Organizer Rob Waddell says this year’s annual Hempfest (aptly named Hempfest: The End of an Era) in Ontario, Canada from August 27-30, is scheduled to be the last. A celebration centered around enjoying marijuana medicinally and recreation-ally, the four day event has had a lot of buzzkills to contend with over the years in the form of:

• Unwarranted police presence.
• Police vehicle checks that focus on “interrogation”.
• Police hindering access.
• Police not weeding out actual impaired drivers.

Waddell frustratingly notes:

It’s the harassment of people traveling to and from the festival. The constitution and Charter of Rights guarantee us the right to gather peacefully and demonstrate against unjust laws, which we’re doing. [...] The police keep interfering with our people and the right to gather.

Waddell even claims that the Ontario Provincial Police have U.S. law enforcement with them when Hempfest is happening:

They’re targeting the sick.  We’re not a bunch of crazies out in the bush, getting stoned and running around, it’s (mostly) people that are 35-60 years old that are out there and (having) just a great weekend of educating each other and talking about friends and talking about the benefits and the situations that are arising about the medical use of cannabis in Canada. [...] While others may decide in future to pick up the Hempfest torch, this year’s event will be the last to be held in Poplar Dale, a community of less than 100 people who will be able to ‘get back to their peaceful way of life out there in the country.’

Oddly enough Waddell plans to turns Hempfest into a music festival where he hopes it will become “a real good rocking time for four days.”

Amsterdam peoples, Twin Cities’ very own Atmosphere is rocking a show tonight in your town! Catch the duo, Slug and Ant, as part of their When God Gives You Ugly Tour rolls forward.

Tele: (+31) 20 531 8181
Click here for more details on the show. Word.

This year’s event includes 5 stages of music! Check here for the full line up or click through to view it.

You can reserve an Ultimate VIP Cabana package and do it up right. EDC has teamed up with LA’s Giant to offer either the Giant Peristyle (21+), VIP Cabanas (21+) or Ultimate VIP Cabanas (21+), and additional sound is being installed to enhance the overall experience in the VIP areas. Click here to purchase tickets.

For more general information on this year’s EDC, check the official website here. And of course, this is a massive so you can be sure to expect long lines, pricey items, and random person shoulder sweat on you. Have fun and be safe!

Stage: kineticFIELD
Thievery Corporation LIVE
Paul Oakenfold
ATB
Fedde le Grand
Eddie Halliwell
Aly & Fila
Vello Virkhaus

Stage: circuitGROUNDS
STS9 Sound Tribe Sector 9
Pretty Lights
Daedelus
LawGiverz
Manufactured Superstars

Stage: neonGarden
Boys Noize
Shiny Toy Guns
Fake Blood
Shinichi Osawa
Nick Catchdubs
12th Planet // Computer Club // Foamo
Paul Devro // Kry-lon // C-Town

Stage: bassPOD
Monsters of Jungle featuring
Dieselboy
The Upbeats
Evol Intent
Ewun // Infiltrata
Mayhem // Demo // Spktrm
Hazen // Subflo // Deco
MC’s: Messinian, Dino, Question Mark

Stage: kineticFIELD
Paul Van Dyk
David Guetta
Benny Benassi
Kaskade
James Zabiela
Joaquin Bamaca
Vello Virkhaus

Stage: circuitGROUNDS
Infected Mushroom LIVE
The Crystal Method LIVE
Markus Schulz
Sander Van Doorn
Yoji
Cosmic Gate
Kyau & Albert

Stage: cosmicMEADOW
Roger Sanchez
Mark Farina
The Martinez Brothers
Tortured Soul Live
Dennis Ferrer
Andy Caldwell

Stage: neonGarden
Simian Mobile Disco LIVE
Diplo
Major Lazer
DJ AM
Le Castle Vania
Will Bailey presents Bass Weazal
Bird Peterson // Kelevra
Eli Smith // Grum
Sharkslayer
The Captain

Stage: bassPOD
DJ Hype
Andy C
Marky
Friction
LTJ Bukem
Subfocus
Mystical Influence // Sniper // DJ Fury
Hazen
MC’s: GQ, Conrad, Daddy Earl, SP:MC, Dino, Question Mark

There’s always a lot going on by the time 420 rolls around. We’ve decided to aggregate all of the best events we can find that fall on this most hallowed of days starting with a few original recipes brought to you by theFreshScent.

And of course, be safe out there.

