 
J Day 2003 - Saturday 3rd May
There were marches and smoke-ins in over 200 cities worldwide, including Auckland, Levin, Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin.
J Day is part of the MMM celebrations happening in over 200 cities around the world. Because of the
international time zones, the New Zealand events kick-start the global celebrations and rallies
against cannabis prohibition.
View photos, reports and movies below. Now with added photos and news coverage.
Auckland | Levin | Wellington | Christchurch | Dunedin
Reports, photos and movies from other J Days:
J Day 2002 |
J Day 2001 |
J Day 2001 - Growers Iron Man |
J Day 2000 | J Day 1999.
Please leave a comment below about your J Day 2003 experiences.
International coverage of JDay at www.cures-not-wars.org.
Auckland
Auckland J-Day was moved back to Albert Park from Aotea Square at the last minute after The Edge, who manage the public square on
behalf of the city council, decided to not let the event proceed.
Despite threats from The Edge, a crowd gathered anyway in Aotea Square
at high noon and "sent a message" to management that their ban, like the law in general, would not stop us smoking cannabis. A cloud of
sweet-smelling smoke soon filled the air as legal Knaster Hanf joints and other not-so-legal ones were smoked without interferance. While
we attemped to talk to the crowd to tell them to move up to Albert Park, The Edge kept playing music over the P.A. to drown us out.
We
must have some friends within the council, however, as the Town Hall clock overlooking the square had mysteriously stopped at 4:20,
which as all cannabis enthusiasts will know is "international smoking time"! Click for a close up of the clock.
aotea square scene |
alan and chris smoke in aotea square |
After the session, with our message duly sent, the crowd left
for the usual beats and spliffs in Albert Park. The rain cleared and people sat in the sun in a relaxed vibe listening to the phat and loud
beats. Musical entertainment was provided by Bassteppa's Big Matt, The Chaplain, Selecto, DJ Sensei and Blue Meanie, with interesting
speaches from Green MP Nandor Tanczos, Helen Hughes from the Libertarianz, and Norml's Chris Fowlie.
banner in Albert Park |
scene in Albert Park |
The 3rd Annual Switched On Gardener Grower's Ironman was held with three heats and the grand final at 4:20. The winner, who took home a growlight, was Tai who it turns out is the brother of Tim who won both the 2001 and 2002 competitions and couldn't make it this year.
The course was the same as previous years, but this year contestants had to run three legs, carrying a 30L bag of compost, then a bag of
pumice and then some liquid fertiliser.
what the contestants had to carry for the Switched On Grower's Ironman |
2003 Grower's Ironman champ Tai congratulates two other finialists |
A highlight of day for many was the Joint Rolling Contest, also held at 4:20pm. A huge crowd gathered to see what the rolling mixture
would be - it turned out to be legal Knaster Hanf low THC hemp - and then took part in a massive joint scramble. Three heats of six were given a king-size paper and a pile of Knaster Hanf legal cannabis smoking blend. After rigourous judging on a number of criteria the winner
was declared to be No. 93 with first prize of a Bukket donated by The Hempstore. Second prize of a Ganja Grinder went to joint 95.
the entrants for the rolling competition with the winning joint at the top
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the winner is congratulated by Victoria Northfield, NORML's joint administration secretary
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There were stalls from NORML, the Libertarianz and the Hempstore where people stocked up on hemp lollies, papers and hemp chewing
gum among other things. We also organised a $2 fund-raising raffle to help pay for the day, with first prize of a Bukket, second prize a
large Ganja Grinder, third prize a packet of Knaster Hanf, with all prizewinners also getting a Cannabis Culture magazine, some Cones,
rolling papers, a hemp bag and other goodies all donated by The Hempstore.
Sponsors who made it happen: The Hempstore, Switched On Gardener, Knaster Hanf
Levin
Kimberly Reserve, from 1pm, the park will become a prohibition-free zone, with Norml information stand, discussions including growing, safe smoking, law reform and much more.
