| Seattle Hempfest | |
|---|---|
 Seattle city council memberNick Licata speaking at the 2009 Seattle Hempfest | |
| Genre | Political |
| Frequency | Annually |
| Locations | Myrtle Edwards Park,Seattle,Washington, U.S. |
| Years active | 34 |
| Inaugurated | August 1, 1991 (1991-08-01) |
| Previous event | 10 October 2020 (2020-10-10) – 11 October 2020 (2020-10-11) |
| Attendance | 100,000 |
| Budget | $1,000,000 |
| Organised by | Seattle Events, a Non-Profit Corporation |
| Member | Hempfest Central Seattle Peace Heathens Community Action Group |
| Website | www |
Seattle Hempfest was an annual event in the city ofSeattle,Washington, United States, (and the world's largest[1] annual gathering) advocating thelegalization ofcannabis.[2] It was held every summer for 19 years, from 1991 to 2020, after which permission for vendors to use an access road was revoked and the logistical problems of getting vendors into and out of the park became an insurmountable obstacle. As of 2025, its future appears uncertain.
Vivian McPeak serves as the organization's executive director. Founded in 1991 as theWashington Hemp Expo,[3][4] a self-described "humble gathering ofstoners" attended by only 500 people,[4] and renamed the following year as Hempfest,[3] it grew into a three-day annual political rally, concert, and arts and crafts fair[5] with attendance typically over 100,000. Speakers includedSeattle City Council memberNick Licata,[4] actor/activistWoody Harrelson (2004),[4] travel writer and TV hostRick Steves (2007), (2010),[4][6] 2012 Green Party speaker Jill Stein,Dallas Cowboys centerMark Stepnoski (2003),[4][7] and former chief of theSeattle Police DepartmentNorm Stamper (2006).[3] Hempfest also in recent years attracted such well-known performers asFishbone (2002),[8] TheKottonmouth Kings (2004),[9]Rehab (2006),[10] andPato Banton (2007)[11] to its five stages[12] spread throughoutMyrtle Edwards Park andElliott Bay Park, on Seattle's waterfront.[12][13]
Early Hempfests "featured blatant marijuana smoking";[3] 60 people were cited for illegal marijuana use at the 1997 Hempfest, and about 20 were arrested the following year. Eventually Hempfest and the police reached amodus vivendi: there was only one arrest in 2001. About this time, the director wasDominic Holden, who was also campaign manager of an organization trying to make cannabis the city of Seattle's lowest law enforcement priority through avoter initiative,I-75.[14] The political context surrounding marijuana in Seattle and Washington has changed considerably over the years. Washington legalizedmedical marijuana in 1998. In 2003, Seattle passed I-75.[3][15]
The 2008 Seattle Hempfest, which took place August 16–17, set a new record for attendance, topping 310,000 people. The volunteers of Seattle Hempfest were awarded theNational Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) award for "Outstanding Cannabis Advocate of the Year Award" on October 17, 2008 at the National NORML Conference for their efforts.[16]
2011 Hempfest speakers included numerous elected officials, among them Ohio congressmanDennis Kucinich, Seattle MayorMike McGinn, City Attorney Pete Holmes, a return by Councilman Licata, and Washington State RepresentativesMary Lou Dickerson andRoger Goodman.[17]
2013 saw the legalization of cannabis use in Washington state; that year's Seattle Hempfest featured performances byEverlast,Hed PE andDJ Muggs ofCypress Hill. As of 2013, the festival had an annual budget of approximately $700,000.[18]
The 2015 Hempfest namedDavid Bronner, CEO ofDr. Bronner's Magic Soaps, the Cannabis Activist of the Year.[19]
The 2020 Hempfest was the most recent event. The organizers once stated that they were planning to return in 2024,[20] but as of 2025 Hempfest's future is uncertain.
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