The village of Nimbin is beginning to get ready for its fifteenth annual MardiGrass, the cannabis law reform rally and gathering which swallows the village every first weekend in May. “Until we are no longer criminals”, says Michael Balderstone, spokesperson for the MOB (MardiGrass Organising Body!) ”That’s the promise we made to ourselves and it looks like we might be doing it for a few years yet, though if Rudd replaces Howard at least the Federal reefer madness campaign might diminish.” “The Rally to change the cannabis laws on Sunday afternoon is the main event and never has it been more important to stand up,” said Michael. “While Howard and Christopher Pyne and his cronies had an obsession with pot, the popularity of ice exploded. He’s been an incredibly ignorant and inexperienced prime minister in the war on drugs and things have got a lot worse on his watch. They didn’t see the Ice Age coming!” “If only half the people who ever smoked pot came to the Rally we’d have a traffic jam to Byron Bay and beyond, then maybe someone would notice”, said the ever hopeful Michael,” if only people knew life begins on the edge of their comfort zone. We guarantee an educational and enlightening weekend, and an all weekend pass costs only $30, or if you prefer, 4 hours and 20 minutes volunteering. Fifty dollars gets you a camp-site and admission! This year’s MardiGrass has an expanded program with events beginning earlier and going later in Peace Park. The usual information forums on everything cannabis, industrial, medicinal, legal, political etc are on, as is the favourite Hemp Olympix joint rolling, growers iron person and bong throw. The hemp rope tug o’ peace is back again this year. Bands playing at half a dozen venues include Wild Marmalade, Charlie McMahon, Invisible Friend, Legless, Kaptan Reefer and the Kone Scrapers, Dick Desert and the Shotgun Country Club, The Utopians, Spoonbill, Azzadoota, Baron Samadhi, The Hoochers, Lordz of the Fly and The Antibodies. Guests from overseas include Professor Puff from Vancouver in Canada, a legendary long time cannabis law reform activist and stand up comic. And Remo who is featured in the new Australian cannabis culture magazine “Stickypoint”, is coming and will join the medical forum. Another Canadian, he is one of the few lucky ones who was issued a medical cannabis pass by the Canadian Government and is allowed to grow his own. He does it all on line and you can check him out at www.urbangrower.com where he has a big following. MardiGrass kicks off on Friday afternoon 4th May with the Nimbin Headers Sports Club putting on the Pickers Ball in the Town Hall. Peace Park opens on Saturday morning at 10am with a full program till 10pm. Sunday is similar but finishes a bit earlier. Dr. Keith Bolton will lead the forums on the potential of the cannabis plant if only they’d let us grow it for food, fibre and fuel. Steve Bolt, John Jiggens Andrew Katelaris and all the usual suspects will be there to join newcomers which include LEAP (Law Enforcement Against Prohibition), and the Intra Saliva Driver info’ stall where you can meet Professor Michael Dawson. MardiGrass organisers have a crew of MUNCH vehicles to Monitor Unfair Nimbin Cannabis Hype this year. “We’ve organised licensed non-stoners to be out on the approach roads to Nimbin making sure Police don’t turn people away from MardiGrass like they did last year. Hopefully this year the policing of MardiGrass will return to sanity and we’ve been assured by Commander Lyons there will be less Police this year. Last year we found the ‘Public Order and Riot Squad’ way over the top and even provocative at times. They’ve got better things to do and people don’t come here to riot.” Full program is at www.nimbinmardigrass.com. Further info 0266891842 a/h 0266897525.