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Guest 26753
On Wednesday President Obama was in Canberra, Australia, arriving at the Australian Parliament at the beginning of his Australian tour. We were there also to protest about the Drug War and putting an end to prohibition.
We were placed at the very front of the protest line, with the world's press just behind us. Everything we did went on film lol. In the first pic
As Obama arrived they gave him a 21 gun salute, and as the air was filled with bangs and thunder, we hoisted on our shoulders, the Big Joint which is 100 feet long, and trotted right across the camera view of every major media outlet in the world. Funniest thing I have ever seen.
I am on the right holding our banner.
You know, seeing myself sitting with 12 other activists smoking a joint in the middle of the visit to the Australian Parliament by President Obama, surrounded as we were by hundreds of Federal Police, Secret Service, Army, and Air Force F18's, IS A FUCKING COURAGEOUS AND BALLSY PIECE OF CANNABIS ACTIVISM. And damn it was a blast. best joint of my life. Funny thing is that we just knew that while the world's media was watching us watching Obama, they would never ever bust us for pot on live TV. Too fucking cool sucking back on that joint.
Nimbin offers Obama a joint plan
Mel Carrero | 17th November 2011
We imagine when President Barack Obama saw the 10-metre inflatable Big Joint in Canberra he knew he'd never get his lips around this one.
Everyone knows that President Barack Obama has admitted to inhaling, and we imagine when he saw the 10 metre inflatable Big Joint in Canberra yesterday (Wednesday, November 16) he knew he'd never get his lips around this one.
The President's visit was never going to be dull, but Nimbin group The HEMP (Help End Marijuana Prohibition) Party made sure of it.
The group gained approval from the National Capital Authority (NCA) to take along the inflatable mascot in the Authorised Assembly Area (AAA) in hope to catch Obama and the Australian Government's attention.
The idea was originally knocked back by the Australian Federal Police but they were encouraged to apply to the NCA. Hemp Party president Michael Balderstone said they were appreciative of their mission but had one request.
"They asked us to move up the back a bit. No big deal," Mr Balderstone said.
What the party want is to get the drug war on the agenda while Obama is in the country, because he has helped law reform and medical cannabis dispensaries across America.
"The President talks about smoking weed in his autobiography and he knows cannabis is a good medicine," Mr Balderstone said. "The reforms he has supported have had no discernable negative social consequences. What we want is to take it out of the too hard basket and talk about it."
Mr Balderstone said proper use and legalisation is all about education and he believes that it will create fewer problems when it comes to the negative connotations surrounding the drug.
"People doing something illegal are disrespecting the law and therefore will disrespect other laws," Mr Balderstone said.
The party claim the government could save a fortune in lots of areas; from enforcement and incarceration costs plus the consequent social disasters.
"Thousands of jobs can be created with the stroke of a pen simply by regulating this industry. We also believe it is a priority to normalise the lives of those involved in the current multi-billion dollar cannabis industry," Mr Balderstone said.
Mr Balderstone said the bottom line is pharmaceutical companies want the profits, and although he doesn't believe marijuana use is suited for everyone, bringing the cannabis culture out from the underground will help educate people about it.
"It can help with many illnesses including Crones disease, glaucoma and nausea from cancer. I am also confident in its anti-cancer properties as well as its use as a relaxant," Mr Balderstone.
The HEMP Party delegation, now seeking candidates for the next Federal election, left Nimbin on Tuesday morning and took along a group of 12 including representatives from the Mullers and Packers Union.
"Finally pressure is mounting around Australia for true reform. It's an issue whose time has come we believe," Mr Balderstone said.
According to Mr Balderstone since Julia Gillard has been Prime Minister her only comment on cannabis is that she tried it once and didn't like it.
We were placed at the very front of the protest line, with the world's press just behind us. Everything we did went on film lol. In the first pic
As Obama arrived they gave him a 21 gun salute, and as the air was filled with bangs and thunder, we hoisted on our shoulders, the Big Joint which is 100 feet long, and trotted right across the camera view of every major media outlet in the world. Funniest thing I have ever seen.
I am on the right holding our banner.
You know, seeing myself sitting with 12 other activists smoking a joint in the middle of the visit to the Australian Parliament by President Obama, surrounded as we were by hundreds of Federal Police, Secret Service, Army, and Air Force F18's, IS A FUCKING COURAGEOUS AND BALLSY PIECE OF CANNABIS ACTIVISM. And damn it was a blast. best joint of my life. Funny thing is that we just knew that while the world's media was watching us watching Obama, they would never ever bust us for pot on live TV. Too fucking cool sucking back on that joint.
Nimbin offers Obama a joint plan
Mel Carrero | 17th November 2011
We imagine when President Barack Obama saw the 10-metre inflatable Big Joint in Canberra he knew he'd never get his lips around this one.
Everyone knows that President Barack Obama has admitted to inhaling, and we imagine when he saw the 10 metre inflatable Big Joint in Canberra yesterday (Wednesday, November 16) he knew he'd never get his lips around this one.
The President's visit was never going to be dull, but Nimbin group The HEMP (Help End Marijuana Prohibition) Party made sure of it.
The group gained approval from the National Capital Authority (NCA) to take along the inflatable mascot in the Authorised Assembly Area (AAA) in hope to catch Obama and the Australian Government's attention.
The idea was originally knocked back by the Australian Federal Police but they were encouraged to apply to the NCA. Hemp Party president Michael Balderstone said they were appreciative of their mission but had one request.
"They asked us to move up the back a bit. No big deal," Mr Balderstone said.
What the party want is to get the drug war on the agenda while Obama is in the country, because he has helped law reform and medical cannabis dispensaries across America.
"The President talks about smoking weed in his autobiography and he knows cannabis is a good medicine," Mr Balderstone said. "The reforms he has supported have had no discernable negative social consequences. What we want is to take it out of the too hard basket and talk about it."
Mr Balderstone said proper use and legalisation is all about education and he believes that it will create fewer problems when it comes to the negative connotations surrounding the drug.
"People doing something illegal are disrespecting the law and therefore will disrespect other laws," Mr Balderstone said.
The party claim the government could save a fortune in lots of areas; from enforcement and incarceration costs plus the consequent social disasters.
"Thousands of jobs can be created with the stroke of a pen simply by regulating this industry. We also believe it is a priority to normalise the lives of those involved in the current multi-billion dollar cannabis industry," Mr Balderstone said.
Mr Balderstone said the bottom line is pharmaceutical companies want the profits, and although he doesn't believe marijuana use is suited for everyone, bringing the cannabis culture out from the underground will help educate people about it.
"It can help with many illnesses including Crones disease, glaucoma and nausea from cancer. I am also confident in its anti-cancer properties as well as its use as a relaxant," Mr Balderstone.
The HEMP Party delegation, now seeking candidates for the next Federal election, left Nimbin on Tuesday morning and took along a group of 12 including representatives from the Mullers and Packers Union.
"Finally pressure is mounting around Australia for true reform. It's an issue whose time has come we believe," Mr Balderstone said.
According to Mr Balderstone since Julia Gillard has been Prime Minister her only comment on cannabis is that she tried it once and didn't like it.
