In Memoriam: Dave “Damit” Mesford

The North American cannabis legalization movement suffered a significant loss this year when Dave Mesford, known widely under the nickname of Dave Damit, left this world on 4/20 in his hometown of Lynwood, WA, after a several-year battle with cancer. Dave was a cannabis breeder known in the Pacific Northwest for his Blue Crow Organics cultivars.

Dave was a core member of Seattle Hempfest for many years, starting as the event’s photography coordinator and then moving on to construction manager. He also served as Seattle Hempfest Safety Patrol Main Stage lead, the Safety Patrol being Hempfest’s internal event security.

 

Dave was a partner at CannaCon and a founder of the Cannies Awards. He had studied business management at Edmonds College in his earlier years.

To say that Dave was universally loved by those who knew him would not do justice to the depth of emotion his community holds for him. Dave’s life was celebrated in May at Culture Yard, a Seattle house near the Fremont Canal where many Hempfest and other cultural events have occurred. Around 100 people gathered in the secluded backyard under a green canopy of leaves and branches to pay homage to Dave’s impact on our lives. He had requested that, at his memorial, everyone pounded one strike on a large buffalo hide drum he handcrafted that was featured prominently inside a custom glass table in his living room. As people were taking their turns beating the drum, I realized that Dave was answering each one of us with the booming sound of his drum. It was a powerful ritual of remembrance.

Things will not be the same for us without Dave Damit’s deep, resounding voice, laughter, and passionate emotion for life. But, as he knew we would, we’ll pick up his sword and go forward in our quest to defeat cannabis prohibition. We know that he would be right here at our side until the end if he could.

Feature photo: Dave infiltrating the NORML Women of Washington group picture at the Seattle Hempfest VIP Party in 2019