{{Short description|Madison festival}} {{Use American English|date=March 2026}} {{Use mdy dates|date=March 2026}} [[File:Jack Herer and Dana Beal. 1989 Great Midwest Marijuana Harvest Fest in Madison Wisconsin.jpg|thumb|Jack Herer and Dana Beal at the 1989 festival]] thumb|right|The event in 2006
The '''Great Midwest Marijuana Harvest Festival''' is the longest running cannabis rights festival in the United States, held annually in Madison, Wisconsin since 1971.<ref>{{cite news|title=Event Archives: Great Midwest Marijuana Harvest Festival|url=http://wisconsingazette.com/2016/09/26/great-midwest-marijuana-harvest-festival/|access-date=April 21, 2017|work=Wisconsin Gazette|date=September 26, 2016}}</ref><ref name="Chinitz">{{cite news|last1=Chinitz|first1=Daniel|title=Madison welcomes stoners with two-day Great Midwest Marijuana Harvest Festival|url=https://badgerherald.com/banter/2016/10/04/madison-welcomes-stoners-with-two-day-great-midwest-marijuana-harvest-festival/|access-date=April 21, 2017|work=The Badger Herald|date=October 4, 2016|issn=0045-1304|location=Madison, Wisconsin}}</ref><ref name="Baillon">{{cite news|last1=Baillon|first1=Rachelle|title=Marijuana Harvest Festival|url=http://www.nbc15.com/home/headlines/Marijuana_Harvest_Festival_130942078.html|access-date=April 21, 2017|publisher=WMTV|date=October 2, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://magazine.localsounds.org/2009/09/29/harvest-fest-39-madison-musicians-rally-for-medical-marijuana/ |title=Harvest Fest 39: Madison Musicians Rally for Medical Marijuana |work=Sounds Magazine |date= |access-date=2017-04-27}}</ref>
The festival was initiated and organized by Yippie and cannabis activist Ben Masel until his death in 2011.<ref name="CapitalTimes">{{cite web | url=https://www.420magazine.com/forums/cannabis-warriors/142197-activist-ben-masel-never-shied-exercising-his-rights.html | title=Activist Ben Masel Never Shied From Exercising His Rights | work=The Capital Times | date=May 3, 2011 | author=Nichols, John}}</ref><ref name="Sentinel">{{cite web | url=http://archive.jsonline.com/news/obituaries/121366644.html | title=Marijuana activist Masel was Madison gadfly for 40 years | work=Milwaukee Journal Sentinel | date=May 5, 2011 | author=Rabideau Silvers, Amy}}</ref>
In 2014, the 44th annual festival was held at Library Mall.<ref>{{cite web|title=44th Annual Great Midwest Marijuana Harvest Festival|url=https://www.cityofmadison.com/calendar/44th-annual-great-midwest-marijuana-harvest-festival|publisher=City of Madison|access-date=April 21, 2017}}</ref> The same space was used in 2016.<ref name="Ladybud">{{cite web|title=Upcoming Cannabis, Psychedelic and Reform Events|url=http://www.ladybud.com/2016/09/25/upcoming-cannabis-psychedelic-and-reform-events/|website=Ladybud|access-date=April 21, 2017}}</ref>
What would have been the golden anniversary festival in 2020 had to be deferred to 2021. The Great Midwest Marijuana Harvest Festival has been rebranded to be a more holistic experience placing a strong emphasis on education and advocacy, aiming to dispel misconceptions and promote evidence-based information about cannabis. The festivals newly appointed four points of focus are Equity, Sustainability, Advocacy and Agribusiness. The festival, renamed as The Great Midwest Hemp Fest, is being run by R&R Productions Company founders Chris Ronan and Nicklaus Rueda and will return to Library Mall October 1st, 2023.
[[File:Ben Masel at Midwest Marijuana Harvest Fest in 2008.jpg|thumb|240px|Ben Masel at the 2008 festival. Masel initiated the festival in 1971 and oversaw its organization until his death.]]
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== {{Portal|Cannabis}} {{Commons}} *{{Official website|https://www.yourhempfest.org}} *[https://topgrows.com/420-meaning/ What Does 420 Friendly Means?]
{{Cannabis events|state=collapsed}} {{Cannabis in Wisconsin}} {{Cannabis|state=collapsed}}
Category:1971 establishments in Wisconsin Category:1971 in cannabis Category:Annual events in Wisconsin Category:Cannabis culture Category:Cannabis events in the United States Category:Cannabis in Wisconsin Category:Culture of Madison, Wisconsin Category:Festivals established in 1971 Category:Festivals in Wisconsin