WHY: To educate the public about the plant Cannabis (HEMP) The annual festival of the Emerald Empire Hempfest will be at Eugene Pot Club Headquarters, in Eugene, this year. We were planning a gigantic three-day blowout celebration with all kinds of fun-filled activities, educational and exciting events, bands both electric and acoustic, a hemp apparel fashion show and new product demonstrations modeled by Ganja Goddesses, raffle and giveaways, cutting-edge speakers, information and education stations, and many fabulous food booths.

But not to be this year.

The unofficial Emerald Empire HempFest PROTEST party, a protest against the denial of the use of Maurie Jacobs Park which EEH has used for six summers through 2015. The EEH event last year was the most well attended ever, the year after the adult recreational use Oregon Ballot Measure 91 passed in 2014, effective July 1, 2015. However, some people were discovered smoking pot in a tent last year and EEH's permit was denied for use of Maurie Jacobs park in July, 2016. DENIAL of the public use of a public space is unconscionable based on the grounds trumped up ~ EEH has hired legal counsel but nothing can be resolved this year to secure the park. Donations appreciated for expenses having the venue at 3825 River Rd., Eugene. Mailing address below.

Our mission is still to provide knowledge about the many uses of hemp in the home, field and factory: as a highly nutritious food whose seeds have prevented famines, as a fiber for cloth and paper, and as a safe source for making products like particle board, cement, fuel, plastic, and paint currently made from toxic fossil fuels.

There will be belly dancing and fire dancers to entertain you, a food court featuring hemp foods and other nutritious foods, art booths, and vendors featuring many hemp products, as well as info and education booths. Guest speakers will discuss the environmental benefits of hemp, medical uses of marijuana, and ways to end prohibition. Please join us for all the fun! Our festival is family-friendly (alcohol-free and drug-free as required by the City of Eugene). No illegal activities will be tolerated. Dogs are permitted on leashes. For schedule, list of bands, directions and more, please go to > www.facebook.com/Eugenepotclub

It’s still not too late to volunteer for positions from security to food to Ganja Goddesses.! Our event is 100% non-profit and volunteer. We run on donations. Many thanks to all our sponsors and volunteers!