POT SMOKED IN OCTAGON DURING PROTEST

About 200 people sat smoking cannabis in the Octagon on Saturday to
mark the annual J-Day protest against the prohibition of cannabis.

J-Day stands for Joint Day.

National Organisation for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML)
representative Duncan Eddy said the gathering was to show opposition
to cannabis prohibition, support for rational cannabis laws and
displeasure at the length of time it was taking the select committee
reviewing cannabis laws to publish its recommendations.

Several speakers addressed the crowd, postcards were given out to be
sent to MPs and people were encouraged to get on the electoral roll,
then use their vote to support cannabis law reform.

"The main thing is coming together to indulge in an act of civil
disobedience in response to an unjust law," Mr Eddy said.

"I think the government needs a really clear message from the people
that we are sick of being treated this way."

While no police officers came along to break up the protest, the
protesters were eventually forced to move along by strong winds.