High Times in Oreganja

High Times in Oreganja

A few thousand people gathered in Oregon this summer, to participate
in the High Times “World Hemp Expo Extravaganja” held on a private farm
near Eugene.?

The event was more of a Northwest pot-fest than a World Hemp Expo, with
Fishbone and a number of local bands providing the musical backdrop to
three days of getting really high and wandering amongst booths selling
glass pipes, hemp clothes, food and countercultural knick-knacks.?

Since the event was held on a private farm there was nary a copper in
sight, and the gange flowed plentifully. A rare respite from the paranoid
undertones that often accompany CC visits to the USA.?

Our photographer Barge had the brilliant idea of putting a sign on our
booth saying that he would photograph any buds brought before him. We were
soon swamped with proud growers eager the show off the cream of their harvest.
Fine colas of all shapes and sizes were being swapped across our table.?

Gawking onlookers gathered round, trying to catch a glimpse or possibly
a rare toke of the amazing variety of herbs being placed under the photographic
lens. Oregon growers are proud of their quality buds, and from the look
of their product they have good reason to be.?

We’ve culled the best buds from Barge’s stack of photos, and present
them here for your envy and enjoyment. Comments are from Barge and Sean
of the Little Grow Store.?

Strange American Customs??

Getting into the states was a bit of a challenge for the CC crew, as
US customs initially stopped our car at the border and refused us entry.
A dour customs agent told us that our few CC magazines and T shirts made
it “obvious” that at least one of us had a criminal record. No entry for
us unless we could prove otherwise.?

Never ones to give up, we drove to the nearest RCMP station and asked
for criminal record checks. Within an hour we were on our way, clutching
official forms showing us to be as innocent as babes in the eyes of Canadian
law. US customs agents reluctantly let us through.?

?

CC at the RCMP? The HempBC & Cannabis Canada team waiting for their criminal record checks. From left to right: Sean (Little Grow Shop), Shell (Cannabis Cafe), Barge (Photographer), Dana Larsen (lying down, CC Editor), Sister Ice (HempBC), Suzanne Gracan (CC Managing Editor).?

I was asked if I smoked marijuana and I answered that I have indeed
done so. I was then flatly refused entry and told that I should not try
to re-enter for one year. The customs agent said that he would not permit
me to “promote narcotics” in his country, and that he had “lost friends
to marijuana”. Apparently new directives give agents more discretion to
refuse entry to people with political beliefs deemed to be dangerous.??

By Dana Larsen?