STURGIS -- Hemp foods, speakers, a medical marijuana march and music — lots of music — will be part of the fifth annual Black Hills Hemp Hoe Down this weekend near Sturgis.
The Hemp Hoe Down is Friday and Saturday at the Elk View Campground, south of Sturgis off Interstate 90 at Exit 37.
Friday's musical line-up includes Dog War, Sequoia the Warrior & Wellington Downz, Green House and Tone Grown. Event organizers say Saturday's schedule features Tim, DJ4Norml Project, Danica, Frown Brown, the Lost Marbles and Heywood.
The styles of music include reggae, folk, blues, jazz and "smooth hip-hop jazz with a Lakota flavor," according to a news release about the event. People of all ages are welcome to attend.
Oglala Sioux Tribe Vice President Alex White Plume will speak about 6 p.m. Friday. Event organizers say White Plume will talk about his efforts to become the only farmer since the 1960s to cultivate and sell a hemp crop in the United States. A federal injunction issued in 2004 has prevented White Plume and his family from growing hemp in recent years, but that ruling is now being appealed.
Saturday morning's schedule will start with a medical marijuana march. Organizers say it is a subsidiary of the Million Marijuana March, which takes place worldwide on the first Saturday in May to protest cannabis prohibition.
Bob Newland, founder of South Dakotans for Safe Access, will speak at midnight Friday and begin circulating petitions for medical marijuana. Hemphasis Magazine editor Jeremy Briggs also will speak throughout the weekend.
Organic hemp meals will be cooked to order by Organnabis Kitchen. Friday's menu includes burritos, chips, soup and salad. Saturday's offerings will include hemp pancakes, cereals, pasta and coffee. Hemp beer also will be available.
Roaming vendor passes will be available for $10.
Also on Saturday, the film "Hemp and the Rule of Law" will be shown at 3 p.m. Disc jockeys are invited to come and play throughout the day, and there will be an open mic session at 5 p.m.
Admission is $7 on Friday and $10 on Saturday, or $15 for both days. There will be a $1 discount for anyone who brings records, drums or other musical instruments. Camping is $7 per night.
According to the news release, illegal drugs are not all allowed. All dogs must be leashed. The event is sponsored by Horses to Harleys, Exit 14 BP, Turkey Graphics, the Breadroot Co-op and Common Sense. For more information call 484-1806.
