Nimbin is gearing up for its 32nd annual MardiGrass, the cannabis law reform protest and gathering held on the first weekend in May.
‘It’s extraordinary the change in thirty years from being a gathering of protesting criminals to now we are hearing from AHPRA a million people in Australia have legal medical cannabis,’ said MOB president Michael Balderstone.
‘However, as far as law reform goes, we still have a long way to go with change, especially the tragically cruel driving laws. Roadside Drug Testing needs to be about impairment and not just the mere presence of cannabis, and we also must be allowed to grow our own plants instead of having to buy them with a prescription.’
Cannabis doctors
‘This year’s MardiGrass is blessed with two of California’s most experienced and respected cannabis doctors flying out to be with us,’ said Mr Balderstone.
‘Weed has been legal there since 1996 and surely we can learn a lot from them. Dr David Bearman is a specialist in using cannabis to manage pain but wants to also speak with us about how they deal with driving over there.
‘Dr Jeffrey Hergenrather wants to warn us about how the use of cannabis has been commandeered by commercial interests. He says people not only need support in understanding how to use cannabis but also to find peace with the fact that regular use of cannabis may normalise their life and health.’
Mr Balderstone says MardiGrass will be ‘riddled with politicians’ this year, from the Legalise Cannabis Party and the Greens. Jeremy Buckingham is leading a panel about his new HEMP Taskforce and then alongside, Cate Faehrmann discussing together how they plan to legalise pot in NSW.
‘We can all feel the change just around the corner for recreational so there will be plenty of conversation this year about just how we actually legalise.
‘We are also about sensible law reform for all drugs so this year, in partnership with Entheogenesis Australis, we have one tent dedicated to other medicinal plants and psychedelic therapy. Mushrooms have risen to the top again as agents of magical healing and enlightenment, proving once again how the hippies were far ahead of their time.’
Organisers say comedy has become an integral part of MardiGrass, with a huge lineup from the Laugh Mob driving up from Sydney to perform on all three nights.
Hemp Olympix comperes S Sorrensen and Alan Glover have Steady Eddy returning, as well as Jenny Wynter and Peter Willey for their Saturday night comedy.
The Olympix has a new team event this year, the Dealers Nightmare, and Correct Weight will be back in the Town Hall again. Contestants have to estimate an ounce, 28.35 grams, the winner keeps the bag.
What else?
Organisers say the Pot Art winner this year will be extremely difficult to judge with a number of amazing posters. There will be a Pot Poets Breakfast on Sunday morning with David Hallett, and the Great Green Cabaret Friday night has a mouth-watering line up.
Music this year for the Pickers and Harvest Balls includes Funkatu, Taiaha, Jesse Morris Band, Spy Eater, the Felicity Lawless Band, the 420 Superstore including Wilfred the Dog, the Trombone Kelly Gang, Paul Jarrah Band, Coneheads, Bluntfield and Alien, and Zen Mechanics.
Traditional events include Stoned Chess, Joint Rolling comps, the Bong Throw, and The Marijuana Music Award (with no song to be longer than 4 minutes 20 seconds).
The Kombi Konvoy leaves Byron on Saturday May 4th to arrive in Nimbin for the 420 Rally.
The Grand Parade and Rally for Cannabis Law Reform on Sunday 5th promises to be ‘as colourful and controversial as ever’.
To join the volunteers who run the festival or find out more, check out nimbinmardigrass.com.
Organisers say if there’s a cheaper weekend they will beat it by ten percent!
