Chronic Awareness

Cannabis Revival, Joplin's annual ode to the doobie, is September 22

For the tenth year, Joplin Missouri, a smallish city about one hour west of Springfield on I-44, will be hosting Cannabis Revival, an event revolving around all things green and marijuana-related. This will be the third year it has been affiliated with NORML—the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws—and organized by the Joplin NORML president, Kelly Maddy.

Ten years ago organizers ran into trouble when applying for the permit to hold the event. Joplin officials balked at the idea of a pot festival in their conservative town, (to give you an idea, the church-to-person ratio in Springfield is roughly 1 to 167, in Joplin it’s 1 to 54) but a call from the ACLU helped them change their minds.

Since then, Maddy’s developed a more genial rapport with city officials, who he says realize they’re not out to cause trouble, but to educate. “The only problems we ever have are with the people who drink. Leave it to the drunks to f*** everything up.” He says there may or may not be people smoking, an activity he neither condones nor discourages, but the volunteer security staff will strictly enforce their no drinking, no weapons policy.

One of Maddy’s primary goals is to get enough signatures for the Joplin Sensible Sentencing Initiative petition to place it on the November, 2008 ballot. If the public approves the measure, it will change city laws so that if someone is caught with less than 35 grams (That’s an ounce and a quarter, you pothead), instead of a misdemeanor and criminal record, they would receive a citation and a $250 maximum fine. Maddy says a misdemeanor drug record can ruin chances for jobs, housing and federal aid. “You shouldn’t be treated like a criminal,” says Kelly. “It’s like drinking beer.”

The third largest festival of its kind in the country, he is expecting a turnout this year of 5,000 to 10,000 people. The main draw, he says, will be the headlining band, Woodbelly, whose lead singer, Cas Haley, was a popular finalist on NBC’s America’s Got Talent. Springfield natives and local favorites, Jah Roots, have been performing at the festival for the past three years and this year will be no exception. The speaker lineup (yes, speakers!) ranges from green-living demonstrations and hemp usage to drug policy activists. Fifteen to 20 vendors will also be on hand, selling everything from vegetarian food and art to organic coffee and um, “tobacco” pipes.

They have several family-friendly activities planned—decidedly adult games include a joint-rolling competition (with tobacco), “sack” races (Get it? Sack?) and other games with prizes.

But it’s not just a bunch of long-haired, stoned hippies, Maddy says. “You will see clean-cut, Republican-looking guys… city officials and lawyers… a lot of people that defy the stigma.”

UGO

What: Sixteen bands are scheduled for two stages including Jah Roots (pictured above), Woodbelly and the Ben Miller Band. Speakers include GO’s favorite activist, Midge Potts, as well as experts on drug laws, hemp usage, and green living.
When: September 22, 2007 from 2 p.m. ‘til the park closes.
Where: Landreth Park in Joplin, check the website below for directions.
Why: You a) smoke pot, b) like hemp stuff, c) believe current marijuana laws are too strict, and d) want to see if Cas Haley can croon as purty in the park as he did on TV. Don’t forget about the joint-rolling competition.
Cost: Free
Go to cannabisrevival.com for a full lineup, details and directions.