[Courtesy of HEMP Embassy] Nimbin Cannabis Law Reform Rally one of the best despite... The police this year led the media to believe greater numbers of police would be present, but told us that there would be less. That made us distrustful, but at the event there were significantly less police. I estimate half the strength of last year. For reasons of their own, they wanted the public to think otherwise. The saliva testing Winnebago barely appeared, while we had a drug-wipe saliva testing kit make a false amphetamine positive as the ABC was recording the demonstration. We hope they use the recording. We believe the Winnebago may prove to be a white elephant, or a millstone, or both. We feel that this was one of the best organised MardiGrass weekends we have presented. We concentrated on running a full program in Peace Park, without gaps in activities so that people would be less prone to wandering away leaving a less attractive half filled venue. This year the nights were not as cold, and that helped make the night time program more enjoyable and better attended. The weather was good, and everything ran smoothly. In events using volunteers conflicts between members can emerge or some members may attempt to dominate, creating frictions that undermine morale and impede progress. We had an exceptionally trouble free MardiGrass Organising Body this year, and were blessed with exceptional MardiGrass volunteers from all over the world. I cannot praise their group spirit and dedication enough. They did everything asked, and came back for more. While last year's excessive police presence may have deterred some people, the people who came together for the 2007 MardiGrass were more determined than ever to show that we are no danger to anything, and that we are not criminals. The police have not deterred us, but united us. In 1937 there was a reefer madness campaign, which convinced millions of otherwise sensible people that cannabis caused instant insanity lust and murder. A new reefer madness campaign began in 2004, which left out the lust and murder, and reduced the number of instantly insane. The original reefer madness campaign created a prejudice, and the new reefer madness campaign seeks to sustain that prejudice through selective quotation, exaggeration and distortion of research. The truth will out eventually. The Nimbin Hemp Embassy and Nimbin MardiGrass will continue to oppose these unjust laws. The HEMP Olympix filled Peace Park this year as its reputation grows. Bob the Builder and Smurf set a new joint world record in the Speed Roll (3 papers plus filter) of 15 seconds in a tie for the Green Medal. In the roll off, Bob won in 17 seconds after Smurf stumbled. Bob also won the Green Medal again in the Artistic Roll this year, with a ‘rainbow coloured roses’ joint. The Growers’ Ironperson Event Green Medal was won by local lad Ruben in 71 seconds. The Womens’ won by Lily from France in 101 seconds. The Bong Throw and yell won by Gary the plumber for the second time with a throw of 39.1 metres, Sarah from England won the Womens’ with 27.8 metres. Nimbin HEMP Embassy Phone 66891842 – a/h 66897525