Hosting the 4:20 council in the Hemp Hall of the Milkweg (Milky Way) dance venue in Amsterdam, Stephen was asked by an audience member whether it was true that he was running for president. Stephen confirmed this, and said that the first three items on his platform would be universal health care, campaign reform and marijuana. Asked which party he would run under, he replied "the Hippy Party!" The author of Amazing Dope Tales, Hey Beatnik! and Cannabis Spirituality is a celebrity judge at the Cannabis Cup.
A hippy icon, Gaskin is famous for leading a caravan of 50 school buses to Tennesee where they founded The Farm, an alternative community. Their many successes include innovations in farming, food, health care, and community. Gaskin founded Plenty International, a private peace corps that has helped Third World communities on four continents. Among The Farm's current projects is a radiation detector that has found buyers among anti-nuclear activists, law enforcement agencies and the federal government.
Hippyland will continue to report on Stephen Gaskin's candidacy and we hope to have a interview with him soon. Hippyland will consider a possible endorsement of his candidacy.
Rita Marley (left), the wife of Bob Marley, arrived in Amsterdam today
to participate in the induction of her charismatic husband into the Cannabis
Hall of Fame. A surprise guest, she took the stage in front of a
very high, very packed Melkweg crowd. The day's tribute to Bob Marley
included a multimedia presentation by Roger Steffens that included some
very early footage of the Wailers and a great segement which included some
of Bob's most famous tunes.