Press Release: Nimbin Museum -- Update on Museum Situation
I had an appointment today with Lismore police, Area Commander Bluey Lyons, Crime Manager Stephen Clark, and the applicant, Detective Sargent Michael Smith who is threatening the Museumâs landlord with the Restricted Premises Act 1943.
It was agreed that we had common ground in that we all wanted âa Nimbin where mums and dads can walk with their kiddies without seeing any drug dealingâ (Blueyâs words). The mutual understanding finished there though, because we had entirely different approaches to achieving that.
I think we need regulated cannabis cafes or a cannabis market place, and an attitude that drug use is a health issue. The police believe in the war on drugs despite making no impact, or even going backwards, with street cameras live to their police station in Nimbin and nine permanent officers in the tiny village.
As we have warned from Nimbin for over a decade, the increased policing of easy to bust cannabis has helped create a new illegal pharmaceutical drug industry with an unending supply of almost invisible, odourless pills with no quality control. At least with organic outdoor grown cannabis which Nimbin is famous for you know what youâre getting.
I also talked to the landlord of the Museum today. I expect an eviction letter soon giving me one monthâs notice. The police appear to have made this conditional if the landlord wants to avoid court and potential costs. They are also asking that the new tenants of the Museum building install surveillance cameras covering every room and the extensive back yard. Police want access to this footage at any time, perhaps if it was all live on the net they would be satisfied.
It makes little sense even when you realize this discussion with the Crown Prosecutor, is happening in Sydney where the Museum landlord lives. He has never been to Nimbin.
If the community is keen enough for the Museum to stay alive, we may find a willing taker but it is very disappointing we had no say in any discussions, because after all we do by far the majority of the police work in the village which resembles a refugee camp from the war on drugs. In fact the feeling in town is that closing the Museum will do little to stop any drug dealing but have a major impact on tourism.
And anyway, if they canât keep drug dealing out of jails, which are surely on CCTV, how can we be expected to?
Further info Michael at the Museum 6689 1123 or home 6689 7525