knew we were going to lose money,”
“The first time you do anything, it’s going to be slow,” said George Sickel, Brinnon’s honorary mayor.
“It will pick up in the future if we are lucky enough to be able to do this again.”
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Jefferson County Editor Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or cbermant@peninsuladailynews.com.