Report from Dunedin
NORML IN TALKS WITH POLICE
Otago Daily Times, Wed, 4th May
J Day Plans Uncertain
Dunedin police are yet to decide what action they will take if cannabis smokers play their "silly games" and gather in the police station to flout the law this J Day. International J Day has in past years seen Dunedin members and supporters of Norml -- a group formed to pressure government into legalising or regulating cannabis -- openly smoking cannabis and protesting the law at concerts in the Octagon.
For the past two years, the concerts have been followed by a march to the Dunedin Central Police Station where hundreds of people have openly smoked cannabis in the foyer and on the police grounds.
No arrests have been made. Yesterday, Norml vice-president Simon Wallace said the group was in talks with police and it had not yet been decided whether the march would happen after this year's protest on Saturday.
"We don't do it to mock the police. We do it to highlight the hypocrisy of the way the law is at the moment." Dunedin area controller Inspector Dave Campbell said police had not yet decided what action would be taken if the march went ahead.
"The usual routine is that just to add to their enjoyment, they finish the march at the police station and see if they can provoke the police." There were two reasons police had not arrested anyone in the past, he said.
"One issue is that they are playing stupid games. They're trying to provoke the police into action and they're trying to make a political statement. We don't want to buy into that.
"The other thing is that dealing with them in that manner would tie up our staff who are better off out doing other things. We have more important things to do than play their games and take part in their juvenile activities." J Day starts Weed Week, which includes debates, concerts, movies and parties.
CANNABIS PROTEST STAYS PUT
Otago Daily Times, Mon, 9th May
J Day protesters in Dunedin did not take their protest against cannabis prohibition to the city's central police station this year.
Instead, about 120 supporters and members of NORML -- a group formed to pressure the Government into legalising or regulating cannabis -- kept their protest to the lower Octagon, where a free concert took place.
For the past two years, the concerts have been followed by a march to the Dunedin Central Police Station, where people have openly smoked cannabis in the foyer and on the police ground. Senior Sergeant Bruce Ross said yesterday the protesters did not approach the station or cause any problems.
Dunedin NORML president Abe Gray said as the bands did not wind up until about 5pm it was decided it was not pertinent to march to the police station.