Police brawl with medical marijuana patients at Australian cannabis rally?

April 20, 2022 marked a disastrous end for the annual community picnic and 420 rally held in Victoria, Australia at Flagstaff Gardens, Melbourne. The event ended badly when law enforcement officials sabotaged activities, towed away cannabis patients and disregarded medical cannabis laws.

In 2016, Australia’s Parliament revised the Narcotics Drug Act, legalizing the medicinal use of cannabis in the country. Prior to the most recent event on April 20th, healthcare professionals, nurses and doctors are known to be prescribing medicinal cannabis to patients in Victoria courtesy of the Narcotics Drug Act. However, certain products still require additional approval from the Commonwealth TGA.

But with recent events at the rally events, a mixed feeling of call to action and celebration now fills the air. Jason, aka “Ancient Jay” who is responsible for organizing the community picnic and 420 rally each year, had a lot to say about the situation. He confirmed that the event did not stop law enforcement officers from arresting people who smoked cannabis at the community picnic.

Ancient Jay spoke about the unprofessional behavior of the police during the interview with High Times. He claimed police carried out deliberate attacks on the most vulnerable members during the rally. He reiterated that police illegally searched and intimidated people in the park, including a patient recovering from brain surgery.

He also explained how an elderly man was illegally searched in the open air despite not possessing any illegal drugs or cannabis. Jay added that the humiliation the man suffered was evident as he tried to hide the tears streaming down his face. Ancient Jay himself is a supporter of drug reform and has used cannabis primarily for medicinal purposes for the past three decades.

Aside from Ancient Jay, the British tabloid Daily Mail also witnessed a typical incident in which several officers dragged a man while ignoring his pleas. The man claimed he had a prescription that he obtained legally at the pharmacy. He was dragged away and handcuffed without being heard. After his release, the man mentioned to the reporter that he wanted to have a wonderful time at the rally since it was his first time. But things didn’t turn out as expected.

A spokesman for the Victorian Police confirmed that police were on site at Flagstaff Gardens to prevent a protest. He confirmed the man was later released, but that was after he was dragged, handcuffed, arrested and taken away. This is not the type of treatment many envisioned and advocated when pushing for the legalization of cannabis marijuana.

As video evidence, a blogger who was at the rally recorded several incidents and uploaded them to YouTube. The video showed the police’s unprofessional behavior and aggression while the DJ played background music. While police aggression was on full display, participants in the rally called officers “cowards” and “uniformed thugs” along with other names.

According to Ancient Jay, accessibility has been a major issue since the medical use of cannabis was legalized. He believes that the provision introduced allows for situations in which patients’ rights can be completely ignored. He went on to say that the recent police action at the rally shows that many do not fully recognize medicinal cannabis.

Ancient Jay reiterated that the police’s aggressive approach to the rally was an indication of a lack of empathy and understanding for vulnerable community members.

TROG, a Victoria-based psychedelic artist with multiple connections to cannabis communities, was also affected by the situation. In his interview with High Times, he stated that such incidents should not happen during this period. He believes there isn’t enough information available to show that cannabis isn’t harmful.

Australian support for legalized cannabis

About half of Australians believe the Australian government should legalize marijuana, according to a survey and report published in 2019. The poll found that exactly 41.1% of Australians want cannabis legalized – a significant increase in the acceptance rate compared to when the question was first asked in 2013.

Researchers in Australia have always studied changes in public perceptions of drug use over time. The survey, conducted by the National Drug Strategy Household Survey every two to three years since the 1980s, was last conducted in 2019.

A look at the survey shows that approval ratings for cannabis jumped from 25.5% in 2013 to 41.1% in 2019 — almost double the increase in acceptance. There has also been a slight increase in the number of people who say they have tried cannabis over the past two decades. The value rose from 33.5% (2001) to 38% (2019).

According to a professor at the University of NSW’s National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, Don Weatherburn, cannabis is becoming more popular now that the law is less draconian. He reiterated that many states have not established cannabis positive orientation programs. As a result, the stigma attached to the herb has decreased significantly since the 1980s.

Another factor Weatherburn highlighted is the fact that those who first tried cannabis are now in positions of power in major institutions and government agencies. Taking the US as an example, the country used to have strict laws against marijuana, but so much has changed. Several dispensaries have now been set up across the country that legally sell cannabis.

Support for cannabis use continues to grow, and researchers can find solid arguments for such growth. Meanwhile, the analysis also showed that support for other illicit drugs is at an all-time low.

Weatherburn analyzed that while support for legalizing cocaine and ecstasy is fairly low, stats have increased slightly since 2013. The 2019 poll found that 9.5% of Australians support the legalization of cocaine and ecstasy, compared to 81% in 2013.

The survey also found a significant increase in support for education and treatment rather than punishment and jail. Although people do not support these drugs, they would like to see a different approach than traditional fines and jail time.

Another survey conducted by Essential Research, an online survey company, between March 30 and April 2, 2022 is positive. About 50% of respondents believe that full cannabis reform should take place in the country.

Conclusion

Although cannabis has been legalized for medicinal use in Australia, the events of the rally are an indication that more public education is needed in the country. It’s one thing to legalize cannabis and another to fight stigma.

As long as cannabis users are still stigmatized, such occurrences will continue and hopefully it won’t get any worse than it already is. The public, especially law enforcement officials, need to know the truth about cannabis or harassments like this will continue.

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