It is an interesting paradigm but the police choose to be there to do their primary job, to keep the attendees safe. If someone that had been smoking pot would try to assult someone, they would be arrested; not for possession but for assault. Same if the person was sober, drunk or had been inhaling Scotchguard. The attitude is, if the peace is being kept, they are being successful.
The Seattle and Port Police embody the ideal of protect an serve. I know through many years of working on this, many of the fine people that serve in the COS and POS police departments. I am proud to call some of these people friends. The recruting done by these institutions is the finest I have witnessed. 99 percent of these people serve with honor and distinction. They care about their communities and the people in them. I have grown to respect these institutions very much.
On the flip side, the cops that view all of a demographic because of the bad behaviors of a few have a similar skewed view. Most cops are great people but those humans that are employed withing the police that view us with prejudice translate the actions of a few to all. Remember, these things go both ways. A few people that happen to be cops are assholes. That does not make it so for all.
We at Seattle Hempfest have a zero tolorance approach to those who, with prejudice, show disrespect to our cops. The police go out of our way to treat us with respect and dignity. We demand that that respect be shown to our boys in blue.
This is why we enjoy a great relationship with the police and they with us. Don't hate the cops because of the actions of some. Hate the laws that they sometimes have to enforce. We love our cops!
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