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6 months ago
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Spirits were high as thousands of revellers flocked to Australia's 'marijuana capital' for the Nimbin MardiGrass Festival and cannabis law reform rally.
The town, about an hour's drive from Byron Bay in northern NSW, has a population of just 1,800 people and has held the popular festival annually since 1993.
The three-day festival, which ran from Friday to Sunday drew in large crowds, who enjoyed a jam-packed line-up of activities.
Attendees showed off their eccentric outfits and body paint as they marched and danced though Nimbin's main street in the famous parade on the third and final day.
Many dressed in outlandish and colourful costumes, including the 'ganja fairy' dancers with their marijuana leaf fans.
Other revellers who helped carry 'the big joint' through the streets.
One woman skipped the green to dress as a giant joint, one also featured in the original parade back in the 90s, hastily put together from bedsheets and other household items
Attendees have been calling for cannabis to be decriminalised in Australia since 1993
A range of market stalls were also set up selling drug paraphernalia, while speakers at the forefront of the fight to legalise weed gave talks
One festival goer was wearing a green costume over the weekend
One enthusiastic reveller turned up dressed as a giant cookie complete with a teapot hat
A large crowd of spectators cheered and chanted 'free the weed'.
Event organisers use the annual parade as a political protest rally to make their message loud and clear.
'We vowed to rally every year on the first Sunday in May until we are no longer criminals for using this herb,' the event's website states.
'Prohibition is an incitement, not a control!
'MardiGrass will become a festival when we can celebrate the herb without fear of prosecution and persecution.
'When the police have a float in the street parade behind the Ganja fairies and Big Joint, then we really will have a proper festival and celebration.'
Other activities throughout the weekend included the Cannabliss Garden Party, Hash Suppositorium, Hemp Fashion Parade, Moonshadow Memorial Marijuana Music Awards and MardiGrass Comedy Show.
This year marks the 32nd anniversary of the famous cannabis festival.
MardiGrass began as a peaceful demonstration following a lengthy police crackdown on marijuana in the region, to support its decriminalisation in Australia.
MardiGrass organising body president Michael Balderstone was thrilled with this year's turnout.
'We had 50 of our best hippies meditating to try and get a bit of blue sky,' he told the Lismore City News.
'The police are here, but they're giving us plenty of space.
'We're not the problem and they know that.'
State MPs including Rachel Payne, David Ettershank, Jeremy Buckingham, Brian Walker and Sophia Moermond, from the Legalise Cannabis party have all supported the event.
This parade goer donned an eccentric costume and colourful face paint
One group of revellers was pictured holding up a big joint
Pets were also welcome at the annual Mardi Grass festival in Nimbin in northern New South Wales
MardiGrass has become an event where people can 'celebrate the herb' without fear of prosecution and persecution
Freedom of expression is encouraged at the Mardi Grass Festival
It was all smiles at Mardi Grass this weekend
Revellers donned their green outfits for the Nimbin MardiGrass 'Big Rally' which promotes itself as a celebration of marijuana and call for an end to prohibition
This year marks the 32nd anniversary of the famous cannabis festival
One reveller donned a gold butterfly shirt for the Cannabis Law Reform Rally & Parade
A festival goer made a statement by dressing up as in a hash costume
'So many people have weed for medical reasons prescribed now and that's changed the ball game,' Mr Balderstone said.
'They'll listen to doctors more than hippies.
'We still need to look at what happens with driving (drug detection laws) and being able to grow our own.'
Only about 1.7 per cent of Australians residing in the ACT have access to decriminalised, recreational cannabis, according to advocates.
Attendees at the festival campaigned for cannabis to be decriminalised
Revellers were dressed up in eccentric outfits, with many wearing bright green colours with emblazoned marijuana leaf motifs
Those at the festival showed off their colourful outfits as they marched through Australia's weed capital
The 'ganja fairy' dancers with their marijuana leaf fans are the highlight of the parade
People of all ages came out to celebrate MardiGrass in Nimbin on the weekend
Recreational cannabis is otherwise illegal in every Australian state, though NSW is set to launch a probe into its prohibition.
A number of countries have legalised marijuana for medical and recreational purposes, including Canada, the Netherlands, and Portugal.
More governments around the world have moved towards legalising and regulating cannabis including Uruguay, Malta, Thailand, South Africa and Mexico.
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