Hundreds smoke dope in defiance

BY GEORGIA CLARK

The war on drugs has prompted disillusioned youth to raise arms against authorities for as long as anyone can remember. They’ve waged war in the name of Vietnam, women’s rights and more recently, medical marijuana. But last week, on Thursday, April 20th a congregation of about 400 pro-weed hippies assembled in Sydney’s Victoria Park to celebrate Bob Marley’s landmark substance on a counterculture day known as 420 worldwide.

Chris Hindi, founder of Free Cannabis NSW said it was the best turn out he’d seen in the time the event has been running.

“There’s been a lot of talk about legalisation. I think that’s why [420] has gained a lot of momentum,” he said.

420 has gained traction as a worldwide counterculture pro-cannabis movement. So what’s the provenance of the infamous day’s name? Like most grassroots movements, it began somewhere in California in the late ‘70’s, where 420 was the police code for marijuana smoking in progress.

Despite Government reform giving some companies the green light to legally import, store and sell the drug last year, there are still hurdles to accessing it. Jack McCusker came to the 420 rally from Scotland a few days before the festivities began.

“I cannot wait for cannabis to be legalised. I think that along with other drugs it’s people’s personal choice whether they want to smoke cannabis, take drugs, drink alcohol, take coffee,” he said.

The Government’s recent push towards the legalisation of medical marijuana is a step forward, but many pro-smokers believe Australia’s policies are still about as regressive as a nuclear weapon.

Andreaa Kindryd is an Australian citizen from California.

“Enough is enough. It’s time to free the weed. I’m 78 years old. My choice is commit suicide or go to jail. People who have bi-polar and have the urge to kill themselves can’t have weed because it’s illegal and they go to jail… [but] cannabis is a plant that’s been around longer than me,” she said.

For many at the protest, cannabis is not the devilish substance the general public make it out to be. One of the protestors, who wished to be known as Alex Smith, said cannabis use is the only antidote to his pain and mental health concerns.

“When I go without it my whole body convulses up. I lose control of my left hand… Codeine doesn’t help. It just helps get rid of the pain…cannabis is the best medicine,” he said.

While those who have specific doctor approval can still access the drug, it can take months to import and for treatment to commence. However, because the drug isn’t approved by the Therapeutic Goods Association (TGA), doctors can only approve the drug for treatment if they are authorised prescribers or through a Special Access Scheme. For most people like Alex, access is difficult.

“They should go about treating people first and go about researching later. What matters is people like me are suffering and we need the treatment now,” he said.