Newton Kansas - August 18, 1993 - by Bill Wilson - County authorities say they’ll crack down on pro-marijuana rally - Three-day outdoor concert scheduled for Aug. 20-22

Harvey County authorities plan to crack down on a three-day outdoor concert scheduled for Aug. 20-22 by a Wichita pro-marijuana group.

Kansas Environmentalists for Commerce in Hemp, who founder Debby Moore of Wichita faces marijuana sale charges in Sedgwick County, is sponsoring the event at Walton’s Park, a private park that the group rented. It is located east of Newton on First Street. Several rock groups are scheduled to perform during the “Mean Green Marathon Bash,” which begins on Friday night of that weekend and will last through Sunday. Political speeches and petition-gathering to legalize hemp also will take place.

Harvey County Sheriff Byron Motter said his department’s position was mis-represented as an endorsement of the concert in a Wednesday Wichita Eagle story. He called the concert a media event to promote the legalization of marijuana and said his department will descent on the concert in force looking for violation of the law.

“We plan to enforce the law and not turn our heads to any violation of the law,” Motter said. “There is nothing legally we can do to stop it from happening. But we regret they are coming to Harvey County.”

Sheriff’s officers plan to monitor the concert from a command van at the park. The department will continue its 12-hour shifts and all days off will be canceled for the weekend. Backup will be provided by Kansas Highway Patrol trooper and other law enforcement agencies. Officers will be stationed on all roads leading to the park to check for erratic drivers.

Moore said opponents of the concert “don’t understand.”

“The success of something like this benefits the entire community,” she said. “People are going to buy gas, buy bread. Mr. Walton (park owner Les) is going to benefit. People are coming from all over the United States. People will be aware of Newton now.”

The concert also has drawn the ire of Newton’s substance abuse education community.

“Our hope is the community won’t support something like this,” said John Gilbert, assistant director of Mirror Inc., an alcohol and drug treatment program based in Newton. “We’d like to see something positive come out of this here - like a more heightened awareness that drugs are not OK.”

Despite the stance he is taking. Motter said the concerts traditionally produce little drug use - until the news media arrives.

“Past history of these things show widespread marijuana use doesn’t occur until the news cameras arrive,” he said. “Prior to the media’s arrival, Butler County had no problems with the concert there (in 1992). These concerts simply are a media event to advance the cause of legalized marijuana.”

“I’m inclined to look at this as a joke,” Gilbert said. “She (Moore) is coming down here with her concert to get money for her defense. There’s always going to be the fringe who say drugs are OK, even though studies have long proven drugs, including marijuana, are not OK. I would hope our community and Harvey County can create an atmosphere where drugs are not all right.”

Moore said little, if any, marijuana use takes place at her concerts.

“Sometimes there is more alcohol use than I find acceptable,” she said. “I don’t drink, myself. I would be naive to tell you that I can control 1,500 people, though, I can tell you we are going to perpetuate its use.”

Motter said his office has been inundated with calls since the Eagle story implied county officials are endorsing the concert.

“The people need to know we are strongly opposed to this concert but there is nothing legally we can do about it,” he said.

Tickets for the concert are $20 and are available at sites in Wichita, including the Hemp Boutique located at Lawrence and Topeka. Forty-four hours of music featuring 10 bands will be offered.

A flier for the concert also trumpets “space for vendors with magical wares!” Rules for the concert include no open fires, no pets and no glass.

This is the second such concert to be held in Walton’s Part in the last 10 years. In 1986, the rock group Black Oak Arkansas headlined a weekend concert at Walton’s Park that produced several drug-related arrests. The musical group didn’t actually perform.

Motter said concert organizers expect 1,500 people. The Butler County concert drew only 500 people.