DRUG REFORM PROTESTERS GATHERED OUTSIDE THE LISMORE

Lismore Protesters Court Publicity

THE Lismore Courthouse was the scene for a peaceful protest yesterday
when 20 people gathered to voice opposition over the outlawing of
cannabis and to support a group of people facing court charged with
drug-related offences after Nimbin MardiGrass.

Protest organiser and Nimbin Hemp Embassy president Michael
Balderstone said the protest was never intended to disrupt court
proceedings yesterday.

"We were there to support people who were busted and to witness the
whole affair, and to make our point that the war against cannabis is
a lost war," he said.

"Nowhere is this more evident than in Nimbin. Why don't we treat it
(the use of cannabis) as a health issue instead?"

Lismore Court registrar Michael Knock said the protesters were
friendly and amenable to any request by court staff.

"I could hear them from my office and the senior sheriff spoke to
them at our request and they turned down their loud hailer, but we
had no problems," he said.