Join the cannabis resistance at J Day this Saturday – May the Fourth be with you!

J Day is an annual celebration, festival and protest in support of cannabis law reform, held every year since 1992. This year J Day is on Star Wars Day – May the Fourth!

Join the resistance at J Day. As our ad on 95bfm says, “strike one up now and you will become more powerful than you could possibly imagine!”

With legal access to medicinal cannabis rolling out later this year and New Zealand set to vote on a cannabis referendum in 2020, it’s more important than ever for supporters to come to positive, happy, celebrations like J Day.

And with anti-cannabis propaganda now being spread by a well-funded conservative lobby group, we can’t take anything for granted.

At NORML our mission is to move public opinion sufficiently to legalise the responsible use of cannabis by adults, and to serve as an advocate for consumers to assure they have legal access to high quality cannabis that is safe, convenient and affordable.

We believe all patients should have safe, legal, and affordable access to medicinal cannabis.

This year, at J Day, we are calling for the Government to ensure the Medicinal Cannabis Scheme is fully operational by the end of this year, with products readily available and local producers able to start growing.

We want the Government to hold a binding referendum on making cannabis legal at the 2020 general election.

The proposed model must include, as a minimum, allowing adults to use possess and grow their own cannabis, and should also include some form of licensed production and retail sales.

So that voters know what they are voting on, legislation should be passed by Parliament prior to the referendum, with immediate implementation triggered by a positive majority vote.

J Day is the cannabis event of the year. It’s where you can help #makeitlegal – come along, learn something new, and show your support. We’ll also have a range of market stalls, tasty food trucks, music, DJs, and more.

Where:

• Whangarei – Pohe Island
• Auckland – Albert Park
• Hastings – Civic Square near the Anzac memorial
• Taupo – Black Shed
• Wellington – Frank Kitts Park
• Christchurch – Latimer Square
• Dunedin – The Octagon and after-party at Whakamana Cannabis Museum

All J Day events are free, R18, and run from High Noon to 4:20pm.

How you can help:

• dress to impress
• don’t bring any alcohol or dogs
• bring placards & signs
• wear your fave pot merch or badge
• learn your Civil Rights before you go (see https://norml.org.nz/rights/)
• help spread the word on facebook
• help us put up posters and distribute fliers
• call gig guides & talkback radio
• help us clean up after the event
• take your rubbish with you
• bring a donation – J Day costs a lot for us to put on
• support our market stalls and food trucks, they help pay the bills

Thanks to:

All our helpers, supporters, musicians, stall operators, and our sponsors including The Hempstore, #makeitlegal, Jafa Mafia Sound System, NORML New Zealand Inc, Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party, Otago NORML, Whakamana Cannabis Museum, CLEAR, Dads4Marijuana.

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Chris Fowlie is the CEO of Zeacann Limited, a medicinal cannabis producer; serves on the executive of the New Zealand Medical Cannabis Council; is president of the National Organisation for the Reform of Marijuana Laws NZ Inc; co-founder of The Hempstore Aotearoa; resident expert for Marijuana Media on 95bFM; blogger for The Daily Blog, and court-recognised independent expert witness for cannabis. The opinions expressed here are his own.