It was like a Phish show, just in Australia, with police laying in wait for stoners going to and from the annual MardiGrass event in Nimbin over the weekend, which resulted in 86 DUID arrests.
"During Operation Chisel, the high visibility policing operation targeting drug and alcohol related offenses and anti-social behavior over the weekend, 74 people were searched, 19 vehicles searched, 31 drug detections, 24 charges for possess prohibited drug, five charges for supply prohibited drug, three goods in custody charges, three cannabis cautions, six street offenses, six move on directions and 10 licensed premises inspections," New South Wales police reported.
Watch Antohnia Lyovtzsis' MardisGrass documentary, filmed at the 2012 festival
MardiGrass is part Hempfest and part Rainbow Gathering - an outpouring of support for cannabis legalization on the world largest's island nation. Frivolity abounds with bong toss and joint rolling contests, the Hemp Olympix, parades, music, a judging contest, ganja faeries and more.
On their website, they warn: "The police may try to make it difficult for you to get to MardiGrass. This is a deliberate tactic they have used for a number of years. In the past they have set up roadblocks south of Nimbin… If you must bring cannabis to Nimbin (sorta like coals to Newcastle) then come a few days early. If you must carry it in a car then put it on the floor under a mat or a seat and don't ever say 'that’s mine' if it happens to get found."
This was the 22th Annual MardiGrass.
