this is the latest update from the CannaBus tour via the NORML.org.nz forums regarding the arrests of several protesters in Palmerston North.

Hey Everybody.

We have finally reached a place where we have internet access and can bring you a quick update.

I don't know who organised this crazy schedule of 42 days and 42 towns (mmmm - thinks - mmmm - might have been me - mmmm) but we are BUSY.

We are receiving 'hero' type welcomes in every town. Maryjane is representing our organisation in a wonderful way.

New memberships are progressing well. Full reports will be made as time permits.

Palmerston North.

Good Friday in Palmerston North started like all other towns thus far. We arrived early, met our hosts and setup Maryjane for our noisy parade around the town. (We are carrying a generator driving a PA system)

We must be doing something right because we had somewhere between 150 and 200 people around us in the main central city square when our 4.20 protest commenced. The weather was brilliant, the music was stirring, the smoke was wafting when a Police car arrived about 15 minutes into the protest.

2 officers came over and seemed interested in details of our tour. When they wandered over to their Sergent for a chat it appeared things were not right. I took our magazine over to the 3 of them and they seemed happy to take it.

I wandered back over a few moments later and heard the Sergent say: "...there's two over there. Just walk over slowly."

With that they moved over and arrested 2 guys who were smoking close to Maryjane.

As the handcuffs went on, Brian one of our bus crew (aka Dakta Grower) sparked up a joint, leapt from the bus and inserted himself in front of the Sergent crying the words "If you take them you'll have to take me too"
The Sergent said "No, step back" at which time Brian took a large toke of his joint and proceeded to blow smoke in the Sergent's face.

Brian was arrested then and there.

As all 3 were being led to the police cars parked further up, the crowd booed and jeered the Police. One guy was a bit too loud and rude and he was arrested for disorderly behavior.

The bus was immediately packed up and we moved the protest right outside the Police Station. Dakta Fooz and myself went into the police foyer to discuss with the receptionist the events that had transpired. To our delight, more than 50 locals joined us, packing the entire foyer.

The Sergent in charge of the operation came to the door and wanted to talk with me in private.

Away from the sight and sound of our supporters, he demanded that I remove our people from the foyer to the other side of the street. If we did not comply every off duty Officer he had would be called in, issued a baton, helmet and shield, and the foyer will be emptied.

I could not believe what I had heard. A Police Sergent of the New Zealand Police force was threatening more than 50 people in his station foyer with physical violence when all they wanted was to find out what had happened to their family and friends who had been arrested. For smoking cannabis.

In keeping with our passive resistance stance we left. We decamped to the other side of the street and fired up the barbeque for tea.

Over the next hour and a half all 4 arrested were released on bail to appear in Court on Wednesday.

Charges range from possesion of cannabis to disorderly behaviour with a couple of public smoking charges for good measure.

Brian will appear in Napier Court tomorrow (Tuesday) and arrange for his charge to be heard in Auckland District Court on 2 April. The same day I appear to defend a Public Smoking charge brought by Constable Arapai.

The 3 locals will appear in Palmerston North Court and will plead NOT GUILTY. They want to take these charges all the way to trial and we will be with them throughout.

The Sergent told Brian whilst he was being charged the Police had received 8 or 9 complaints from the public about cannabis smoking in the square and if he had more staff available he would have made more arrests.

So we will make some noise this week.

Police cannot be used to arrest citizens whilst they are engaged in a political protest. If we allow this to continue nobody will be safe when expressing their opposition to Government policy.

The tour is growing stronger.

The people are telling us they are with us.

We will be seen.

We will be heard.

Maryjane is our tank and joints are our weapons.

WE WILL CHANGE THE LAW.

Gotta go. Now I'm late for the Hastings protest.

Talk later......