Seattle Police to Hand Out Doritos – Not Tickets – at Hempfest

SEATTLE, WA — For years, Seattle police have looked the other way as thousands of people openly smoke marijuana on the Seattle waterfront for three days during Hempfest, the largest annual gathering of marijuana smokers in the world. That was before voters passed I-502 last November, legalizing the possession of marijuana by adults in Washington State.

Public consumption of marijuana in Washington remains illegal, but police don’t plan on handing out tickets at this weekend’s event as thousands of marijuana supporters celebrate legalized marijuana by openly toking on the Seattle waterfront. Instead, they will be passing out bags of Doritos with legal information about the new law.

Seattle Police spokesperson Sgt. Sean Whitcomb announced “Operation Orange Fingers” on Wednesday. The snack sized bags of Doritos officers plan on handing out will be affixed with a sticker directing people to the police department’s “Marijwhatnow?” page, published just days after the November elections to help answer common questions about what is — and what isn’t — legal when it comes to recreational marijuana.

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“I think it’s going to be a lot of fun,” said Sgt. Sean Whitcomb, department spokesman and junk-food-dispenser-in-chief. “It’s meant to be ironic. The idea of police passing out Doritos at a festival that celebrates pot, we’re sure, is going to generate some buzz.”

“A lot of people still have questions about the nuances of the law and 2013 is a year very much in transition for people who enjoy pot,” Sgt. Whitcomb said.

Sgt. Witcomb also reminded festival attendees not to smoke and drive. Police will be on the lookout for intoxicated drivers leaving the festival, and encourage everyone to use public transportation or to designate a driver.

Hempfest will feature 117 musical acts on six stages and more than 100 speakers, and over 400 vendors offering informational pamphlets, colorful glass bongs, food and art.

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The event is free to the public, but a $10 donation per person is appreciated by organizers, as the 3-day festival costs upwards of $800,000 to produce.

For more information, visit www.hempfest.org.

Tags: Hempfest