About Hempstalk

The reason marijuana is illegal has very little to do with drugs, and is really about money and the continued centralization of economic and political control. Hemp seed oil is biodiesel and is three times more productive than any other seed oil crop, and hemp seed oil will run any diesel engine today with no modification. Hemp oil is the reason the petrochemical industry made up the "reefer madness" myth. They renamed hemp, using racist propaganda, calling it marijuana, and lied to make it illegal. There is a truth that must be heard! That's what the Hempstalk Festival is all about.

From Keith Stroup to Jack Herer, the Hempstalk 2008 speakers were educational and informative, discussing the merits of Cannabis and Hemp on the main stage as well as in the Hemposium pavillion. It is our hope that the Hemposium will continue to evolve and grow, providing experts and information from doctors and lawyers to local business people working to promote Hemp and Cannabis. Having a variety of speakers complimented the wide range of musical acts that took to the Hempstalk stage.

It was truly an honor to have the likes of John Trudell and Bad Dog, as well as The Human Revolution, State of Jefferson, and the ever popular Seattle Hempfest house band (one of our favorites) the Herbivores. To everyone who participated, volunteered, and helped make Hempstalk 2008 possible, we thank you and look forward to a fun and informative Hempstalk 2009!

The organizers of Portland's third annual Hempstalk faced long odds in putting together the 2007 event. The previous location - the Downtown Portland Waterfront Park - was already booked. The City Parks & Rec Department also refused to issue a permit to use a different park, citing unsubstantiated claims that minors were drinking beer in the park (which could not have been purchased at our event) and widespread marijuana smoking was taking place in the park (not in public view and only by medical marijuana patients).

But thanks to relentless work by the organizers, their legal team, and advocates from the ACLU, Portland Hempstalk became a reality. The event once again took place on the weekend after Labor Day, but this time, at the Sellwood-Riverside Park just south of Portland.

There were about 10,000 in attendance over the two-day event who came to listen and dance to some of the best bands in the Northwest, headlined by Los Marijuanos. Oregon NORML and CRRH were prime sponsors of the event.

Pictures from the event can also be found in the Oregon NORML Gallery.