Philly420: Slightly Stoopid, Hemp Heals to light up Philly

Philadelphia has been enjoying decriminalized marijuana since last fall. Arrests are down significantly. So this is our first summer under the new policy and there's reason to celebrate. July is shaping up to be the best month yet for stoner-friendly concerts and events.

On July 10th, the band Slightly Stoopid rolls into Festival Pier. They don't get tons of radio play, but this high energy, ska and reggae influenced band has a massive following. They are also friendly to the marijuana reform movement. Slightly Stoopid is touring their new album "Meanwhile...Back At The Lab" that John Fortunato reviewed at CelebStoner.com:

Whether daydreaming about "summertime music and my seed, Mary Jane," or letting everyone know they're "smoking our trees," Stoopid not only praise the good herb, but also cautiously seek political enlightenment and personal security. And when they feel like it, the bohemian messengers can deliver a sassy, soulful instrumental like the album's appropriately titled opening salvo, "Dabbington," where spurted trumpet, trombone and saxophone riffs neatly recall '80s ska band Madness.

Even though a majority of the tracks lean toward reggae, the tempo, mood and dynamics constantly shift. Flawless Jamaican riddims underlie the steady percussive groove of "This Version," a nifty dub-styled Black Uhuru send-up, and the similarly derived "Come Around" (not to be confused with the Collie Buddz herb anthem). Barrington Levy's influence is felt on the simmering, horn-punctuated "Guns in Paradise." And the lively "Hold It Down" owes a debt to the English Beat's peppy ska classic "Ranking Full Stop." 

Tickets for Slightly Stoopid can be found here. The Expendables and the Dirty Heads open.

Also on July 10th, a rally for marijuana legalization, Smoke Down Prohibition 2.0, is set for LOVE Park.

U.S. Marine Corps veteran Mike Whiter, whose photo series on cannabis vs. pills called #OperationOverMed has garnered international attention, created a promotional video for the rally this week.

Organizers are asking participants to be respectful of the park and only light up in the name of civil disobedience at 4:20 p.m. during a planned "moment of cannabis reflection." The rally will include a march and then follow with a "710" afterparty. (Why 710? It's slang for hash-oil.)

On July 11 in West Chester, the Keystone Cannabis Coalition is holding a legalization event dubbed the Hemp Freedom Rally. The coalition is working to pass the industrial hemp farming bill in Harrisburg along with lobbying for medical marijuana and decriminalization.

On July 31st, Festival Pier on the Delaware River waterfront lights up again with the Hemp Heals Music Festival. Sublime with Rome headline this year with Rebelution, Pepper and Mickey Avalon playing opening sets. The event also features hemp foods, clothing and other products for concertgoers to peruse between sets.

Riley Cote, the former Philadelphia Flyers enforcer, founded the festival which is now in it's fourth year.

"When people leave Hemp Heals, I hope they become just a little bit inspired and empowered to dig a little deeper, learn a little more, and hopefully see the ultimate power in this plant," Cote told Philly420 at the event in 2014,"Once more people become enlightened, the quicker we will see change."

Tickets for Hemp Heals can be found here.

As we reported last week, things have gotten muddled in the Pa. House after a restrictive medical marijuana bill passed the Senate. In addition, advocacy organizations were distancing themselves from a new bill introduced by Rep. Ron Marsico (R-Dauphin).

But the state legislators have shifted again. House Majority Leader Dave Reed (R-Indiana) has appointed a working group to craft language that sponsors hope will pass. The process also looped advocates back into the conversation and may result in something a bit less restrictive than what Marsico had originally proposed. It is unclear if the ultimate results of the working group will be incorporated into Marsico's bill or yet another piece of legislation will be introduced.  Stay tuned.

Hopefully, as Philly enjoys a green-tinged July, the politicians will get their act together.

Chris Goldstein is associate editor of Freedom Leaf magazine and co-chair of PhillyNorml. Contact him at chris@freedomisgreen.com.