Sponsors: Knaster Hanf
Wellington
J Day at Frank Kits Park, Wellington was cancelled due to no volunteers coming forward to help organise it but Missy wrote to tell us that "a scattering of small groups staging their own small smoke-ins.
Though no one from Norml or any other organisation turned up, the punters took it upon themselves to form a 40 person strong smoke-in. After joints were passed around, the group stayed on to play a game of hacki-sac. This turned into a great little social meeting.
A bit small and disappointing, a good time was had by all who attended."
Christchurch
The Mild Greens covered the Christchurch celebrations on their website:
http://www.mildgreens.com/mmm2003.htm
MEDIA RELEASE -- MAY 3, 2003
J-Day 2003: Police turn a blind eye to cannabis smoking in Cathedral Square
International J-Day was celebrated for the sixth consecutive year in Christchurch and 230 other cities worldwide yesterday. Despite cold and occasionally wet weather, hundreds of people rallied in Cathedral Square, and as conditions cleared, many openly smoked cannabis.
Regular police patrols stopped by and had a look, but no attempt was made to interfere and there were no arrests.
Stephen McIntyre, spokesperson for the Christchurch Cannabis Coalition which organised the event, said that this was once again a triumph of police tolerance, and he thanked them for their discretion.
There was a 'weed scramble' with hundreds of legal low-THC cannabis blend joints being tossed to the crowd; but pipes, real joints, and even bongs appeared throughout the afternoon to be smoked in full view of passers-by.
"There was no shyness and no sense of fear amongst the audience. Instead everyone felt at ease. The crowd were orderly and the police
entirely respectful to that; so I tip my hat to them. I guess after six years it's well understood that interfering with such large numbers of pot smokers does nothing positive for the public image of the police."
Mr McIntyre wondered though whether this continued approach by Christchurch police towards J-Day pot smoking hadn't set a precedent meaning they could now start turning a blind eye to all cannabis use that was being done privately and unobtrusively?
He said knew not all police officers took the line that cannabis smokers needed to be criminalised. "I talked to one who said that she'd never actually arrested anyone for cannabis. Then I allowed her to inspect one of the Knaster Hemp cannabis joints we were going to be throwing later on, and we talked about the benefits of law reform for a bit."
Rally organisers collected hundreds of signatures on a petition calling for the immediate conclusion of the Health Select Committee's long overdue report into cannabis.
Following comments by Steve Chadwick, the report is widely expected to favour introducing medical marijuana, something achievable without the necessity of a law change. Canada, the Netherlands, and some US states now allow medical marijuana on prescription. The New Zealand government, by changing its purchase agreement with the police, could pursuade them not to prosecute medical cannabis offences anymore; thus allowing the ceation of a regulated means of supply to patients upon doctor's approval.
Stephen McIntyre,
National Organisation for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML NZ)
Mike Britnell, Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party (ALCP)
Blair Anderson, Mild Greens
Sponsors: Cosmic Corner, Hydrogarden, Phantom Billstickers, RDU 98.5 FM, Knaster Hanf
Cures Not Wars Dance Party at the Media Club, 191 Armagh St (beside the Centennial Pool), Sunday May 4. There'll be "reefer madness" movies, and the beats will be provided by Orkid, DJ Soul Swinger, and D-scifur (from the USA). Doors open at 7:30 pm, and entry is only $5.
Dunedin
Dunedin Police Hide From Pot Smokers.
Report by NORML activist Julian Crawford
Dunedin's J Day this year was the best ever.
After serious smoking in the sweet Saturday sunshine, a motley band of staunch law reformers marched up to Dunedin Police Station, taking a strong message to the enforcers of our social oppression.
During the early afternoon of the last day of a
seemingly endless summer, a few hundred pot law
reformers gathered in the Octagon. We shared
conversation, smoke, play hacky and grooved to the
smoking tunes kindly provided by selectors Mr J and
Ras Boof.
