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Author Topic: URGENT: Ongoing Police harassment campaign in Nimbin, Australia.  (Read 2091 times)

Offline petrus4

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URGENT: Ongoing Police harassment campaign in Nimbin, Australia.
« on: February 10, 2015, 11:29:40 pm »
CALLING ALL SMOKERS AND WILLING FRIENDS - This is a distress call. Please be aware of this and spread news of it as much as you can, via Twitter, FB and all the usual channels. We need to create large scale awareness within the international cannabis community. People should know what the police are doing to us.



The New South Wales police are continuing their war of harassment against the peaceful cannabis smoking community of Nimbin, Australia, many of whom require cannabis for the treatment of chronic pain and other severe medical conditions. The town today is full of plain clothes and other officers, and almost all motorists leaving the town are being stopped, swabbed, and having their vehicles subjected to police searches.

Intermittent raids and continual harassment has become standard operating procedure for the New South Wales police in Nimbin, although it must be emphasised that these are not the local, resident police, but officers who have apparently been brought in from further away; presumably Sydney. It is likely that this behaviour on the part of the police will continue until the time of Nimbin's famous marijuana prohibition protest and festival, Mardi Grass, which is due to be held in May. The presence of large numbers of undercover or plain clothes officers seems to have become permanent.

Given the fact that legalisation and decriminalisation are now spreading throughout numerous jurisdictions worldwide, the fascist behaviour currently engaged in by the New South Wales police against Nimbin, is particularly regressive and egregious. The international cannabis community are called on, to help us enshrine the right for all people to peacefully enjoy the vast and scientifically proven benefits of cannabis, without false arrest, frivolous testing, or other forms of harassment from police officers anywhere, when we are committing no crime.
"Sacred cows make the tastiest hamburgers."
        — Abbie Hoffman

Offline ArMaP

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Re: URGENT: Ongoing Police harassment campaign in Nimbin, Australia.
« Reply #1 on: February 11, 2015, 06:55:47 am »
The international cannabis community are called on, to help us enshrine the right for all people to peacefully enjoy the vast and scientifically proven benefits of cannabis, without false arrest, frivolous testing, or other forms of harassment from police officers anywhere, when we are committing no crime.
No crime? Was it decriminalized?

space otter

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Re: URGENT: Ongoing Police harassment campaign in Nimbin, Australia.
« Reply #2 on: February 11, 2015, 12:34:22 pm »

Inside Australia's pot paradise


The village of Nimbin is the epicentre of Australia's marijuana legalisation movement.

Mike McHardy | 26 Jun 2014 06:31 GMT | US & Canada, Australia, United States


Nimbin, Australia - Marijuana has been illegal in Australia for the past 75 years. It remains just as illegal today as it was in March 1993, when residents in the village of Nimbin, New South Wales erupted in protest.

The uprising - which saw locals shelling the police station with eggs - was a reaction to the frequent raids and arrests of local dealers during the 1980s and early 1990s.

Only two months later, on May 1, 1993, the people of Nimbin held a more peaceful rally, which became known as the inaugural "Mardigrass Protestival". For the past 22 years Nimbin's "Hemp Embassy", the headquarters of the Hemp ("Help End Marijuana Prohibition") Party, along with supporters from around the world have campaigned for cannabis law reform.

"It's not a festival, it's not a protest, it's a gathering," said Gary Big Bong, a local activist, while enjoying a puff of the devil's lettuce. The Hemp Party, a small Australian political group, will consider Mardigrass to be a festival only after marijuana is legalised.

Many strangers have come to visit Nimbin, a counterculturally oriented village about 180km south of Brisbane, and some have never left. Those who stay often consider themselves to be "marijuana refugees", seeking asylum from the norms of mainstream society. While relaxing on the back porch of the Hemp Embassy, Michael Balderstone, the Hemp Party's leader, said: "I reckon Nimbin is a refugee camp for the war on drugs."

Hippy haven

The decline of the dairy and agricultural industry caused Nimbin's population to plummet from more than 6,000 in the 1960s down to 450 in 2011. The Aquarius festival in 1973 brought many hippies to the village, which is now known for sustainable living, alternative lifestyles, and its marijuana counterculture.

