Last year, police agreed to a 2-day permit to mark Extravaganja's 20th anniversary on a trial basis, but the event had problems.
Last year, more than 5,000 gathered for the annual Extravaganja, which advocates the legalization of marijuana.AMHERST – Extravaganja, the annual marijuana-freedom festival, is back to one day, and organizers are hoping that a well-behaved crowd might help them make their case for a two-day event next year.
The 2012 event is scheduled for April 28.
Last year, police agreed to a two-day permit to mark Extravaganja's 20th anniversary on a trial basis, but the event had problems.
Last year, the website for the festival sponsored by University of Massachusetts Cannabis Reform Coalition indicated that it would be OK to openly smoke pot on the Town Common without fear of being cited through an agreement reached with police. But police never made such an agreement.
There were also issues with people parking in spaces reserved for ambulances and noise, said Alex Delegas, the reform coalition president. “Some of the bands kind of antagonized the police,” he said.
“(We will) more closely be trying to accommodate them (police concerns.) ... make sure things don’t crazy,” Delegas said of organizers' plans for this year's festival.
“A lot of students are disappointed. Bands are disappointed,” he said of the reduction to one day.
Police Chief Scott P. Livingstone said the two-day festival was agreed to last year because it was the 20th anniversary.
“Some of the behavior is not what we agreed on,” Livingstone said. “There had been mutual respect (with group leaders.) We expected them to abide by the laws and the rules. That was lost somewhere.” Seventeen people were cited for violations last year.
The Cannabis Reform Coalition posted this on its Facebook page: “As a UMass RSO (registered student organization) we cannot tell you to smoke marijuana on the commons. It is unlawful to smoke marijuana in public, but it is not a crime. The penalty for marijuana possession under an ounce is a $100 fine. Distribution is a crime however, and passing a joint could technically be considered distribution so be careful.”
The coalition also posted that it will not tolerate distribution of marijuana, drinking in public, consuming other illegal drugs or violence.
“If the police see these they might shut down Extravaganja, so don't ruin it for everyone,” the post stated.
Livingstone said organizers could consider moving the festival to a bigger venue on campus. “It might be getting to the point where it’s getting so large where maybe (they need to be) looking for a larger venue. The Town Common might not be the ideal spot,” Livingstone said.
Last year more than more 5,000 people attended the event each day. So far this year, more than 3,200 have said they will attend, according to Cannabis Reform Coalition’s Facebook page.
The free festival, scheduled from noon to 6 p.m., features bands and speakers including Jack Cole, a retired state police lieutenant and member of Law Enforcement Against Prohibition among others, Delegas said.