Cannabis protesters confronted by police at 420 rally in Melbourne

Hundreds of cannabis advocates lighting up in a city park were confronted by about 80 police officers at a ‘420’ rally calling for the drug to be legalized.

At least three arrests have been made with cannabis and other drugs reportedly seized by police officers during the protest in Melbourne’s Flagstaff Gardens on Thursday.

Victoria Police told Daily Mail Australia that 15 warnings had also been issued, with sniffer dogs helping to catch those allegedly breaking the law.

Digital content creator Rukshan Fernando wrote further Twitter that ‘the police mainly searched people and found nothing about them.

“It appeared to be a large law enforcement presence for what was a victimless event, especially when we factor in the ongoing claims by Victoria Police that they are understaffed and unable to attend other major crime events in the state.” .’

A man (pictured) is stopped and searched by Victoria police officers during the pro-cannabis 420 Rally & Community Picnic 2023 in Melbourne, Thursday 20 April

The rally sparked mixed reactions from social media users.

“While I don’t agree with smoking it, the government has no business against people what they can and can’t put in their own bodies,” said one person.

“Police should go through Australia’s parliaments to root out corruption. That’s what they should be doing,” wrote another.

A third commenter said their ‘concerns are about (cannabis’) links to more serious mental health problems such as psychosis and also drug-driving, which is likely to increase.

“This in connection with recreational use, where necessary I fully support medical use.”

Among those arrested was a 37-year-old man allegedly in possession of cannabis, cocaine and methamphetamine.

A 15-year-old boy who was also taken into custody on an outstanding warrant and a 39-year-old man were arrested for alleged possession of cannabis.

The boy was released on bail to appear at a children’s court at a later date, while the two men will appear at Melbourne Magistrates Court in June.

People are detained and searched by Victoria police officers at a pro-cannabis rally in Melbourne

A sniffer dog is pictured approaching a man at a 420 rally in Melbourne on Thursday

Pictured is a man being searched by Victoria police officers in Melbourne’s Flagstaff Gardens

The recreational use of cannabis remains illegal in every Australian state, but different laws apply in the two territories.

ACT residents over the age of 18 can carry up to 50 grams of dry cannabis or 150 grams of wet material and grow up to two plants per person.

Cannabis has largely been decriminalized in the Northern Territory, but possession of a small amount in a public place can still lead to imprisonment.

Many countries around the world have legalized cannabis for both recreational and medicinal purposes.

These include Canada, the Netherlands, Portugal, Uruguay, South Africa, Jamaica, Malta and some states in the US.

What is the annual ‘420’ event?

Held annually on April 20, which is 4/20 in American English, 420 is an opportunity for cannabis smokers around the world to unite in support of the drug.

Although it is held on April 20 every year, the song’s base time is 4:20 p.m.

A man lights a joint during a 420 rally in Melbourne on April 20, 2023

That’s when five California high school students met to smoke cannabis, and in 1971 they came up with the secret code ‘420’ to control it.

Those students — Steve Capper, Dave Reddix, Jeffrey Noel, Larry Schwartz, and Mark Gravich — are now in their 60s, but they still meet to celebrate the event they accidentally founded 52 years ago.