Marijuana activists argue that the prohibition of cannabis is not only socially immoral, it's also fiscally irresponsible. Nimbin's Hemp Party has taken note of legal reforms in the United States, adopting the slogan "Colorado Dreaming". Colorado became the first US state to legalise recreational marijuana sales on January 1, 2014, marking the start of the best year in recent history for proponents of cannabis law reform.

With an apparent shift in momentum, politicians everywhere are reconsidering the practicality of their region's marijuana laws. Jason Woodforth, Liberal National MP for Nudgee, Queensland, announced to the crowd during the concluding ceremonies of Mardigrass, "My drug of choice may be a glass of wine or a beer, so why should I deny you your drug of choice?"

Nimbin's Hemp Party is undoubtedly driven in its goal to reform cannabis law. But at times, they seem more disorganised than two hamsters running in the opposite direction on a wheel. This could hinder their ability to maintain a professional and credible image in the eyes of the political opposition.

The 'Mardigrass' festival


The characters of Nimbin can be described as, in the most gracious and respectful way possible, chaotic. The ambiance surrounding the village, especially during Mardigrass, is surreal. "Ganja Faeries" dance in the street, leashed goats and stray chickens wander among the crowd, while "Jungle Patrol" event volunteers maintain the peace. Four police officers make their way to the Hemp Embassy to compete in the annual "Tug of Peace" with Nimbin's cannabis activists, "The Polite Force".

Sergeant Dave Longfield, a public order tactical adviser for the Richmond Local Area Command, said heavy use of alcohol often creates more problems than marijuana.

"Over the past three to four years, our focus has shifted from illegal drug use - and although we are still concerned about that, of course, our focus has changed somewhat to alcohol-related crime, alcohol-related violence, and antisocial behaviour as a result of alcohol consumption."

"In our experience, people who overindulge in alcohol tend to cause more drama than people who overindulge in illegal drugs."
As the loudspeaker alerts patrons of the upcoming "Hemp Olympix" events in Sativa Stadium, a joint-rolling competition gets under way in the town hall - featuring blindfolded rolling, speed rolling and "creative rolling" events.

At 4:20pm on Mardigrass Eve, surrounded by freshly growing marijuana in the garden, Debbie Guest - a civil celebrant licensed to conduct weddings - began reading passages for Nimbin's first legally sanctioned Ganja Wedding. "Relationships are forever changing, and Johnny Ganja and Aiti's union grows and blossoms like a marijuana plant, forever changing."

Hundreds of colourful guests laughed, and some who just happened to be passing by suddenly found themselves part of a special celebration. Johnny shouts "Viva Marijuana!" and "Free the Weed!" as if to express his excitement to spend the rest of his life not only with his bride, but also with his plant. As Johnny and Aiti shared moments of reflection through smoke, this unique and moving ceremony brought tears to witnessing eyes.

Medicinal use

At this point, 21 US states and the District of Columbia have legalised the use of medicinal marijuana. Here in Australia, Tony "Mullaway" Bower has created and grown, albeit illegally, a strain of marijuana known as "Cleverman". He claims that this strain helps young children who suffer from epileptic seizures, among other disorders. Some doctors, patients and their families believe that Mullaway's cannabis tincture, taken orally, is nothing short of a miracle cure for epilepsy.

Eight-year-old Tara O'Connell, from Mia Mia, Victoria, suffered from chronic epilepsy, often having as many as 60 seizures a day. In December 2012, after trying 17 different pharmaceutical medications - none of which were successful - the O'Connells were informed that Tara had 12 to 24 months left to live.
Although sceptical, Tara's parents began administering Mullaway's cannabis oil. Tara adjusted to the medicine quickly, suffering only one seizure between February 10 and April 3, 2013. They say she hasn't suffered a single seizure since.

Dr Paul Carter has been Tara's general practitioner for the past five years. "I would regard it as a tragedy if we had to go back to conventional treatment for Tara," he said. "I'm very much hoping there will be an ongoing supply, and quite frankly, I think everybody would be vastly more comfortable if it was above-board or legal."