Cooking with Cannabis — tFS Originals

• Spaghetti Cannabonara
• Dandelion + Marijuana Honey
• Tiramipot

Television Shows and Specials

• [On G4TV] G420 Special — G4 is Going Green! Watch a new marijuana-charged Attack of the Show, the cannabis classic movie Half Baked and the revealing marijuana mockumentary, Super High Me.
• [On CNN] D.L. Hughley’s final show on CNN — D.L., a medical marijuana patient, visits a medical marijuana dispensary.
• [On FOX] Family Guy “Episode 420″ — The 12th episode of the seventh season is scheduled to air on FOX, April 19, 2009 @ 9:00 p.m. Brian finds himself in jail for drug possession, and upon his release, he mounts a campaign calling for the legalization of marijuana; Mayor West passes the law, leading the entire town on marijuana-fueled misadventures.

Events and Concerts

California

Four Twenty 2009 at UC Santa Cruz
Time: 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Location: UC Santa Cruz @ Porter Meadows
Where: Santa Cruz, CA
Click here for more information.

Cypress Hill
Time: 4:20 p.m.
Location: The Fillmore
Where: San Francisco, CA
Age: ALL
Click here for more information.

Atmosphere, P.O.S. and Attracted To Gods
Time: 8:00 p.m.
Location: 982 Market Street @ The Warfield
Where: San Francisco, CA
Price: $27.50 – $30.00
Age: ALL
Click here for more information.

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Colorado

Denver 4/20 Rally
Time: 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Location: Civic Center Park @ the Greek Theater
Where: Denver, Colorado
Age: ALL
Click here for more information.

NORML’s National Marijuana Forum
Time: 2:00 p.m.
Location: Colorado University
Where: Boulder, Colorado
Age: ALL
Click here for more information.

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Connecticut

Jedi Mind Tricks
Time: 9:00 p.m.
Location: 300 York Street @ Toad’s Place
Where: New Haven, Connecticut
Price: $15.00 – $18.00
Age: ALL
Click here for more information.

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Nevada

420 Hemp Fest
Time: 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Location: NORML Ranch
Where: Eureka County, Nevada
Price: Free
Age: ALL
Click here for more information.

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New York

High Times 420 Celebration (+ Miss High Times Pageant)
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Location: Studio B
Where: Brooklyn, NY
Price: $20.00
Click here for more information.

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Pennsylvania

NORML 4/20 Freedom Forum
Time: 2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Location: Kirby Auditorium in the National Constitution Center @ the Independence Mall
Where: Philadelphia, PA
Price: $40.00
Click here for more information.

Asher Roth Public Record Release Party
Time: 4:20 p.m. – ?
Location: The Note
Where: West Chester, PA
Price: Free
Age: ALL
Click here for more information.

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Canada

420 Film Fest
Time: 6:00 p.m. – 9:45 p.m.
Location: The Plaza Theatre
Where: Calgary, Canada
Price: $4.20 – $8.00
Click here for more information.

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United Kingdom

CunninLynguists – Strange Journey European Tour
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Location: 311 Kilburn High Road @ The Luminaire
Where: London, England
Price: £11 – £13
Age: ALL
Click here for more information.

Basement Jaxx
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Location: Westgate Road @ O2 Academy, Newcastle
Where: Newcastle, England
Click here for more information.

Edit: If there are any events we missed, please use our contact form to let us know.

To answer your first question: No, you do not need to be a MMJ patient to attend this event. It’s open to everyone 18 and older, and there will be a designated “medication area” with pre-registration (for patients only).

For only $10.00, you can enjoy a day filled with live music, speakers, workshops, panels, vendors, food; and for patients, you can register to be a judge in the first annual JEMM CUP for a $35.00 registration fee. Must have bring a doctor’s recommendation for verification purposes.

I’ll be attending and would love to see all your beautiful faces there, so if you’ve got an hour or two free this Sunday, come out to Hollywood and join in the festivities!

The 5th Annual Joint Rolling Competition, hosted by the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) at Anisq’ Oyo’ Park in Isla Vista, sparked off this past Sunday. Celebrating anything green and sticky, NORML used the festival to promote their goals of reforming marijuana laws for personal and medical use, as well as bringing industrial hemp growing back to the United States.

The competition consisted of various categories — fattest, fastest, freestyle and primo categories for both joints and blunts, and a joint-only contest for medical marijuana and one-handed specialists.

Alexander Stemplewski, a contestant that registered for every competition category, won the race with most joints rolled within 2 minutes. He also was on top for the fattest blunt and took second place for the fattest joint.

Stemplewski, a second-year financial math and statistics major said:

I think it’s an awesome competition. It brings a great group of people together.

The freestyle joint rolling competition was the “high” point of the day, bringing together imaginative rollers who went head to head crafting cross joints and braided joints. George Pelic took first place for his unique creation, the “Torpedo-Tulip.”

Pelic, a business administration major said:

I used to work in a cannabis club in L.A. rolling joints. I learned how to roll in Europe. I was the apprentice of a well-known joint roller there.

