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." [continues 316 words]
OPINIONS of The Northern Star's online readers are divided on the controversial issue of saliva testing motorists to identify who is driving with illicit drugs present in their system. When the paper shared to its Facebook page a story about Monday's anti-saliva testing protest held outside Lismore Court, more than 40 readers commented. The majority of the comments supported the use of random drug testing by police. Sara Elizabeth Carr posted: "Don't do drugs or drink and drive. Simple." [continues 173 words]
PROTESTERS against saliva testing drivers gathered outside Lismore Local Court yesterday as more than 50 people faced the magistrate on drug driving charges. Inflatable joints, large hand made banners and signs including 'swab testing is not impairment testing', 'change the law not our lives' and 'good medicine' dominated the peaceful rally a protesters heard from a number of speakers. Nimbin Hemp Embassy President Michael Balderstone told protesters due to the alarming statistics police had gathered about drug driving, they plan on trebling the number of saliva tests in NSW next year. [continues 203 words]
TWEED and Byron's top cop has called for "the culture of drug taking at music events" to stop, after more than 400 people were detected with drugs at Splendour in the Grass. Tweed/Byron Local Area Command Superintendent Stuart Wilkins said police were kept busy during the four-day festival with most of their time taken up with drug and alcohol-related issues. "Over 400 people were found in possession of prohibited drugs and that is simply unacceptable," he said. [continues 280 words]
