Jack Herer and Dana Beal at the 1989 festival
The event in 2006

The Great Midwest Marijuana Harvest Festival is the longest running cannabis rights festival in the United States, held annually in Madison, Wisconsin since 1971.[1][2][3][4]

The festival was initiated and organized by Yippie and cannabis activist Ben Masel until his death in 2011.[5][6]

In 2014, the 44th annual festival was held at Library Mall.[7] The same space was used in 2016.[8]

What would have been the golden anniversary festival in 2020 had to be deferred to 2021. The Great Midwest Marijuana Harvest Festival has been rebranded to be a more holistic experience placing a strong emphasis on education and advocacy, aiming to dispel misconceptions and promote evidence-based information about cannabis. The festivals newly appointed four points of focus are Equity, Sustainability, Advocacy and Agribusiness. The festival, renamed as The Great Midwest Hemp Fest, is being run by R&R Productions Company founders Chris Ronan and Nicklaus Rueda and will return to Library Mall October 1st, 2023.

Ben Masel at the 2008 festival. Masel initiated the festival in 1971 and oversaw its organization until his death.

References

  1. ↑ "Event Archives: Great Midwest Marijuana Harvest Festival". Wisconsin Gazette. September 26, 2016. Retrieved April 21, 2017.
  2. ↑ Chinitz, Daniel (October 4, 2016). "Madison welcomes stoners with two-day Great Midwest Marijuana Harvest Festival". The Badger Herald. Madison, Wisconsin. ISSN 0045-1304. Retrieved April 21, 2017.
  3. ↑ Baillon, Rachelle (October 2, 2011). "Marijuana Harvest Festival". WMTV. Retrieved April 21, 2017.
  4. ↑ "Harvest Fest 39: Madison Musicians Rally for Medical Marijuana". Sounds Magazine. Retrieved 2017-04-27.
  5. ↑ Nichols, John (May 3, 2011). "Activist Ben Masel Never Shied From Exercising His Rights". The Capital Times.
  6. ↑ Rabideau Silvers, Amy (May 5, 2011). "Marijuana activist Masel was Madison gadfly for 40 years". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
  7. ↑ "44th Annual Great Midwest Marijuana Harvest Festival". City of Madison. Retrieved April 21, 2017.
  8. ↑ "Upcoming Cannabis, Psychedelic and Reform Events". Ladybud. Retrieved April 21, 2017.
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