Ken posted this on the NORML NZ forums

Posted: Mon Apr 28, 2008 11:05 pm Post subject: Invercargill
http://www.norml.org.nz/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&p=58321#5...

Today Police lost all moral authority to prosecute people for being part of
the cannabis culture.
Maryjane and crew arrived in Invercargill looking forward to 'having a smoke
with Tim' to find he is "out of town".
Despite the disappointment of not being able to smoke with New Zealands most
famous toker, our professional crew paraded through the city and made our
usual noise.

We told Invercargill the same story as all other towns on tour. "Come to our
protest at 4.20. Stop locking our people up. It is time for cannabis law
reform. Our protest involves public smoking of cannabis....so bring your
BUDS." and we tell them where we will be.
Today it was on a bus stop in the main street next to the Cenotaph, opposite
McDonalds.

At 4.20 as has been usual, I addressed the crowd. I talked about the reasons
for being in their city. Prohibition laws. New Norml members sought. J Day.
Buds and Buddies Road Trip to Parliament on the 15th May.
I then invited the locals to join us in our form of civil disobedience and
smoke a joint with us. People sparked up. Toking was happening everywhere.
About 50 people were gathered around Maryjane enjoying the start of our
smoke when the Police arrived.

We were informed that our protest was ok but anybody smoking cannabis would
be arrested. We were then informed that as we had a plant on board the bus,
I as driver would be searched and the bus would be searched under the
warrantless search provisions of the misuse of drugs act.
By this time more police were arriving. This was starting to shape up as the
most serious incident yet on tour. Invercargill Police were not going to be
trifled with. Cannabis smoking was NOT going to be part of THIS protest.
Searches and arrests were imminent.

It started to rain. Joints were lit around the crowd, which by now had grown
to more than 80, and the police prepared to search Maryjane and I.
So we took the initiative. We suggested the Police had better things to do
than hassle us. After we have travelled so far and had such a positive
response from many police we suggested that perhaps they should check with
head office before continuing down this path.

The officers in my face were then called away for a conference with other
officers down the path and we continued with our protest.
Then they left.
They saw the plant on prominent display in Maryjanes windscreen. That was
afterall their justification for invoking a warrantless search. But having
invoked the search they then backed off.
Then they left.
Six or eight officers came to stop the law being broken. They didn't.
Then they left.

Nobody was arrested. Nobody was searched. Nobody had their smoke taken. Our
plant remained on board.
Then they left.
So we planted the plant right there in the garden. At the Cenotaph. And the
locals cheered.
The people told the police in words and deeds to back off.
Then they left.

How can any Police officer in good conscience arrest any person for cannabis
ever again.
They came. We stood up to them.
Then they left.
Ahhhh it was a good day in Invercargill today.

I can't wait to see the movie.