Jack Herer speaks at Portland Hempstalk
The author of the seminal marijuana legalization tome The Emperor Wears No Clothes, Jack Herer, collapsed backstage at the fifth annual Portland Hempstalk, shortly after delivering a fiery speech on the Main Stage. NORML’s Madeline Martinez followed Jack in the speaking lineup and noted his apparent weakness, telling him he should find some shade from the high temperatures that were close to records in this usually cool Pacific Northwest climate.
A Hempstalk security volunteer named Matt and a hired park security officer were first on the scene to attend to Jack, performing CPR and trying to keep him comfortable as paramedics arrived at the Kelley Point Park. Hempstalk musicians and speakers gathered backstage, including activists and friends who have known and worked with Jack for many years, stood in shock as the medical personnel fought to keep Jack alive using breathing tubes, IV drugs, and the defibrillator. The decisive action by Hempstalk staff in responding to the emergency and subsequently clearing the paths for the ambulance certainly made a huge impact on Jack’s fight for life. Madeline commented, “Matt is my hero today; he was just phenomenal. He knew exactly what to do and immediately started CPR. He probably saved his life.”
Jack had suffered a stroke a few years back at another hemp rally, coincidentally while posing for photographs with Madeline and others. Ironically, at the Cannabis Common Sense show the night prior, Jack was discussing the stroke and his recovery since. Paul Stanford had noted how much Jack’s speech has been improving even since the prior year at Hempstalk, to which Jack replied “I’m feeling better than I have in ten years.”
Initial reports of the incident occurred as I was preparing NORML SHOW LIVE. I could see the entrance of the ambulance from my vantage point at the Hemposium, but was unaware that it had arrive for one of my heroes. Cannabis Karri ventured out to recruit live guests at 6:20pm and that was when we got first word of the attack, with the only news at that point being “Jack Herer has collapsed, people performed CPR, paramedics said ‘he has a pulse’ as he was taken from the backstage.”
As the evening rolled on we spoke with one of the staff at Jack’s booth, situated next to Oregon NORML’s and just two booths away from the Hemposium. She told us that Jack’s son was with him at Emanuel hospital, he’d suffered a heart attack due to arterial blockage and was on the operating table in critical condition undergoing an angioplasty [UPDATE: Initial reports I received of an angioplasty were unfounded; he had had an angiogram and the volunteer relaying the information to me confused the two terms. I apologize for the misinformation - things were a bit chaotic]. A decidedly somber tone had fallen over the entire Hempstalk proceedings, with onstage speakers telling the crowd about the situation and calling for best wishes and prayers for Jack, his wife and family.
iT IS TIME TO WAKE UP NOW, JACK!
A friend gave me a copy of The Emperor Wears No Clothes in 92, I started my activism a week after I got the book! I started ordering Hemp everything out of the back of the book. The Hempstead Co sent me a copy of Hugh Downs/Hemp History, I have copied 2,350 of these tapes and givin them to long haul truckers,doctors,lawyers,police,department of corrections, and all other forms of humanity! I traded tapes to Jack at Seattle Hempfest for books. Jack is my friend and hero, we MUST spead Jacks word and pray for him. Freedom is near!
[...] The Emperor of Hemp, Jack Herer, suffers heart attack backstage at Portland Hempstalk [...]
All our positive thoughts go out to Jack and his Family! His dedication is very honorable.
We loved the layout of Hempstalk this year. It was a bit of a walk to get in, but it’s a very beautiful park. The music sounded awesome while we walked the paths through the woods along the rivers. And ya know, it seems that this time of year there are quite a few homeless “junkies” living in every park in Portland, not just Kelly Point Park. We’ve taken our dogs to that park for years and LOVE it! The staff did the best they could to keep everything organized within the giant scope of the park, all of the vedors & bands, and the parking situation. If you waited a couple minutes a shuttle would come along, the staff at the gates had radios, to call them in for people who needed a ride. All of their staff volunteered their time, and we appreciate it. We had a GREAT time!!!
May the hand of god bless Jack.Get Well Soon we need you Bro
Our prayers go out to Mr.Herrer and his family.
You are on all of our minds and we wish you will get well.
On a side note, I would agree with p, cuz this park was not very pleasent. I saw a poor old lady that must have been in her 70′s walking the whole way in. I had a bad feelng about peoples well being with this horribel walk. Where were the signs for the shuttle???
Anyway, our love and thoughts are with you Jack
please do something about the safety of people’s health next year organizers. Absolutely horrible setup with the parking issue.
No No No, we can not lose this man when we have come so far because of him. No man, I just watched him on the CCS show friday, man this sucks, we have to end prohibition Jack has given his whole life to the cause, we can not fail we have to do it for Jack. The time is now more than ever we need to do it for these great icons of the movement!
All my thoughts and well wishes go out to Jack and his family, I only hope he pulls through this so he has a chance to see the day we all are free.
Im going to watch some of Jacks interviews and video, spend the day soaking in his knowlage. Man I feel really bad!
Oh my word!!!!?
hope he’s ok
i won’t be going back to hempstalk until it is held at a different venue. This place was nasty,….tons of homeless junkies that must take up resident at this park because wesaw more junkies then weed smokers(granted we did get there early before most stoners wake up). So I decided towalk down by the water to medicate, only to come across a group of heroin addicts,…yep saw fresh track marks on their arms when one of the guys approached me trying to bum a cigarette. Man what a bad expeience.
I felt the while setup Of the event was very unorganized.
My wife,child and I arrived at about 11:30am yesterday only to find there was no parking, and so we had to walk 2miles into the event(30+min walk each way)Cuz the shuttle was not running at that time. More like hempwalk. Geezzz
I could see this particular atmosphere could raise ones blood pressure.
Hope evryone has a good day, and best wishes to Jack
Damn. I wish him my best, and hope for a full and speedy recovery.
I was quite surprised when I went to the website and saw the headline. I had just yesterday started reading his book online, The Emperor. Was getting ready to start chapter 5 today. I’d placed an order for a print version just before retiring last night.