4/20/17

“Silence the Stigma: A 420 Rally and Celebration” will be held from 6pm to 10pm at 1802 W. Berenice Ave., Chicago, in the Strawdog Theatre building at Ravenswood between Addison and Irving Park Road. The purpose is to inform attendees about the value of legal medicinal cannabis and how procurement presently works in Illinois. Experts and advocates will begin speaking beginning at 7pm with musical performances between each slot.

The all-ages event is organized by licensed Illinois social worker Holly Hoffman, who is also a medical cannabis patient. It is being produced with the help of several pro-cannabis organizations: Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP), The Amplify Project (an arm of SSDP which helps promote cannabis-friendly entertainment events in exchange for info table space at the event), Illinois Women in Cannabis, and the Illinois chapter of longtime cannabis lobbying group NORML.

Musicians donating acoustic live performances include Cameron Broderick (live looper), William Buchholtz / Allison (Native American flutist), Catfish & The Dogstars (eclectic rock), Anna Fermin (beloved Americana songwriter from Trigger Gospel), Layla Frankel (new soul-folk singer), Scott Free (queer music icon), Bucky Halker (labor music historian), Anais Lauren (rising R&B songstress), Kristin Lems (social activist and songwriter), PMARTT (Cameron-born hip-hop rising star), Psi-ence (electronica explorer), and Al Rose (genre-defying songsmith).

“It is terrible to me that something that could help people cope with such a wide variety of diseases or ailments is so stigmatized. To deny yourself access to the healing power of this natural herb, just because of the shame so ignorantly attached to its use, is a tragedy... especially when so many OTC and prescription drugs have horrible side-effects, yet they remain socially accepted and widely used,” states Holly Hoffman. “It’s so important to me that people stop needlessly suffering, that I want to stand up against the pharmaceutical and political powers that keep cannabis in the dark. I want people to come out on 4/20, get entertained by some great music, and get further educated by some great and passionate speakers. Hopefully, this event will start a ripple that will keep spreading among people who can benefit from medical cannabis.”

Speakers and presenters include Ali Nagib, the Assistant Director of Illinois NORML, representatives from SSDP and Illinois Women In Cannabis, a certified drug addiction counselor with expertise in helping veterans, a cannabis dispensary pharmacist, and a leukemia survivor who relied solely on medical cannabis. Additional experts, activists, and government officials are still being scheduled.

There is a suggested donation of $2 which will be split evenly between SSDP and NORML. This is an all-ages event so young adults and underage students may attend. Parents may choose to bring their children but serious issues will be openly discussed and the artists may choose mature themes in their songs. The evening program will alternate between brief talks and ten-minute acoustic musical sets.