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SCRANTON — A Sunday afternoon at Scranton’s Nay Aug Park is normally quiet, but this was no typical Sunday afternoon. For the third year, the Pennsylvania Cannabis Festival took over a corner of the park, bringing vendors, musicians and other like-minded individuals to celebrate counterculture.

However, according to event organizers Jeff Zick, 35, and Amanda McCarthy, 31, both of Hop Bottom, the goal of the event was to bring that counterculture to the mainstream.

“We want to raise awareness for legalization and immediate decriminalization of cannabis,” Zick said. “We want to show that our culture is peaceful, and that we’re not all criminals; we don’t belong in a prison cell.”

The couple has been organizing the annual event for three years now, and even got married at this year’s festival at the David Wenzel Tree House in Nay Aug Park.

And while one might expect a festival based around an illegal drug to meet some issues, Zick said that, over the years, the city of Scranton has been nothing but helpful.

“The city has been really good to us,” Zick said. “They like all the small businesses we bring in; they really go above and beyond to help us.”

And like Zick said, the festival attracted a variety of businesses, with food trucks, glass blowers and various new-age vendors hoping to make some money. With the festival having a strict policy of no drug or alcohol use, vendors were only selling legal products.

Aaron Johnson, 37, from State College, is a glass artist, running a company called Broken Glass Design. Johnson was selling various glass pieces, including pipes and shot glasses, that he made himself.

“This is my first time at this festival,” Johnson said. Business for Johnson must have been good, because he was already saying he would be back for next year’s festival.

“I think this will be my annual kickoff to festival season,” Johnson said.

Besides vendors selling pipes and other smoking paraphernalia, there were a handful of new-age shops selling some spiritual items.

Carol Lindo, 29, of Port Jervis, N.Y., came with her business, The Pointed Hat, a shop specializing in various supplies for practitioners of neopagan religions.

“We specialize in Wicca and witchcraft, and we sell a bit of everything for practitioners,” Lindo said. “Events like this attract free-thinking people from all walks of life, and that’s what we’re all about.”

Representatives from Lackawanna County’s branch of the Green Party were at the festival, looking to gain signatures in support of Jules Mermelstein, the party’s candidate for Pennsylvania Superior Court. Jennifer Bruno, 45, of Taylor, explains that festivals like this are attractive to the Green Party, as it has always been pro-legalization.

“Cannabis can be effective for treating depression, migraines and other illnesses,” Bruno said. “Plus, it’s from nature, and we don’t think you should outlaw nature.”

Mark Marsico, 27, of Old Forge, echoed Zick’s goals in coming to the event, hoping to help normalize marijuana. He said he came after a friend, who attended last year’s festival, suggested he go this year.

“It’s just silly to me that people can buy alcohol and tobacco, or spend a ton of money on opiates for illnesses, but they can’t get this, which will help,” Marsico said. “I think as we have more things like this and people get more used to (cannabis), it’ll be more accepted.”

Kurt Shotko, of Moscow, stands by his car with protest signs during the Pennsylvania Cannabis Festival. Shotko has about 25 years of political activism under his belt.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/web1_ttl042417cannabis-4-1.jpg.optimal.jpgKurt Shotko, of Moscow, stands by his car with protest signs during the Pennsylvania Cannabis Festival. Shotko has about 25 years of political activism under his belt. Amanda Hrycyna | For Times Leader

Kaley Klahr, of Hamburg, paints with acrylics at her cannabis festival booth.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/web1_ttl042417cannabis-5-1.jpg.optimal.jpgKaley Klahr, of Hamburg, paints with acrylics at her cannabis festival booth. Amanda Hrycyna | For Times Leader

Shelly Gavin, of Levittown, paints the face of Bloomsburg resident Sherra O’Kane while Kayla O’Kane, 16, paints sunflowers on Sherra’s leg.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/web1_ttl042417cannibas-2-1.jpg.optimal.jpgShelly Gavin, of Levittown, paints the face of Bloomsburg resident Sherra O’Kane while Kayla O’Kane, 16, paints sunflowers on Sherra’s leg. Amanda Hrycyna | For Times Leader

Abigale Thomas, 5, of Wilkes-Barre, enjoys playing with a hula hoop during the Pennsylvania Cannabis Festival at Nay Aug Park in Scranton on Sunday afternoon.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/web1_ttl042417cannabis-1-1.jpg.optimal.jpgAbigale Thomas, 5, of Wilkes-Barre, enjoys playing with a hula hoop during the Pennsylvania Cannabis Festival at Nay Aug Park in Scranton on Sunday afternoon. Amanda Hrycyna | For Times Leader

Joe Moore, of Moore Glass Design in Williamsport, demonstrates some of his glass burning at the festival.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/web1_ttl042417cannabis-3-1.jpg.optimal.jpgJoe Moore, of Moore Glass Design in Williamsport, demonstrates some of his glass burning at the festival. Amanda Hrycyna | For Times Leader
Cannabis festival promotesnew-age, natural lifestylesand legalizing marijuana

By Patrick Kernan

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Reach Patrick Kernan at 570-991-6119 or on Twitter @PatKernan.