Nimbin takes fight to Obama

[Oz]

IF PRESIDENT Obama can’t come to Nimbin, then Nimbin will fire up the Kombis and head to him.

 

Nimbin Hemp Embassy has admitted defeat in its nearly-brilliant off-the-cuff campaign to get the United States President to visit the Northern Rivers hemp haven, despite gaining plenty of media attention culminating with a segment on last week’s Good News Week.

 

Organisers are packing their banners, rolling up their ‘big joint’ and heading to Canberra by car, caravan or Kombi to push for cannabis law reform like that in the US.

 

Hemp Embassy representative Max Stone said, unlike many of their campaigns, this protest wasn’t about the right of people to smoke pot, but the right of sick people to access the documented pain-relief available from medicinal cannabis.

 

Advocates argue the treatment is free from many of the side effects of prescription pain-killers.

 

Mr Stone explained that Mr Obama had directed federal US agencies to leave the issue of medical cannabis to individual states where many had laws in place allowing access to the drug for medical reasons.

 

Meanwhile, Hemp Embassy president Michael Balderstone has written to both the Prime Minister and the US President ahead of his visit later this month.

 

He has asked Mr Rudd to raise the issue of medical cannabis with President Obama, and Mr Obama to ‘enlighten our PM on the issue’.

 

“We will be travelling to Canberra with our Big Joint and Polite Force, hoping to get medical cannabis on the political agenda, and we are asking cannabis consumers and friends to write to the Prime Minister and urge him to talk to the President about what is happening in America,” he said.

 

“We know Kevin Rudd is looking for evidence based policies and surely it’s time to introduce cannabis regulations, quality controls and a tax system for Australia’s more than 2 million cannabis users.”

 

Mr Balderstone said they would also be dropping into the Australian Electoral Commission to check on the revival of their political contender, the Hemp Party.

Author: Dominic Feain

Date: 16/03/10

Source: Northern Star

Copyright: © APN News & Media Ltd 2010

[Budstedpothead]

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has sympathised with Barack Obama's last-minute decision to scrap his visit to Australia, saying they share the challenges of major health reform and difficult Senates.

 

The US President was due to arrive in Canberra next week but has delayed the trip until June to rally support for his major health reform package.

 

 

Mr Rudd told the Seven Network today that Mr Obama had phoned him to relay the news.

 

‘‘We had a good conversation, but it’s going to be good to see him later in the year,’’ he said.

 

Source: Smh.com.au

 

Commentary: Sorry i couldn't include more details but i had to get in and get out because the webpage was going to load a video whether i liked it or not, which would have wasted my bandwidth.

[HowAboutNo]

Is there any estimate of how many people the protest will consist of?

[Budstedpothead]

I have a feeling that the protest will be fruitless, i support and encourage it, but Pollies like to ignore protesters and do what they want, they only get worried when protesters gain support from people who are going to be influenced by said protesters and might vote against the pollie who ignores them.

 

A warning, Barrack Obama is very on the fence about Cannabis law reform, when asked about it, he just goes "ha! Ha! Ha! ha!" and drops the subject.

Do not expect him to solve our problems, i've heard that he will only make a start in his second term as president (does that get you suspicious?) He could be biding his time, there are allot of corrupt zealots from the bush era left in his administration, and he cannot just do whatever he likes, least those Zealots use the infamous "soft on drugs" defamation campaign to get him removed.

 

Of course there's equal evidence that he could be just exploiting the confidence of Pot Smokers in order to gain their support, but has no intention of fulfilling any promises or even making any promises that he will reform the law.

He is known for Bold Rhetoric not bold statements.

If he is just exploiting confidence to ensure he gets a second term, and if that happens and he doesn't address the Cannabis issue, don't get angry or call him the worst politician ever, if he does that, he is just doing what politicians do best, maintain the status quo, and try to be in office for as long as possible.

 

I know that is a pessimistic view, but it's worth heeding so we don't get lazy towards our efforts.

The people must make a difference, in the US and in Canada NZ UK so on and in Australia.

[Radic]

I know that is a pessimistic view, but it's worth heeding so we don't get lazy towards our efforts.

The people must make a difference, in the US and in Canada NZ UK so on and in Australia.

seen

we do need to keep the pressure up in this time

obamma and rudd need to know what the people want

that is exactly what this action aims to do

if they wont listen now, then we will grow stronger and speak louder

we have a right to descent

we made a vow

to all the drug war refugees

we will not stop till cannabis is 100% legal

if anyone wants to join in and help with this action please contact President Michael B at the Nimbin Hemp Embassy

stand up

never give up your rights

if you want to want to start your own action away from the nimbin scene

thats cool we will support you too, however we can

 

if you cant come on the day, but still want to support

then

talk to everyone you can about it

ring radio talk back shows

email papers and the pollies

make posters and put them up in public places

make some noise oz stoners

unity will set we free

stronger together

forward ever

free cannabis

free people

free land

[Budstedpothead]

If only i had a working printer, i would be printing out my information pamphlets and handing them out to everyone, it's kinda hard to be taken seriously if you have not got any info except word of mouth.

[itsMoeyy]

Whao I just had an awesome idea. Althought its probably been thought of wayyyy before.

 

Why not make a very informative pamphlet on the health benefits of cannabis and addresses the bs government myths about cannabis with proof from studies, researches etc.

Then hand them out like at MAIN city train stations wearing suits to look professional XD