John Sinclair, the inspiration for Ann Arbor’s Hash Bash, dead at 82

John Sinclair, the inspiration for Ann Arbor’s Hash Bash, dead at 82

John Sinclair, the poet whose imprisonment for marijuana inspired the start of Ann Arbor’s long-running annual Hash Bash in the 1970s, has died.

He was 82.

Sinclair’s passing occurred on Tuesday, April 2, 2024, at a Detroit hospital, merely four days prior to his scheduled appearance at the esteemed 53rd-annual marijuana rally on the University of Michigan Diag.

Sinclair faced health challenges in recent years, requiring him to rely on a wheelchair while residing in Detroit.

However, his dedication to Hash Bash prevailed, as he continued to make appearances at the event until 2023.

Heart failure was the official cause of death reported.

Sinclair’s passing will be a huge focus at Hash Bash, which starts at noon Saturday, April 6 2024.

The annual marijuana celebration and smoke fest traces its roots back to April 1972, a mere four months after renowned musician John Lennon, alongside other notable figures, descended upon the town for a freedom rally dedicated to Sinclair.

At the time, Sinclair was serving a prison sentence of 10 years merely for possessing two joints.

MLive: A history of Hash Bash and marijuana activism in Ann Arbor

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Ten for Two – Part 1

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John Sinclair first emerged out of his small-town Michigan background to forge a legendary course through the 1960s as a cultural activist, manager of the MC5, and Chairman of the White Panther Party. An early victim of the War on Drugs who faced 20 years to life in prison for giving two joints to an undercover policewoman, Sinclair served 29 months of a 9-1/2-to-10-year sentence before his legal victory on appeal changed the law for good. The long campaign waged by Sinclair culminated in a massive John Sinclair Freedom Rally on December 10th 1971, headlined by John Lennon & Yoko Ono, Stevie Wonder, Bob Seger, Phil Ochs, Allen Ginsberg and Bobby Seale that resulted in Sinclairs release from prison three days later.

Real Questions from Real Calls

Question: I smoked marijuana and consumed marijuana edibles at the hash bash in the U of M diag.  Is that legal??

No. It is unlawful to smoke marijuana in public places.

333.27954 Scope of act; unauthorized activities with marihuana and marihuana accessories; limitations; application of privileges, rights, immunities, and defenses under other marihuana laws; employer rights; property owner rights.

Sec. 4. 1. This act does not authorize:

(e) consuming marihuana in a public place or smoking marihuana where prohibited by the person who owns, occupies, or manages the property, except for purposes of this subdivision a public place does not include an area designated for consumption within a municipality that has authorized consumption in designated areas that are not accessible to persons under 21 years of age;

Read the Law

https://www.legislature.mi.gov/documents/mcl/pdf/mcl-Initiated-Law-1-of-2018.pdf

 

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PLANET GREEN TREES RADIO CELEBRATES SHOW #420

PLANET GREEN TREES RADIO CELEBRATES SHOW #420

PLANET GREEN TREES RADIO CELEBRATES SHOW  #420

Planet Green Trees radio celebrated it's 420th episode on April 18, 2019.  The show was broadcast from the Grow Green Warehouse location in Whitmore Lake courtesy of Tony Portelli owner of Grow Green.

Your host Attorney Michael Komorn presided over the show the usual suspects of Jim Powers- Michigan Parents for Compassion co- founder, Steve Miller, Jamie Lowell, Rick Thompson and Debra Young.

Special Guests making an appearence on the show included the legendary John Sinclair, Adam L Brook (Hash Bash Organizer), Michigan State Sen. Jeff Irwin, D-18th District, Nick Zettell and many more guests who have made the show a success.

One guest invaded the scene just as they did during the Hash Bash, Cannabis Cup A2 and the Monroe Street Fair.  Who was it?  The Promoto Dragon of course which escaped the scene without its handlers.

Pictures

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Komorn Law has associated our law firm expanding its cannabis and hemp industry services across the globe. If you are thinking about starting a business in this area you will need legal guidance and corporate counsel. 

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Planet Green Trees #420 Episode Video Part 1

Planet Green Trees #420 Episode Video Part 2

Planet Green Trees #420 Episode Video Part 3

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When marijuana was legal in Michigan – 22 days in 1972

When marijuana was legal in Michigan – 22 days in 1972

The Court released Sinclair from prison and, three months later, declared the state’s marijuana laws unconstitutional. There were no new marijuana laws in place, and so, in March of 1972, marijuana was effectively legalized in Michigan for about three weeks.

 

John Sinclair, “Michigan’s hippie king,” walked out of Jackson’s State Prison of Southern Michigan on Dec. 13, 1971 after serving two-and-a-half years of what might have been a 10-year prison sentence for marijuana possession.

Surrounded by a cheering crowd, a television reporter quizzed Sinclair as he embraced family and friends outside of the prison gate.

“After all of the trouble you’ve gone through Mr. Sinclair, how do you feel about marijuana? Do you still feel…”

“I wanna smoke some joints, man!” Sinclair interrupted.

Standing well over 6 feet tall with a mane of curly dark hair, Sinclair was a minor celebrity in Michigan’s counterculture: the manager for the Detroit rock band MC5 and the gregarious chairman of the White Panther Party, a revolutionary organization named in solidarity with the Black Panther Party.

He proclaimed that marijuana was safe, the government was oppressive and young people were going to take over the country.

The press characterized him as “colorful and quotable.” Police labeled him a threat to public safety.

The Michigan Supreme Court found him convincing.

The court fight that followed Sinclair’s arrest for marijuana possession in 1967 — and the “Free John Now!” publicity campaign launched by artist and activist Leni Sinclair, who was John’s wife at the time — briefly overturned Michigan’s marijuana laws and gave hope to Michigan’s more optimistic marijuana enthusiasts that legalization was within reach.

Read the entire story here

Story by – Ryan A. Huey, for the Lansing State Journal
Published 7:30 a.m. ET Feb. 8, 2018