Hempfest does away with pot prescriptions
Aug 9, 2012, 9:40 AM | Updated: 11:20 am
Hempfest organizers say there will no longer be medical marijuana authorizations at the Seattle festival.
On Tuesday, the state Department of Health charged two naturopaths, Carolyn Lee Bearss and Dimitrios “Jimmy” Magiasis, for writing over 200 authorizations after sub-standard examinations at last year’s Hempfest.
Hempfest Executive Director Vivian McPeak says their board made the decision months ago to not allow the naturopaths to sell or make recommendations at this year’s festival.
“We have no judgment on the merit of the recommendations, we have no judgment on the merits of the investigation,” McPeak said. “It seemed like that was not something that should be taking place at Hempfest for a variety of reasons. ”
He said it just seemed to the board that there were too many questions about the propriety of the authorizations and it decided Hempfest wasn’t the proper venue for it.
“We aren’t sure a doctor can give a proper field examination in the environment of Hempfest, we just don’t know,” McPeak said.
Seattle Hempfest is Aug. 17 – 19 at Myrtle Edwards Park.
KIRO FM’s Kim Shepard contributed to this report.
