Ann Arbor’s 54th Annual Hash Bash Recap

Thousands of cannabis supporters packed the University of Michigan Diag for the 54th Annual Hash Bash, an event that has evolved from a protest into a powerful platform for advocacy and education according to the Michigan Daily.

Among the speakers was Josie Skoggin, director of the Great Lakes Expungement Network, who addressed the crowd from her wheelchair outside Rackham Graduate School. Her call to action was clear: the cannabis industry must invest in those harmed by prohibition. “It’s time for equity to stop being a buzzword,” she said.

The event also featured music, vendors, and speeches from activists pushing for full decriminalization and the expungement of cannabis-related records. Skoggin emphasized that, even in legal states like Michigan, the fight isn’t over—especially for those still dealing with past convictions or barriers to entry in the cannabis industry.

U-M students, longtime Ann Arbor residents, and out-of-state visitors all mingled in a peaceful, energized crowd. Many attendees waved signs reading “Legalize Everywhere” and “Pardon Weed Charges,” signaling frustration with slow federal reform.

Hash Bash began in 1972 in response to poet John Sinclair’s prison sentence for marijuana possession. It has since grown into a symbol of cannabis freedom and a rallying cry for justice.

As one attendee put it: “We’re not just here to light up—we’re here to lift up voices that still aren’t heard.”