Raining every day again and we don't need it anymore, we need the sun!
I forgot to mention Megan’s amazing effort last week in the Port Macquarie By-Election, when she got over 7% of the primary vote. We have so few volunteers and so little cash, I’m often amazed by the Legalise Cannabis’ vote. If we had the resources of other Party’s, we would really shock them!
A big part of it is the anonymity of the polling booth. It’s one moment when you can have your say safely. I was speaking with people from Hong Kong in the Hemp Bar today who said heaps of people smoke weed there, but it’s so, so secret.
I suspect that happens in a lot of places. I talk to people from all around the globe and weed has found its way everywhere. There’s a couple of stories below about pot use increasing while alcohol is decreasing. What a difference that would make. Cannabis, the ‘drug against wars’!
Nimbin’s annual MardiGrass, on the first weekend in May, is coming up fast and we still don’t know when the Election will happen, maybe that weekend? If that is the case, some MP’s will be unable to attend. However, Jeremy assures me he will be there, doing podcasts on the spot too!
We love to bring a visitor to MardiGrass from North America to torture us with stories from legal weed world and this year I’m thrilled to announce it looks like being Melanie Dreher from Chicago, an anthropologist who studied under Margaret Mead and went to Jamaica as a grad. student to study pot use amongst the Rastafarian’s in the 1970s.
Jamaica then became her social science laboratory for cannabis research for decades. Eventually she focussed on studying pregnant women and young mothers using cannabis, often in tea to chill out the kids and help them focus in school. We have a long road ahead of us before our lies and stigma fade away. But it will, guaranteed!
Michael Balderstone
Nimbin HEMP Embassy Head
Fun Fact!
The Vikings grew and used hemp for making paper (among other things). This paper was used for writing, drawing, and making maps, all of which were important for the seafaring culture of the Vikings.
Episodes 13 and 14 of Jeremy’s podcast, “Into The Weeds feature Jack Gough, a policy expert and environmental strategist tackling one of Australia’s biggest ecological challenges—invasive species, and Ian Roberts, the trail-blazing former rugby league player, LGBTQ+ advocate and director of Qtopia Sydney, Australia’s first dedicated museum for queer history and culture (respectively).
(Don’t forget to JOIN the Party, it’s free and sends a loud message—we are growing)!
MARDIGRASS
Golden Bud MardiGrass Pass
ALL Events ONLY
(NO Camping) $60.00 per person
Fri 2nd May – Sun 4th May 2025
CANNABIS COOK BOOKS
New and exciting ways to enjoy the benefits of cannabis! A guide for beginners and experienced cooks alike. The Australian Cannabis Cookbook by renowned chef, Eve Sinton.
$15.00
MARDIGRASS
CANNABIS COOK BOOKS
Practical information on infusing and extracting the maximum benefit from cannabis including tips for first timers. Cooking with Cannabis: More Than 100 Delicious Edibles by Pat Crocker.
This week will be the Parliament's last chance to spare voters from an onslaught of outright lies in political ads. 87% of Australians support truth in political advertising laws, so government should do its job, and get it done.
The campaign, by the Penington Institute, asks the Victorian community to ‘Take the cannabis test’—a five-question online quiz designed to encourage the community to think about how cannabis can be safely regulated.
Proceeding for people unlawfully searched by NSW Police at all music festivals in NSW since 22 July 2016. Slater and Gordon Lawyers and Redfern Legal Centre. Register here.
Since 2013, the Northern Rivers Rail Trail Supporters, community volunteers, local councillors, staff and the tourist industry, had a vision to preserve and revitalise 130km of disused rail corridor between Murwillumbah and Casino, converting it to a world class car-free corridor through the region’s spectacular landscapes. Ensuring you have the wheels to explore the trail at your own pace, hire a bicycle here.
The easy place to check what market is on! The Market Guide lists all monthly markets and the weekly farmers markets from around the Northern Rivers and the NSW North Coast.
Find out what’s on in Lismore, Nimbin and Villages. Featuring key events, tours and activities, entertainment, local attractions, markets and much more.
See what’s on from Byron Bay to Murwillumbah, Nimbin to Lennox Head, Kingscliff to Mullum., Tweed to Bangalow, Ballina to Coolangatta, Lismore and beyond. Echonet daily Gig Guide—local pubs, clubs, venues, DJs, bands covered!
Regional Touring Guide
Explore the beautiful Northern Rivers Region with this Tourist Drive brochure. Tourist Drives 24 and 32 stretch from Murwillumbah in the north, to Woodburn in the south, through lush countryside and some of the region’s most amazing natural wonders, charming historic villages and mouth-watering restaurants, cafes and local producers.
The seventh edition of Echonet’s digital guide to the Northern Rivers region is available now. So much diversity at your fingertips—beaches to hinterland, local produce to jazz afternoons—just so many options to explore and experience.
Join me as I jump Into the Weeds with Jack Gough, a policy expert and environmental strategist tackling one of Australia’s biggest ecological challenges—inva…
Join me as I dive Into the Weeds with Ian Roberts, the trailblazing former rugby league player, LGBTQ+ advocate, and director of Qtopia Sydney, Australia’s f…
The 2025 MardiGrass Hemposium will showcase an amazing collection of cannabis experts across medical, industrial, science, politics, culture and more! MardiGrass is an extraordinary chance to share and learn about our favourite plant ally and healing herb. A Weed University weekend!
MardiGrass advocates for freedom for all plants and fungi and is all about sensible law reform for ALL drugs, so this year we will partner with Entheogenesis Australis to present a day/night program dedicated to other medicinal plants. We promise expert knowledge-sharing deep-dives on botanical research, mushroom cultivation, harm reduction, the black art of saliva testing and the emerging industry of mainstream psychedelic therapy.
You can check out last year’s program of lectures, workshops, panels, as well as talks from previous years, via the Hemp Embassy Channel..
Applications are now open (links below) for participation in the Hemposium.
Applications close 1 April 2025 and the M.O.B. will follow up in early April to finalise participation.
The HEMP Embassy Headlines are a selection of recent articles from news and media services primarily concerning cannabis, the consequences of prohibition and challenges for law reform. If you have any suggestions or contributions please email [email protected]
You are receiving this because you subscribed to the HEMP Headlines. Our mailing address is:
Nimbin HEMP Embassy, 51 Cullen St, Nimbin NSW 2480, Australia