Speakers included Dunedin North Labour M.P Pete
Hodgson, who, in a cloud of heavy reefer and Knaster smoke, addressed his opposition to prohibition and his support for partial decriminalisation. Pete took some time to speak to people, lovingly stroked some potted herbs that had appeared from somewhere, and hurried off.
Hendrik Koch, convenor of the Deep South Greens,
spoke about his experience of the problems of
prohibition, simulteanously calling for law reform and
for smokers to take responsilbility of minimising the
harm to themselves.
Educator Andrew Bowen told us about realistic
approaches to drug education, advocating support and inclusion over isolation and punishment for young pot smokers.
Paul McMullan of the ALCP encouraged people to be
staunch and stand up against the law with intelligant
defiance.
At about 2.30, a crowd of reformers gathered up
placards, and, following a large pretend reefer,
embarked on an improtu drug war peace march, which ended up at the Dunedin Central Police Station.
About 70 of us gathered on the front lawn of the
police station, waving numerous placards and smoking the fat reefers and Knaster being generously distributed by our ganja fairy.
Although people were smoking cannabis openly in the
police lobby and front lawn, No police appeared to
stop us. There was an increasing line of people waited to be dealt with in the police station, but still no police appeared. We got sick of waiting, and a large group of us poured into the foyer of the police
station and rang the bell. The place was thick with
smoke by the time a policeman eventually came out. He refused to accept our statement and left. We continued smoking, laughing, singing and whooping. It was a very fine feeling.
Eventually, the whole thing started feeling so casual
that we walked outside again, where there was a couple of nice herb bushes sprouting on the lawn. We fogged it up for a bit longer, and then cruised off home to recover.
Big Ups and Thanks to Little Nicky, Mr J, Ras Boof,
Rumpelstiltskin, The Black Wolf, the crew at Radio
One, and all the beautiful people that mad this years
J Day go off...
Below is the statement we issued to police. They
still haven't answered our questions...
Police Forces in England and Scotland have publicly
declared their desire to stop arresting cannabis users
to enable them to better respond to real crime. We
want our police to stop arresting cannabis users and
to enter honestly into the cannabis law reform
debate.
During 2002 the police recorded 21,034 cannabis
offences. Over the same period, the murder rate went
up 31%, sex attacks were up 17% and robberies
increased 11%. Criminalising cannabis users means
that real crimes go unsolved.
Cannabis prohibition is an unworkable and unjust law.
Police should stop wasting their limited time and
resources busting pot smokers and focus on violent
crimes and property crimes.
Robbie Burns lights up in solidarity in Dunedin's
Octagon
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The J Day posse setting up camp outside the Dunedin Central Police Station
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CANNABIS PROTEST IGNORED BY POLICE
Police did nothing to stop protesters smoking cannabis in the foyer of the Dunedin Central Police Station on Saturday.
About 20 people, led by protest organiser Duncan Eddy, walked into the police station at 2.45pm smoking cannabis joints as part of Dunedin's J-Day - "joint day" - protest against cannabis laws.
They were met by Senior Sergeant Bruce Ross, who appeared briefly behind the reception desk and refused a statement offered by Mr Eddy.
Snr Sgt Ross then left the foyer and the protesters returned to the steps outside the police station, where another 50 protesters were gathered also smoking cannabis.
Earlier, about 70 protesters had marched from the Octagon to the police station carrying a large fake joint, at the conclusion of the 4th annual J-Day rally in the Octagon.
About 300 people attended the rally between midday and 2.30pm to protest against the cannabis laws, Mr Eddy said.
"We have just had a few hundred people sitting here and smoking cannabis in the grand tradition of civil disobedience. There's been a really good feeling here."
One Dunedin mother (38), who declined to be named, brought her 20-month-old daughter with her to protest.
