PRESS RELEASE - 19th February 2002

GREENS NEW CANNABIS BILL

The Nimbin Hemp Embassy applauds the Greens new bill to amend the cannabis laws, the "Drug Misuse and Trafficking Amendment (Cannabis Harm Minimisation) Bill 2002".
These practical steps would be a good start to reversing the direction we are going now, which is fast leading us into a major health crisis.
Cannabis users rarely have access to the natural plant any more, with most available cannabis hydroponically grown in chemicals and smoked with tobacco.

The extent of interest in this issue is borne out by the attempt to register the Marijuana Freedom Party (MFP) for the next NSW election.
The MFP is a fake organised by people with no interest in changing cannabis laws but willing to exploit the massive public interest in this issue and the thousands of votes that go with it.

It looks increasingly unlikely that the NSW HEMP Party will gain registration in time, and in this event we will throw our weight and support behind the Greens at the next NSW election and actively work to expose the hypocrisy in the MFP. We urge cannabis law reformers not to be conned by this fake party, as 50,000 people were by the Marijuana Smokers Rights Party, a similar redneck front.

Michael Balderstone
Nimbin HEMP Embassy