Massachusetts is NOT a medical state and the hempfests that happen every year are NOT free-for-alls where you an publicly smoke. They are geared towards activism and awareness and the event planners always ask that festivalgoers leave their herb at home until we can make some real progress changing the laws.

The Amherst Extravaganja is held the Saturday closest to Earth Day every year on Amherst town common (intersection of rt 116 and rt 9). It's sponsored by the UMass Cannabis Reform Coalition. I hope they get better speakers this year. But the bands last year were good, especially the one from down Cape that reminded me a little of a homegrown No Doubt. Damn that chick could sing.

The Boston hempfest is in September and held outside the statehouse on the Boston Common. They have excellent political speakers but I wasn't so impressed with the music selections (death metal at 11am? OY!).