Pubdate: Mon, 06 May 2013
Source: Northern Star (Australia)
Copyright: 2013 APN News & Media Ltd
Contact: http://www.northernstar.com.au/contact/feedback/
Website: http://www.northernstar.com.au/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/5149
Author: Hamish Broome

CANNABIS LAW REFORM MARDIGRASS FESTIVAL'S HOT TOPIC

TONY BOWER, Colorado, and Barack Obama were just some of the 
buzzwords on people's lips alongside the odd marijuana cigarette at 
yesterday's Nimbin MardiGrass Rally for cannabis law reform.

Attended by at least 2000, the 21st event featured all the usual 
suspects, from the dancing green-leaf clad Ganja Faeries to the 
inflatable Big Joint, followed by hundreds of pro-cannabis law 
reformers from all walks of life.

Bush remedy practitioner Tony Bower, from the Maclean area, was 
jailed for a year last month for growing cannabis plants he used for 
medicinal purposes.

According to Nimbin HEMP Embassy president Michael Balderstone, Bower 
was a frequent visitor to Nimbin, where he would distribute free 
vials of his therapeutic cannabis tincture to anyone who had an 
appropriate medical certificate.

"There's a lot of feeling for Tony Bower," Mr Balderstone said, who 
later declared to a thousand-strong crowd gathered at the rally that 
legalizing medical cannabis use was a "no brainer".

This year the rally following the traditional parade was held in a 
natural amphitheatre behind the main street of Nimbin.

Some rally veterans said the co-ordinated and civil proceedings this 
year were a good sign the event was "keeping pace" with a mainstream 
softening of attitudes towards cannabis use in the community.

Much was made of the loosening of attitudes in the US towards use of 
the substance, particularly in states such as Colorado and Washington 
where recreational usage is now legal.

The parade spectacle drew tourists from around the world - 
particularly Japan, Germany and South America, as well as visitors 
from across Australia.

Robert Roach, from the South Australian town of Robe, has visited 
Nimbin twice before but this time came with his partner especially 
for the parade.

"We don't smoke it - you don't have to be a smoker to want it 
legalized," Mr Roach said.

"I think they've got too many laws for too many states," he said.

Mr Balderstone pointed to a NSW Senate committee on medical cannabis 
use starting on May 17 as a potential next step in the legalization crusade.

Seventy drug detections made by police led to seven on the spot 
arrests over the weekend, including two men who were refused bail due 
to breaching existing bail conditions.

Richmond LAC duty officer Inspector Mick Dempsey from said crowds had 
been mostly well behaved except for a few alcohol related incidents.
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