Civil Rights Icon to Appear at Earth Day Cannabis Village
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Recently, it was announced that the civil rights icon to appear at Earth Day Cannabis Village in San Diego is Dolores Huerta. The iconic labor and feminist leader will be the featured guest during San Diego’s EarthFair festivities for Earth Day on April 22.
The Cannabis Village is an officially sanctioned element of EarthFair in San Diego’s famous Balboa Park. The area will have booths for 40 vendors and a “Sun Stage” featuring musical entertainment and speakers including “Guru of Ganja” Ed Rosenthal.
Who is Dolores Huerta?
Dolores Huerta has been an advocate for the rights of workers, migrants and women for more than six decades. In 1962 she and César Chávez founded the National Farm Workers Association.
The group was the precursor to the United Farm Workers, the powerful labor union. Huerta was an instrumental force in a successful five-year consumer boycott of table grapes begun in 1965.
She is the founder and president of the Dolores Huerta Foundation, a non-profit organization fostering social justice and community development. She coined the rallying cry “Sí se puede” and was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama in 2012.
Jared Sclar says Huerta is a fitting guest for the event. He’s the Communications Director for the Association of Cannabis Professionals (ACP), the sponsor of the Cannabis Village. He says that his group is excited that she will be attending.
“The legalization of cannabis is not a cannabis issue, it’s a civil rights issue. It’s a social justice issue. It’s a criminal justice issue. As a civil rights leader, Ms. Huerta understands that, and we’re thrilled that she wanted to celebrate the end of prohibition with us,” said Sclar.
Sclar noted that the details of Huerta’s appearance are still being worked out and that he hoped she would be able to serve as Grand Marshall of the Earth Day Parade through the park. She may also be one of the featured speakers on the Sun Stage.
Final Hit: Dolores Huerta: The Civil Rights Icon to Appear at Earth Day Cannabis Village
This year will be the second Cannabis Village for ACP. The inaugural event last year included a headlining set by reggae artist Pato Banton of “Don’t Sniff Coke” fame. A highlight of his appearance featured free ganja passed out to the crowd by activists invited onstage by Banton.
San Diego’s EarthFair is billed as the “largest free environmental fair in the world.” Last year’s attendance was estimated at 60,000 people, but Sclar of ACP believes that could be topped in 2018.
“With the end of prohibition taking full effect this year, I think we’re going to see an even better turnout than the amazing turnout we had last year.”
Sclar added that while the Cannabis Village will be a fun way to celebrate the victories of cannabis legalization won to date, the work of activists isn’t done yet.
The City of San Diego is the only jurisdiction in the county allowing commercial sales of adult-use cannabis, including THC products. Those activities are still not permitted in the remaining cities and the unincorporated areas of San Diego County.
“It’s a shame the elected officials in the other 18 cities have not yet put in those regulations to ratify the will of the people, which is their sworn duty as elected officials,” he said.
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