Hello Legalise Cannabis Party Members,

Nimbin had a very happy and peaceful 420 last Monday, with the Oasis Cafe rocking to an African beat, in clouds of local ganja smoke. No sign of any police in this little country village.

I’ve been swamped by MardiGrass for a few weeks now, with only one to go! The Nimbin community pulls together for this Cannabis Law Reform Protest and Annual Gathering, with very few here at Nimbin University who don't understand and support our cause. Jingles has already built two stages with the volunteers and another two will happen this week. Sativa Stadium and Indica Arena are both in tip-top shape for the crowds who will come.

Our special guest this year is Ethan Nadelmann, who flew in from New York today. It reads like a fairy tale, how billionaire George Soros read an article by Ethan that impressed him so much it led to the two of them forming the Drug Policy Alliance, and putting drug law reform into the mainstream, with harm reduction their motto. Many consider him the real American ‘Drug Czar’, so we look forward to hearing how we can get Australia on the same track.

There’s a terrific, huge Program on the MardiGrass website now, with speakers on all aspects of our favourite plant and many other entheogens as well. On the less serious side, there are half a dozen stages for the many musicians who have come to play, along with a large mob of comedians, poets and performers. If you’ve never been to MardiGrass, the Hemp Olympix is a crowd favourite, with the Bong Throw and Yell, Joint Rolling competitions and the exhausting Growers Ironperson Event—these days you cannot enter unless a doctor declares you fit to run beforehand!

A big hearty thank you to Aimee Pearson from Albury, who put her hand up to run for us in the By-election created by Sussan Ley retiring from politics. Aimee is a pharmacist with a difference. If there wasn't a risk she could lose her licence to the 'spit police' she would be using medical cannabis herself.

There are another two State By-elections also happening with a huge thank you to Renee Thomson running for us in Nepean, Victoria and Jacqueline Verne in Stafford, Queensland. We are slowly breaking down the stigma around cannabis by being upfront about it and open about our use. Being in the mix at these By-elections is important to show people we are at least nearly normal!

Here’s hoping we will hear from the New South Wales Premier in the not too distant future on his promise to do something about medical cannabis drivers being unfairly treated. It can’t come soon enough for the million or so NSW users who are being pushed to get prescriptions as some form of protection.

We are being bullied into joining their system of legal and mostly imported hydroponic factory grown pot, rather than being allowed to grow our own. However, if a prescription can help us keep our licence, it is a small step forward and at least recognition that cannabis really does have medical benefits, after decades of denial from the doctors.

Big love to everyone and thank you for your ongoing support.

Michael