Pubdate: Sat, 23 Apr 2016
Source: Northern Star (Australia)
Copyright: 2016 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: Rodney Stevens

NO POT SHOTS FOR MR HINCH

DERRYN Hinch won't have a puff on a joint at Mardigrass, but he's 
willing to throw a bong in the Hemp Olympix.

"Unlike Bill Clinton, I've not only never smoked pot, I've never 
inhaled it," he said.

"I'm a rabid anti-smoker, so whether it's tobacco or cannabis it's 
not my thing.

"If somebody wants to offer me a joint I won't be smoking it.

"I'd have a go at bong throwing, not bong smoking though."

Hemp Party secretary Andrew Kavasilas invited the man known as the ' 
human headline' to participate in a Hemposium on Saturday at 6pm on ' 
how to achieve cannabis law reform through legislation ( or not)' 
hosted by Lismore solicitor Steve Bolt.

The main reason Mr Hinch said he wanted to go to Mardigrass was to 
learn about medicinal cannabis.

"I know it's a big deal and I haven't been to Nimbin in years ... I 
was actually up there for a funeral about 20 years ago," he said.

"I'm told they get a huge crowd there so it's going to be good.

"I was invited and I'm on a panel to discuss a lot of issues like 
legalising pot and the issue especially of medical cannabis."

If he is successful in winning Ricky Muir's Victorian senate seat, 
the leader of the Derryn Hinch Justice Party would lobby for cannabis 
law reform.

"I'd legalise cannabis," he said.

"I think it's silly watching grown police men and police women with 
guns on their hips arresting pot growers.

"The war on drugs hasn't worked in this area ... the government is 
talking about this $ 40 billion deficit; think of the money they can 
make by taxing cannabis.

"If the government is making so much money out of taxing cigarettes, 
why not make it out of cannabis."

Having seen first hand the dramatic improvement in people who turn to 
medicinal cannabis, Mr Hinch said it should have been legalised years ago.

"I've interviewed for the Sunday Night program families whose 
children have been using cannabis oil and it works," he said.

"It's fantastic to watch the way it has helped the kids with various 
conditions like epilepsy.

"Victoria has actually legalised medicinal cannabis now and Victoria 
is probably doing more than NSW around the use of medicinal cannabis."
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