Uploaded September 2010 | Updated September 2026, 2 hours ago
Saturday September 11, 2010 Nimbin, Australia. A midday 'Nimbin is a not in Afghanistan' protest attracted a good crowd into the middle of Nimbin's main street. The protest, where many local business owners spoke, in response to a recent increase in police activity in Nimbin with sniffer dogs.
"Why have we got hordes of cops wearing bullet proof vests and taser guns patrolling a small country town in rural NSW? It's ludicrous! This is NSW not Afghanistan," said Jim Moylan from JAG, the Nimbin Justice Action Group. "We all know the absolute popularity of pot will make sure the cannabis trade continues."
Some business owners, whose shops cater to the tourist trade, talked about very unfriendly police interactions and indicated that they believed their current financial difficulties were largely attributable to the overbearing police tactics currently being employed in the village.
Following the rally in the main street of town the brightly dressed protestors walked, danced, and sang their way to the local Police Station in a procession led by a Ganja Faerie and the Big Joint, where they assembled and held what was described as a 'Community Protest Theatre'.
Many lit up joints and publicly traded them for $10 and $5 dollar notes -- a demonstration to show that the free exchange of cannabis in Nimbin is no big deal. While the joints were filled with legal herbs like damiana and mugwort, the distinct sweet smell, of what Timothy Leary called 'the hippies favourite vegetable,' was strong in the air.
The Polite Brigade from The H*E*M*P* Bar kept the roadway clear while a deputation of local villagers presented a letter of protest to Sergeant Peter Bryant for delivery to his superiors.
"The Local Area Commander has been following your protest carefully," he said. "I am happy to pass the petition on, and I'm sure he would like to sit down and discuss the issue further with you."
hempembassy.net
Saturday September 11, 2010 Nimbin, Australia. A midday 'Nimbin is a not in Afghanistan' protest attracted a good crowd into the middle of Nimbin's main street. The protest, where many local business owners spoke, in response to a recent increase in police activity in Nimbin with sniffer dogs.
"Why have we got hordes of cops wearing bullet proof vests and taser guns patrolling a small country town in rural NSW? It's ludicrous! This is NSW not Afghanistan," said Jim Moylan from JAG, the Nimbin Justice Action Group. "We all know the absolute popularity of pot will make sure the cannabis trade continues."
Some business owners, whose shops cater to the tourist trade, talked about very unfriendly police interactions and indicated that they believed their current financial difficulties were largely attributable to the overbearing police tactics currently being employed in the village.
Following the rally in the main street of town the brightly dressed protestors walked, danced, and sang their way to the local Police Station in a procession led by a Ganja Faerie and the Big Joint, where they assembled and held what was described as a 'Community Protest Theatre'.
Many lit up joints and publicly traded them for $10 and $5 dollar notes -- a demonstration to show that the free exchange of cannabis in Nimbin is no big deal. While the joints were filled with legal herbs like damiana and mugwort, the distinct sweet smell, of what Timothy Leary called 'the hippies favourite vegetable,' was strong in the air.
The Polite Brigade from The H*E*M*P* Bar kept the roadway clear while a deputation of local villagers presented a letter of protest to Sergeant Peter Bryant for delivery to his superiors.
"The Local Area Commander has been following your protest carefully," he said. "I am happy to pass the petition on, and I'm sure he would like to sit down and discuss the issue further with you."
hempembassy.net
