Cannabis rally: Cops swarm weed picnic in Melbourne’s Flagstaff Gardens and arrest dozens of revellers
Dozens of revelers have been arrested at an annual pro-cannabis picnic in Melbourne’s Flagstaff Gardens.
The 402 rally in the city’s CBD aims to raise awareness for the legalization of cannabis and takes place annually worldwide on April 20 or 4/20.
Recreational use of cannabis is prohibited in all Australian states.
More than 250 people attended the event, which was teeming with police dog units and officers on the ground searching for attendees.
About 36 perpetrators were arrested and treated for drug-related crimes.
Police search a man at the 420 picnic in Flagstaff Gardens. The event promoted the legalization of cannabis
About 250 people attended the annual pro-cannabis event in Melbourne
Most were given warnings, while four will receive summonses to attend court at a later date.
“While we respect the right to lawful and peaceful protests, we will not tolerate any criminal activity,” a Victoria Police spokesperson said.
“Our role is to enforce the law.”
This year’s event, with the slogan ‘Who are we hurting?’, featured MPs from the Legalize Cannabis Australia Party.
Western Metro Region MP David Ettershank and South-East Metro MP Rachel Payne indicated they would attend.
In a post to her Instagram on Saturday, Ms Payne called for an “end to ban”, accompanied by a photo of what appeared to be a lit cigarette.
“I’m looking forward to meeting the cannabis community today,” she said.
Officers from the police dog brigade were also present
Both MPs appeared at an earlier event outside state parliament on Friday, run by artist collective The Craze Co.
Posts from the group show the pair standing in front of what appeared to be caged plants with signs reading “The War on Weed, A Royal Failure Indeed”
Only about 1.7 per cent of Australians in the ACT have access to decriminalized and recreational cannabis, according to advocates.
Recreational cannabis is otherwise illegal in every Australian state, although NSW is set to launch an investigation into the ban.
A number of countries have legalized marijuana for medical and recreational purposes, including Canada, the Netherlands and Portugal.
NSW Police were contacted for comment.
The Libertarian Party’s Victorian MP David Limbrick, the Animal Justice Party’s Georgie Purcell, Legalize Cannabis Australia’s Rachel Payne and David Ettershank and The Greens’ Aiv Puglielli attended the event on Saturday.