For: High Time

High Times is a New York City-based magazine. The publication strongly advocates the legalization of cannabis. For a brief period, it moved toward an overtly left-wing lifestyle magazine under publisher Richard Stratton, who hired John Mailer, Norman Mailer's youngest son, as executive editor. It has since returned to its earlier roots in the cannabis subculture. Recently, the magazine held the 20th Anniversary Cannabis Cup in Amsterdam and a documentary of the event was premiered at the World Marijuana Film Festival (WMFF) in California in 2008.

Origins

The Freedom Fighters began when Hager received an invitation to attend the annual Hash Bash in Ann Arbor, MI, in 1987. Once one of the country's largest annual legalization events, the Hash Bash, like all other counterculture rallies, was about to die out. Inspired by the art of the Merry Pranksters and Provo, and the historical information of Jack Herer's yet unpublished research, Hager created a band of psychedelic pirates that traveled the country in a psychedelic bus, creating major legalization events across the country, including the Boston Freedom Rally, which quickly became the largest political event in the country, drawing crowds of over 100,000 to Boston Common. In 1990, the magazine released a documentary, "Let Freedom Ring," detailing the activities of the group. The film starred Willie Nelson and was directed by Bob Brandel.

Eventually, the Freedom Fighters became targeted by law enforcement. The group's biggest supporter, Rodger Belknap of West Virginia, was jailed, while other members had their homes broken into and membership information removedFact: date=July 2008. After five years of providing free campgrounds and free food to activists attending major rallies, the Freedom Fighter mailing list was turned over to NORML at the annual Hash Bash conventionFact: date=July 2008.

Internet Podcasting

Produces regular video podcasts -- dubbed as the High Times POTcast -- that supplement stories from the monthly magazine.2 3

Recognition and Award Ceremonies

High Times sponsors seven different cannabis culture awards:

• The Cannabis Cup for marijuana strains and seeds
• The Stonys for movies and television (in Los Angeles)
• The Doobies for music (in Austin, Texas)
• The World Marijuana Film Festival (in Northern California)
• Freedom Fighter of the Month (and Year) (a spin-off from the High Times Freedom Fighters
• Counterculture Hall of Fame Award (in Amsterdam)
• STASH Awards for grow technology (September issues)
• Seed Bank Hall of Fame (October 2007)
• The World Stoner Games