The 36th Annual Great Midwest Harvest Festival brought together a motley mix of protesters, reformers and Zen practitioners to Library Mall over the weekend.
But on a beautiful fall Sunday, the crowd had one demand: Join the political struggle against marijuana prohibition and smoke some weed in public.
Ushering in such radical change in U.S. drug policy is no small task, and most of the marijuana enthusiasts who marched on the Capitol Sunday were aware of the uphill battle.
It's not looking too good,"" said Doug, a landscaper from Minneapolis, describing his outlook on the future of marijuana liberalization.
Manning his National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws cart, distributing pro-reefer buttons and not LiveStrong, but LiveStoned green rubber bracelets, Doug discussed the difficult road ahead.
""Not enough people are coming out,"" he said. ""I can't do it on my own and others can't do it on their own. I think it's really about getting through with the literature.""
Middleton marijuana fan Melissa Stelter said both she and her husband are ""dedicated to the cause."" Stelter is part of the Rabid Badger Theater Company, a sketch group that uses theater to shed light on the benefits of cannabis.
Although the group did not perform at this year's festival, the Rabid Badgers have held several recent performances in Madison. Stelter said dissent through art is key to battling negative stereotypes.
""There is 70 years of misconception that needs to be broken,"" she said.
A relatively light police presence allowed for a peaceful protest on State Street. Marchers smoked joints and chanted songs of freedom after a brief gathering on Library Mall and a red banner proclaiming, ""There is No Justice in the Drug War,"" led men and women wearing the faces of hopeful underdogs.
Keith Stroup, founder of NORML, also made an appearance to rally the crowd and boost morale for a prolonged struggle.
""At the Chicago Hemp Festival they have what's called The Wall"" said activist Wayne Jass. ""It has pictures and stories of people who have been arrested and had their lives destroyed by prosecution under anti-marijuana laws.""
Jass, who is from Kenosha, recounted the struggles of friends suffering from multiple sclerosis. Unable to legally smoke marijuana, they are forced to suffer, Jass said.
""It's a nightmare"" he sighed. ""And why? Because people are smoking pot?