"This is her third J-Day. She has been coming here since she was in utero." The woman said she wanted to protest "repressive and oppressive" cannabis laws.
"You make rules in society to minimise harm. The harm of arresting people for using marijuana is so much worse than the harm of using it," she said.
Another man, a dentist who also declined to be named, suggested relaxed marijuana laws could help save power.
"We could save power by growing our cannabis plants outside, instead of using expensive hydroponic units inside," he said.
Mr Eddy said the rally and protest aimed to get police involved in the debate on cannabis law reform.
"I think a lot of police realise cannabis laws need to be changed. We want the police to get involved in the debate and tell us what they think about the law," he said.
However, Snr Sgt Ross said he was not interested in debating cannabis law reform with protesters and ignoring them was the best way to deal with the situation at the time.
"If they want to change the law there are right ways to go about it, and that's to see their MP."
Media Statement -- 05.05.03 -- for immediate release
Police reaction to pot smokers a 'cop out'.
Organisers of Saturdays Police Station prohibition
protest are unsatisfied with the police reaction to
Saturday's smoke in, when around 70 Dunedin people
openly smoked cannabis outside and inside of the
Dunedin Central Police Station. On duty officers let
protestors continue smoking, but have still not
explained why.
"The police response to Saturdays action was a cop
out. Police proved that they've got better things to
do than bust cannabis smokers, but they still won't
admit that." Said Dunedin law reform advocate Duncan
Eddy.
"English and Scottish police have publicly declared
their desire to stop arresting cannabis users so they
can focus on real crime. Serious crime is on the
increase in New Zealand, and police are increasingly
stressed and overworked, while thousands of people are
still being charged for minor cannabis offences."
"We'd like police to stop arresting cannabis users
altogether. They should be brave enough to at least discuss the issue."
- Duncan Eddy
No arrests of cannabis protesters
Otago Daily Times, 06 May 2003
By CHRIS MORRIS
Police say they had better things to do than arrest
protesters smoking cannabis in the Dunedin Central
Police Station at the weekend.
About 20 protesters entered the station foyer on
Saturday afternoon smoking cannabis joints to
highlight their call for cannabis law reform. They had
earlier attended the fourth annual J-Day - "joint day"
- rally in the Octagon, where cannabis was also
smoked.
Police did not attend the rally and declined to act
when the protesters smoked cannabis inside the
station.
City area controller Inspector Dave Campbell said
police did not have a policy of ignoring J-Day but
chose to ignore the action on Saturday because of
staff numbers and the minor nature of the offending.
"It was just an act of defiance and I believe was
treated appropriately. These things depend on what
else we are doing at the time.
"It's all about priorities."
Southern district commander Superintendent Nick Perry said the offending was not "at the higher end of the scale" and police resources were better used
elsewhere.
"The reality of the situation is, if we have a number
of people turning up to commit an offence that we are not in a situation to deal with at the time, we don't initiate any action."
Dealing with the protesters would have been a
"considerable drain on resources". Police would have acted if the offending was serious enough.
When contacted yesterday, protest organiser Duncan Eddy agreed police resources were better targeted elsewhere. The incident highlighted the need for cannabis law reform.
"I don't think they should be busting anyone for
smoking pot, because they've got better things to do. There's not enough police to deal with real crime, let alone cannabis crime," he said.
Dunedin North MP Pete Hodgson, who spoke at the
rally on Saturday, said when contacted yesterday he supported partial decriminalisation.
"My main concern with legislation as it is, is the
damage done to someone who might be apprehended with a small amount of marijuana for personal use is grossly in excess of their misdemeanour."
Partial decriminalisation would mean it would not be a criminal offence to be found with small amounts of marijuana for personal use, he said.
However, partial decriminalisation would likely face
stiff opposition from New Zealand First and United
Future.
Have Your Say: Did you attend any J-Day events? Do you want to contribute a review, or have a story to tell about it? Leave a comment about it below by clicking the Post Comment button.
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