The event gathered several hundred students, vendors and marijuana enthusiasts.

There’s always a lot going on by the time 420 rolls around. We’ve decided to aggregate all of the best events we can find that fall on this most hallowed of days.

So, don’t lounge around the house tomorrow, go outside and do something cool and come back here to tell us about it. Those with the best stories just might get themselves a 420 goodie or two.

And of course, be safe out there.

California
Agent Orange, The Generators, The Maxies, Kill Deville, The Astounding Roy Gorbisons, Tone Junkies
Time: 7:00 PM
Location: Showcase Theatre
Where: 683 S. Main St., Corona, CA., 92882
Price: $12, $10/adv.
Age: ALL

The Autumns, Miss Derringer, Mad Juana
Time: 8:15 PM
Location: The Roxy Theatre on Sunset
Price: $12
Click here for the website

Faded Smoke Shop’s 1 Year Anniversary & 4/20 Extravaganza
Location: Faded Smoke Shop
Where: 14517 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks, CA., 91403
Age: 18+

Temple 420 Comedy Show
Location: HaHa Cafe Comedy Club
Where: 5150 Lankershim, Hollywood, CA
Phone: 818-508-4995
Click here for the website

Harvest
Location: MJ Higgins Gallery
Where: 244 S Main St., Los Angeles, CA., 90012
Time: 9:00 PM – 3:00 AM
Price: $10
Click here for the website

Knobturnal – A Night of Local Art & Music
Location: Inside Chinatown Plaza
Where: 473 Gin Ling Way, Los Angeles, CA., 90012
Time: 8:00 PM – 2:00 AM
Price: FREE
Phone: 213-625-7500
Click here for the website

Florida
420 Festival
Location: Churchill’s
Where: 5501 NE 2nd Ave., Miami, FL.
Time: 10:00 PM
Click here for the website

Massachusetts
Legends of Style: Boston
Location: Boston Center for the Arts
Where: 539 Tremont St., Boston, MA.
Time: 8:00 PM – 12:00 AM
Age: 21+
Price: $20, $15/adv.
Click here for the website

Nevada
Nevada NOMRML Presents Vegas 420 Music Fest
Location: The IceHouse
Where: Las Vegas, NV.
Time: 9:00 AM
Click here for the website

New York
420 Party
Location: Creek and the Cave
Where: Long Island City, NY.
Time: 4:20 PM
Click here for the website

Liberty Heights Tap Room
Location: Liberty Heights Tap Room
Where: 34 Van Dyke St., Brooklyn, NY., 11231
Time: 9:00 PM
Price: FREE
Phone: 718-246-8050
Click here for the website

Ohio
Beer Tasting @ Jackie O’s Pub & Brewery
Location: Jackie O’s Pub & Brewery
Where: Athens, OH.
Phone: 740-592-9686
Click here for the website

CANADA/BRITISH COLUMBIA
A Higher State – A 420 Celebration
Time: 8:00 PM – 2:00 AM
Location: Anza Club
Where: 3 West 8th & Ontario, Vancouver, B.C.
Price: $20, $15/adv.
Age: 19+
Click here for the website

Edit: If there are any events we missed, please use our contact form to let us know.

There are many things that create a perfect match for each other – peanut butter & jelly, rum & coke and (my personal favorite) marijuana & laughter. Knowing this full well, Green Therapy is hosting another ExtravaGANJA in Hollywood, CA.

Green Therapy’s goal is to “raise awareness of the benefits of medical marijuana and to help bring patients some relief by giving them a laugh or two”. That sounds like a damn honorable mission statement to me.

Performing comics include Joe Rogan, Jeff Ross, Doug Benson, Dom Irrera, Todd Glass and more. There’s also going to be an afterparty featuring Los Marijuanos and the DVD release of ‘Get Pony Boy’. Overall, it’s going to be one entertaining night.

Tickets cost $20 at the door with a $5 discount to medical marijuana patients. The event is being held in The Comedy Store, located at 8433 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood.

Doug Benson is one of my favorite comics, so I’m definitely dropping by this show. If you support medical marijuana then come on down and have a great night.

There are a couple of stoner anthems that come to mind from the past few years. One of the more popular ones was ‘Because I Got High’ by Afroman. Well, he’s determined not to be a one-hit-wonder and has dropped a 2 disc LP called Afroholic – The Even Better Times.

To promote the new album, Afroman is touring California with his Cali Swangin’ Tour. The first tourdate is January 25th in Hollywood and the last is January 28th in Santa Cruz. His new release is aimed at being a more dynamic rapper and showing there’s more beneath the surface than catchy drug-related jingles.

Check out Afroman’s website here or get more info on tour dates & ticket sales at Howard Presents.

Read on to view the flipside of the Afroman flyer.