In the early '90s, longtime Atlanta promoter and marijuana activist Paul Cornwell built his festival into a huge annual event anchored by such big-name musical acts as the Black Crowes, Cypress Hill and OutKast. Drawing estimated crowds of more than 30,000 people -- many openly enjoying reefer -- the free festival was targeted by Mayor Bill Campbell, who vowed to shut it down because, he said, festival-goers were encouraged to break the law.
In 1995, the last year the festival took place in the park, the city won a court ruling that banned alcohol and food sales and did not allow Cornwell to erect a soundstage. Since then, the city has managed to deny him a festival permit altogether.
Cornwell believes the city may have bent to legal pressure this year in granting him a permit to bring a scaled-down version of the festival back to Piedmont Park April 20. A federal lawsuit he filed in February challenges the city's new festival ordinance, claiming it restricts free-speech rights and puts too much authority in the hands of Atlanta Chief Operating Officer Greg Pridgeon.
"It's a bad idea to give someone like Pridgeon the power to pick and choose who gets [permits]," Cornwell says, reflecting on the COO's recent decision to deny a permit for a proposed hip-hop fest. "There's way too much influence on our First Amendment rights by corporations, neighborhoods and other special-interest groups."
Along with pro-pot legalization speakers, the headlining band for the 10th annual Great Atlanta Pot Festival will be Peter Tosh Legacy, featuring the late reggae star's oldest son, Andrew.
