Nimbin MardiGrass 2023: Thousands gather to call for reform to Australia’s cannabis laws
The small Australian village of Nimbin was more than usual overrun with greenery this weekend as thousands of revelers turned out for the MardiGrass Festival and protest against cannabis law reform.
The village, about an hour’s drive from Byron Bay on the north coast of NSW with a population of just 1,800 people, has hosted the festival annually since 1993.
MardiGrass began as a peaceful demonstration following a lengthy police crackdown on marijuana in the region, with organizers stating they intend to hold the event every year as a way to “protest, educate and celebrate” until the drug is legalized in Australia.
This year’s event, the 31st in history, ran Friday through Sunday and drew large crowds for the dozens of activities spread over the three days, including the main event, the colorful cannabis law reform, and the parade on day three.
Spectators lined the road like floats and participants made their way down the main street, many dressed in bizarre and colorful costumes, including the ‘ganja fairy’ dancers with their marijuana leaf fans.
Paradegoers (pictured) donned their green outfits for the Nimbin MardiGrass ‘Big Rally’, which promotes itself as a celebration of marijuana and calls for an end to prohibition
A woman skipped the green to dress up as a giant tent, a woman who also appeared in the original parade in the 1990s, hastily assembled from sheets and other household items
One reveler got in the mood with a costume made of foam and what looked like plastic houseplants
The event has been held annually since 1993, when it began as a spontaneous protest following a lengthy police crackdown on marijuana in the region.
Other activities over the weekend included the sports competition style Hemp Olympix, the Green Cabaret show, Konvoy’s Kombi and the Hemposium conference with dozens of guest speakers.
“There is quite a bit of excitement about the fact that Jeremy Buckingham, MP for cannabis legalization, has been elected in NSW,” said Michael Balderstone, president of the MardiGrass organisation.
The political party, which was founded in Nimbin and formerly known as the Help End Marijuana Prohibition (HEMP) Party, now has five elected senators – two in Victoria and two in WA, along with Mr Buckingham.
“A highlight of MardiGrass will be the handful of new Legalize Cannabis senators in attendance, and with their green counterparts,” said Mr. Balderstone.
“There is now a great program of all things cannabis speakers at four different locations, if we include the Northern Rivers Hemp Growers Co-op.”
The new company in the village held a series of talks, including a “hemp root puppet making workshop” with Hempstone – hemp concrete – creator Martin Ernegg.
The co-op also held a Senator Learning Circle where cannabis parties and green senators spoke with farmers and producers to discuss strategy and tactics as their self-proclaimed cannabis “revolution” progresses.
The Legalize Cannabis Party – formerly the Help End Marijuana Prohibition (HEMP) Party was founded in Nimbin and had a large presence at the rally
The ‘ganja fairy’ dancers have been a mainstay in the parade for years with their weed leaf fans (pictured)
The village has a population of about 1,800, but tourism attracts large numbers of people, especially during the MardiGrass weekend
Nimbin has been described as Australia’s marijuana capital and has been compared to a small Amsterdam
An enthusiastic reveler showed up, dressed as a giant cookie, complete with a teapot hat
Medical cannabis was legalized in Australia in 2016, although it is still illegal to have it without a prescription
Dr. Karen Hitchcock, one of Australia’s first licensed medical cannabis prescribers, spoke at the event.
While there was also a performance by Wilfred the Stoner Dog.
The famed dog comedian from his own TV series, briefly given an American remake starring Elijah Wood, has now apparently become a “ganjapreneur.”
Fellow comedians from Sydney’s Laugh Mob showed up for their annual show at the ‘Indica Arena’.
While ‘Sativa Stadium’ was home to the Hemp Olympix with events such as the Growers’ Iron Person Event and the Bong Throw and Yell.
The Joint Rolling competitions were held at City Hall.
Like the MMMAs or the MardiGrass Marijuana Music Awards where no song can be longer than 4 minutes and 20.
The organizers want the drug to be legalized across the board and not controlled by drug companies
A man wore a technicolor frog shirt while a fellow parade-goer donned a Jimi Hendrix t-shirt
The protest against cannabis law reform attracted dozens of guest speakers who took the stage at the Hemposium conference
Nimbin is about an hour’s drive from Byron Bay, which has become a tourist hot spot in recent decades
The Legalize Cannabis Party has now elected five senators and each state has its own party in a ‘loose federation’
Australians’ attitudes towards marijuana are changing according to a recent survey of those who think it should be legal, now outnumbering those who don’t
“It’s hard to believe we’re still labeled as criminals just as often,” Balderstone said.
“Shouted loudly for thirty years about the mistake of banning the most useful plant in creation, and despite the experts now agreeing with us, we are still not letting the hunt for cannabis consumers stop.”
“Giant pharmaceutical companies are the only people allowed to grow nature’s best pain-relieving plants, and we can only legally access them with a doctor’s permission.”
“Cannabis and the poppy were in most medicines just a century ago, now Big Pharma controls which drugs we can use and which we can’t,” he said.
“In fact, we’ve lost the plot, it seems, on this issue of prohibition. MardiGrass is about enjoying life and the heaven we’re in.”
In Australia, prescription-only cannabis was legalized in 2016, but it is still illegal to grow or possess privately without a prescription.
However, Australian attitudes are changing according to a 2019 National Drug Household Survey conducted by the government.
The survey found that about 41 percent of the population aged 14 and older supported marijuana legalization, up from 26 percent in 2004.
While opponents of legalization are now in the minority at 37 percent, up from 54 percent in 2004.