The fest season

Hey, I am trying to figure out my travel plans for this summer. Any ideas?

—Norm Madic

I can probably think of a few things. Late August marks the beginning of hemp-fest season, and the hemp fests this year should be epic. There’s the Seattle Hempfest, a.k.a. the world’s largest “protestival.” Last year, more than 200,000 people showed up to party for pot, and this year should be an even larger turnout. Expect the recreational-cannabis dispensaries to run out of weed early (August 15-17, www.hempfest.org).

On the same weekend, CannaCon will be at the Tacoma Dome in Tacoma, Washington. Look for booths and seminars and general trade-show festivities (August 14-17, www.cannacon.org).

The Jefferson State Hemp Expo is always a great time. Last year, Curtis Salgado and Portland, Oregon, guitar phenom Scott Pemberton caused a literal rainstorm (dude, like a serious rainstorm: We spent all the next morning putting the stage back together) during a blistering set on the main stage. This year, expect headliners David Grisman Bluegrass Experience to cause a good-natured ruckus. This event, which takes place in Grants Pass, Oregon, is great for the whole family (August 22-24, www.jeffersonstatehemp expo.com).

Portland will be abuzz (you heard me) with cannabis-related activities for about two weeks in September. First up, the International Cannabis Business Conference. This is definitely more of a conference than a festival, but the lineup of speakers (Andrew Sullivan, Ed Rosenthal, Steve DeAngelo, Laura Blanco de León from Uruguay and many more), combined with the seminars and networking opportunities should be a wonk’s delight (September 13-14, www.internationalcbc.com).

Afterward, you can kick it in Portland for a while and then hit up Hempstalk. This year’s edition will feature a new, easier to access location just south of downtown, and great entertainment. John Trudell and Bad Dog (if you don’t know about Trudell, you are doing it wrong: He is an OG badass activist-poet-musician, and seeing him should be on your bucket list) will be there, plus all kinds of other music and food trucks and a good hemp fashion show (September 27-28, www.hempstalk.org).

Sin City is getting in on the action with its very own Las Vegas Hempfest on October 4. I think this is the first one. Aside from taking place right at the beginning of harvest season (my guess is no one grows outdoors in Vegas), this should be a good event. Any festival with a comedy tent is aces in my book (www.lasvegashempfest.com).

I am, of course, gonna try to be at all of these events. Anyone need a ride? Get at me.

Can you smoke fresh-cut weed?

—Impatient Ian

Why? No. It’s too wet to light up, and it will taste like chlorophyll. You could juice it—I’ve written about this in the past—or even cook with it. Chop up a fresh bud of herb and throw it into a tomato sauce or dessert syrup. The heat from cooking should activate the THC and give a nice flavor to your sauce. Bon appétit!