Seattle lights up with mass weed-smoking event to celebrate first anniversary of legalization

Pot advocate is holding a celebration of Washington state's legalization of marijuana
The public festival will feature music, food and marijuana smoking
The festival will be held on December 6, the first anniversary of legalization

PUBLISHED: 16:48 EST, 23 November 2013 | UPDATED: 16:48 EST, 23 November 2013

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In celebration of the first anniversary of Washington state's legalization of marijuana, a festival for up to 500 people will be held at the Seattle Center's Fun Forest amusement park.

Pot advocate Ben Livingstone lobbied for the festival, which will include food, music and of course, marijuana, for three months before city officials approved the plan.

Livingston said Seattle Center officials initially rejected the idea because marijuana remains federally illegal.

December 6 2012: Voters approved an initiative to decriminalize the recreational use of marijuana in Washington state, an event being celebrated this year with a 'pot festival'

He refused to accept the first rejection he was handed, citing two previous events in the city where public consumption of marijuana was legal, and finally prevailed.

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According to the Seattle Times, city officials prevaricated over allowing the free, adults-only event and say Livingstone's festival is only a trial program.

Pot party: John 'The Freak' smokes a cigar-sized marijuana blunt after the Cannabis Freedom March in Seattle, on Saturday, May 11, 2013

A spokesman for Mayor Mike McGinn told the Seattle Times that the city wanted to support a legal activity, but Livingston’s party marked new ground for Seattle Center.

First-time event: Officials say Livingston's festival at Fun Forest is a trial that they will monitor closely

'We’re working to create best practices for private events where you can smoke marijuana,' said Aaron Pickus.

Livingstone had to overcome two laws in gaining permission for the party, according to the Seattle Times.

First, it's illegal in Washington to smoke marijuana in view of the general public.

Second, the clean-air act does not allow employees to be subjected to marijuana smoke.

To address the first, Livingstone plans to install two fences to shield the general public from the view of people smoking marijuana. Second, he will use volunteers instead of Seattle center employees at the event.

Livingston forked out $1,900 to use part of the 74-acre Seattle Center on December 6, the anniversary of the day Washington’s recreational pot law took effect, between 3pm and 11pm.

Noting that Pearl Jam's tour will end in nearby KeyArena that night, he told the Seattle Times he'd like to extend an invitation to the band.

'Hey, if they want to come over,' he said, 'we could bill them as "Heady’ Vedder," "Stoned" Gossard and Mike "McWeedy."'

500-toker pot party gets OK¿d outdoors at Seattle Center

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Nathalie Blair, Seattle, United States, 9 hours ago

Wow. Always a good, positive experience reading the comments.

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Skylor, USA, 9 hours ago

Everybody who wants weed legal should vote for Obama pals

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Wisekeep, Philmoore, United States Minor Outlying Islands, 9 hours ago

What are they celebrating it being legal for? They were smoking before anyway. Believe these folks would would celebrate lighting up some weed if it were a pie chunking contest.