But the law has not looked kindly on Mullaway's actions, and in 2012, he was charged with being a supplier after police seized 200 plants from his property. He later received a one-year prison sentence. Following a successful appeal, he was released after serving six weeks.

Although the cannabis oil seems to work for the O'Connells, not everyone is sanguine on medical marijuana's effectiveness.

"These are self-medicating people using an uncontrolled substance derived from their own anecdotal evidence," said Shane Varcoe, the director of Dalgarno Institute, a drug and alcohol education coalition. "Is this something we want to unleash on the population?"

In a short statement issued from the office of Assistant Health Minister Fiona Nash, a spokesperson illustrated the government's position on medicinal cannabis. "Decriminalisation of personal use of cannabis where there are clear compassionate circumstances is an option which State and Territory Governments can pursue under their respective drugs and poisons control legislation should they choose to do so."

Supporters of legalising marijuana hope to replicate the success of their peers in Colorado, and Nimbin's Hemp Embassy continues to lead the movement. The smoke may never clear, but legal reform in Australia could give new meaning to Mardigrass. A taboo Protestival today could become a legitimate festival tomorrow. Only time will tell.

Source: Al Jazeera
http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2014/06/inside-australia-pot-paradise-201462381558277256.html

...........................


“Want some weed?” Our unique experience visiting Nimbin ...

thenomadcouple.com/.../want-some-weed-our-unique-experience-visitin...

Apr 30, 2014 - It's a local knowledge that this hippie, alternative side of town is also Australia's drug capital. Nimbin is located over 700km northeast of Sdyney ...
Want some weed?”

“Interested for some sh’moke today, mate?”

And it continued. We were offered pot 4 times oh so casually by some locals within a span of 2 hours, while walking the streets of Nimbin, New South Wales.

It’s a local knowledge that this hippie, alternative side of town is also Australia’s drug capital. Nimbin is located over 700km northeast of Sdyney and on our recent trip up North, we decided to check it out as it was on our route to Gold Coast.
  some nice photos


...................................



looks like the police thing isn't anything new

Police struggling to smash Nimbin's street trade

www.news.com.au/...nimbins.../story-fncynjr2-122664276...
News.com.au

May 16, 2013 - IT'S mid-morning in Nimbin and drugs are brazenly being dealt outside a day care centre, ... It's just another day in Australia's marijuana capital.


.........................................

now this one made me laugh


Is legal buying weed in Nimbin?

Can I buy weed in Nimbin without having problems? Is It legal? If it's legal and I buy weed can I bring it with me in other cities (like Sydney or Melbourne)? How can I get in Nimbin from Byron Bay?

Is legal buying weed in Nimbin?

https://au.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20091009033758AA4XQta

........................

just type in the city (Nimbin, Australia) and  all kinds of things written will show up..
even  some you tubies


Offline zorgon

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Re: URGENT: Ongoing Police harassment campaign in Nimbin, Australia.
« Reply #3 on: February 11, 2015, 03:31:23 pm »
It is legal now in Washington and Colorado...

Have they released those caught before?

And I bet they find a way NOT to pay back those access taxes they collected  :P


Offline ArMaP

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Re: URGENT: Ongoing Police harassment campaign in Nimbin, Australia.
« Reply #4 on: February 11, 2015, 05:07:30 pm »
It is legal now in Washington and Colorado...

Have they released those caught before?
Do things work like that? Aren't the sentences based on the law at the time of the events?

Offline Pimander

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Re: URGENT: Ongoing Police harassment campaign in Nimbin, Australia.
« Reply #5 on: February 11, 2015, 06:03:59 pm »
I have a theory that decriminalisation/legalisation is economically detrimental.  It devalues the products on the black market and therefore reduces the amount of money changing hand.  The black economy is a lot bigger than suspected partly because prices are artificially high due to things being illegal.

Offline ArMaP

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Re: URGENT: Ongoing Police harassment campaign in Nimbin, Australia.
« Reply #6 on: February 11, 2015, 06:23:33 pm »
I have a theory that decriminalisation/legalisation is economically detrimental.  It devalues the products on the black market and therefore reduces the amount of money changing hand.
The results of the decriminalisation of drug use in Portugal agree with you. ;)

 


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