Hash Bash

History of Hash Bash

• The second Hash Bash in 1973 had around 3,000 participants.
• In 1978, police interference occurred for the first time, with participants being booked for alleged drug use.
• By 1985, attendance at Hash Bash was at 0 but quickly rose again as a major protest.
• The 2009 Hash Bash celebrated medical marijuana’s victory in Michigan and saw an estimated 1,600 participants.
• The 2015 Hash Bash had a record attendance of 8,000–15,000 participants.

Participants at Hash Bash

• State representative Perry Bullard attended and smoked marijuana at the 1973 Hash Bash.
• Comedian Tommy Chong appeared at the 2015 Hash Bash, attracting a record crowd.
• Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer recorded a video for Hash Bash attendees in 2019, celebrating the legalization of recreational cannabis.
• Chef Ra was a prominent figure at Hash Bash for 19 years until his death in 2006.
• The 2010 Hash Bash had an estimated 5,000 attendees.

Location and Timing of Hash Bash

• Hash Bash is held annually in Ann Arbor, Michigan, on the first Saturday of April at noon.
• The event takes place at the University of Michigan Diag.
• Before cannabis legalization in Michigan, the penalty for marijuana violations in Ann Arbor was a $55 fine.
• The campus, though under state jurisdiction, historically showed tolerance for public marijuana use during Hash Bash.
• Marijuana consumption openly occurs at the event, with few arrests made by the police.

Impact and Acceptance of Hash Bash

• Hash Bash aims to reform marijuana laws at federal, state, and local levels.
• The event began in 1972 in response to a Michigan Supreme Court decision regarding marijuana possession.
• The wider acceptance of recreational drug use has contributed to increased turnout at Hash Bash.
• Hash Bash has become a platform for speeches, live music, and civil disobedience related to cannabis.
• Over the years, Hash Bash has evolved from a protest to a significant annual gathering in Ann Arbor.

External Links Related to Hash Bash

• Annual Hash Bash in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
• Guide to Ann Arbor Hash Bash by Freedom Activist Networks.
• Official site of the Monroe Street Fair.
• Article on Hash Bash with a touch of Hollywood by Geoff Larcom.
• Resources related to marijuana laws and policies by the Marijuana Policy Project.

Hash Bash Data Sources