Hot Heads

All was not mellow at this year's 28th Annual Extravaganja, and not just because the event was marred at times by a steady downpour of rain. Organizers of the combination drug law protest rally and cannabis culture vendor fest were annoyed by changes made to the event this year by the host city of Northampton.

For the first time attendees were required to pay a $5 entrance fee, through a ticket which had to be bought online prior to the event, and there was increased security around determining the age of participants. The city also put a limit on how big the event could be, limiting ticket sales to 12,000. The 2018 event attracted an estimated 15,000 people.

The rain made certain that attendance limit was never reached, but the new restrictions did raise eyebrows in civil liberties circles. The question is whether the event is primarily a political protest rally against unjust drug laws, or just a big party needing strict supervision so it doesn't get out of hand. As radio dude and ACLU attorney Bill Newman noted, if the event is primarily political, then restricting the size of the protest and demanding ID's and an entrance fee raises First Amendment questions.

Many are suggesting that since the event originates at UMass, the Extravaganja should be held somewhere on their campus. However, the University has always balked at that suggestion because they fear they could lose federal education funds if they appear to formally endorse a drug that is still technically illegal on the federal level.

In any case, the primary organizers of the event, the UMass based Cannabis Reform Coalition, have vowed that they will not hold the event in Northampton next year, and a site in Holyoke is reportedly already under consideration. Speaking for the angry stoners, Extravaganja founding father Terry Franklin urged the crowd to punish Northampton for harshing their mellow by refusing to support Northampton Mayor David Narkiewicz if he seeks re-election.



On a lighter note, an allegedly clueless non-stoner decided to attend the event and make a video, with humorous results.



Hey, look who I ran into at the Haymarket yesterday. McGovern was in town to make a speech at UMass.

I also ran into my neighbor Ruthie the Pedal Person, who was out gathering the trash downtown (without burning one drop of oil) with a spring orchid in her basket.

It saddened me to see a dumpster in front of Sam's Pizza, where workers were cleaning the joint out. I hope a type of establishment similar to Sam's moves in.

Finally, a misbehaving umbrella gave me a challenge recently.