Organizers of Seattle's Hempfest have sued the Seattle Art Museum (SAM) and city, claiming construction of Olympic Sculpture Park is hindering plans for the annual pro-marijuana festival.
The actual festival is not endangered. But organizers say they're frustrated the city and the museum have not guaranteed a corridor wide enough to allow thousands of festival-goers and equipment trucks easy access to the festival site at Myrtle Edwards Park on Seattle's downtown waterfront.
When Hempfest promoters asked for such guarantees, they were told by the sculpture park's construction manager to "be cool" while park construction continues, according to the lawsuit filed Monday in King County Superior Court.
The lawsuit argues the city has illegally delayed issuing a permit for the festival, which would spell out conditions for the festival site. Organizers applied for the permit in January but have not yet received it, despite a requirement that the city act on an application within 60 days.
Hempfest is expected to draw as many as 50,000 people a day on Aug. 19 and 20, according to organizers.
The pro-marijuana event has been held at Myrtle Edwards Park every year but one since 1995.
Bastards. There's always an interesting air around Hempfest. And the people watching is a treat.
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