3-day medical marijuana fest set for Lebanon farm

LEBANON - A weekend festival celebrating the curative properties of cannabis, or marijuana, is planned for next weekend at Wind Shadows Farm on Center Road.

The Southern Maine 1^st Annual GreenLove Celebration is the brainchild of organizer and farm owner Teri Poirier, a medical marijuana user.

Poirier's medical marijuana certificate was approved by a physician for treatment of PTSD, but she said on Wednesday that medical marijuana is a wonderful treatment option for a growing number of other ailments.

She said one of the most dramatic health turnarounds she can attribute to marijuana is in the treatment of a New Hampshire man she knows well who has pancreatic cancer.

"The chemo they were giving him left him with no appetite, he was going to die of malnutrition," she said. "If he did try to eat, he would throw up. I gave him some chocolate with marijuana in it, but he refused to try it.

"He kept it in his refrigerator for three weeks until one day he was so weak and felt so miserable he decided to give it a try. Now he's eating, he got his appetite back, he sleeps well and he feels great."

The three-day festival Aug. 22-24 will showcase everything that is positive about medical cannabis, with speakers, free information and displays.

Local rock legend Ron Jones will be among featured entertainers along with several other bands. There will also be an open mic session.

Poirier hopes the festival will help educate the public about the "legality and legalization" of medical marijuana and she's asking those who are against its legalization to also come.

"I want people opposed to come on Saturday and get information that is available," she said.

The three-day event will offer overnight camping.

A pig roast is set for Saturday plus food vendors will be on hand for the entire weekend.

Poirier said pets and anyone under 18 will not be allowed and illegal drugs will not be tolerated.

She said she hopes to have as many as a couple of hundred festivalgoers and said she'll have plenty of port-a-potties, water and security to keep everyone safe and comfortable.

The Wind Shadows Farm is at the corner of Shapleigh and Center roads.

For more information contact Poirier at Abbagails420@gmail.com.