Pubdate: Tue, 06 May 2014
Source: Daily Telegraph (Australia)
Copyright: 2014 News Limited
Contact: http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/opinion/readers-comments
Website: http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/113
Author: Geoff Chambers
Page: 14

HIGH BECOMES LOW AS POLICE RAID FESTIVAL

NIMBIN'S 22nd annual Mardi Grass - a festival supporting the
legalisation of cannabis that includes a bong-throwing competition,
joint rolling events and a hemp rope tug of war - has been blitzed by
police.

A total of 86 people were nabbed for driving under the influence of a
prohibited drug and five people were caught drink driving

The annual festival, which attracted up to 10,000 people over the
weekend and offers visitors tips about what to do if you get pulled
over by police, was closely watched by Richmond local area command
police.

As part of Operation Chisel, a drug bus, sniffer dogs, and increased
street patrols were organised, netting the drug affected drivers.

Detective Inspector Matt Kehoe said police were concerned by the large
number of drivers testing positive to drugs. The operation will
continue today.

The sniffer dogs searched 38 cars and people on Friday, with eight
drug detection cautions, five cannabis cautions, two traffic
infringements and two people charged.

Insp Kehoe said 74 people were searched over the three days with 31
drug detections, 24 charges for possess prohibited drug and five
charges for supply prohibited drug.
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MAP posted-by: Matt