POOR TURNOUT FOR CANNABIS MARCH

City Centre: About 70 marchers calling for the legalisation of cannabis
stopped traffic on Saturday. Campaigners left Queen's Gardens just after
1pm and walked along King Edward Street, Spencer Street and Spring Bank
towards Pearson Park, where they assembled for a "Smoky Bears" picnic.

Organisers had hoped for about 1,000 protesters.

But despite the disappointing turnout, organiser Carl Wagner said he was
happy the group had made its point.

He said: "It costs an enormous amount of public money to prosecute people
for smoking cannabis. Just last December, police sent 12 officers in full
riot gear through somebody's front door to catch them growing cannabis
plants. It's a complete waste."