PRESS RELEASE - 30th December 2002

TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY PROPAGANDA STILL HAS SHADES OF REEFER MADNESS

The Nimbin HEMP Embassy thinks that the NSW government new anti-cannabis propaganda campaign may well work to achieve the opposite.

"Young people are so cynical about government drug advice they're just as likely to do the opposite to what they're told", said Michael Balderstone, spokesperson for the Embassy. "Already we think prohibition creates a forbidden fruit syndrome in the case of cannabis which encourages young people to experiment early."

"Decades of reefer madness nonsense have so damaged the credibility of official drug advice, the government has got itself in a very difficult situation. The inexperienced telling the experienced how to do it just doesn't work. Thousands of sporting people smoke pot every week, and if you want to see idiots at play just drop in to your local pub."

Every research paper says alcohol and tobacco are more damaging than cannabis, yet the Salvos stood up last night and encouraged people to use 'these traditional drugs' rather than cannabis which just happens to have a 6000 year tradition
Far more important for the government to focus on understanding why young people are obviously enjoying cannabis so much. Uncertain times turn people inward, and introspection will get even more popular in these scary times. Cannabis is not only a mind-altering escape but also an insightful drug.

Fortunately Europe, the UK and Canada are quickly moving to make personal drug choices a health matter. In doing so, they will open up currently closed lines of communication and bring back credibility to drug information. Clearly young people, and old, want and need more information on cannabis but are mistrustful of government propaganda. Enquiries to the Nimbin HEMP Embassy now come from all walks of life and it seems to us the general public believes what they see on Neighbours or The Bill more than a poster in a public toilet from the government. Not to mention Bad Cop, Bad Cop!

If people want to get appropriate communication with youth, they should checkout the current issue of the Australian youth magazine Crank. In it you'll find an excellent feature on the Nimbin Mardi Grass, with relevant facts for youth to absorb.

For more information

Michael Balderstone
Andrew Kavasilas
Inez Price
Nimbin HEMP Embassy
(02) 6689 1842
(02) 6689 0326