TACOMA — Organizers of the Hempfest celebration in Tacoma are upset after police hired to provide security for the event cited about a dozen vendors for selling drug paraphernalia.
Organizer Mike Byers told The Seattle Times that the vendors were offering glass pipes, bongs and other “tobacc
o- consumption products” when they were cited Saturday. Douglas Hiatt, attorney for the pro-marijuana legalization group Sensible Washington, said Seattle police don’t issue similar citations at the larger Hempfest event there.
The Tacoma Hempfest organizers paid $7,000 to the city for the police presence.
Tacoma Police Capt. Jim Howatson told The News Tribune that city permits for the event specified that no paraphernalia was allowed. He said selling marijuana and drug paraphernalia is illegal.
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