Cannabis protesters confronted by police at 420 rally in Melbourne

Hundreds of cannabis advocates lighting up in an inner city park were confronted by about 80 police officers at a ‘420’ rally calling for the drug to be legalised.

At least three arrests were made with cannabis and other drugs allegedly seized by police officers at the protest in Melbourne’s Flagstaff Gardens on Thursday.

Victoria Police told Daily Mail Australia 15 cautions were also handed out, with sniffer dogs helping to catch those allegedly breaking the law.

Digital content creator Rukshan Fernando wrote on Twitter that ‘the police were mostly searching people and finding nothing on them.

‘It appeared to be a large law enforcement presence for what was a victimless event, especially if we consider the constant claims by Victoria Police that they are understaffed and unable to attend other major crime events around the state.’

A man (pictured) is detained and searched by Victoria Police officers at the pro-cannabis 420 Rally & Community Picnic 2023 in Melbourne, Thursday, April 20

The rally sparked mixed reactions from social media users.

‘While I disagree with smoking it, the government has no business telling people what they can and cannot put into their own bodies,’ one person said. 

‘Cops should be going through the Parliaments of Australia and weeding out the corruption. That’s what they should be doing,’ wrote another. 

A third commenter said their ‘concerns are around (cannabis’) links to more serious mental health issues such as psychosis and also drug driving which is likely to increase.

‘This is in relation to recreational use, I fully support medical use where appropriate.’ 

Among those arrested was a 37-year-old man for allegedly possessing cannabis, cocaine and methamphetamine.

A 15-year-old boy who was also taken into custody over an outstanding warrant and a 39-year-old man was arrested for allegedly possessing cannabis.

The boy was bailed to appear at a children’s court at a later date, while the two men will appear before the Melbourne Magistrates Court in June.

People are pictured being detained and searched by Victoria Police officers at a pro-cannabis rally in Melbourne

A sniffer dog is pictured approaching a man at a 420 rally Melbourne on Thursday

A man is pictured being searched by Victoria Police officers in Flagstaff Gardens, Melbourne

The recreational use of cannabis remains illegal in every Australian state, but different laws apply in the two territories. 

ACT residents over 18 can carry up to 50 grams of dry cannabis, or 150 grams of wet material, and can grow as many as two plants per person.

Cannabis is largely decriminalised in the Northern Territory, but possession of a small quantity in a public place can still lead to imprisonment.

Around the world, many countries who have legalised cannabis for both recreational and medicinal purposes.

These include Canada, The Netherlands, Portugal, Uruguay, South Africa, Jamaica, Malta and some states in the US.

What is the annual ‘420’ event? 

Held annually on April 20, which is 4/20 in US English, 420 is an occasion for cannabis smokers around the world to unite in support of the drug. 

Though it is held each year on April 20, the basis of the number is the time 4.20 in the afternoon.

A man is seen lighting a joint at a 420 rally in Melbourne on April 20, 2023

That was the time five Californian high school students used to meet to smoke cannabis, and in 1971 they came up the secret code ‘420’ to arrange it. 

Those students – Steve Capper, Dave Reddix, Jeffrey Noel, Larry Schwartz and Mark Gravich – are now in their 60s, but they still meet together to mark the event they inadvertently founded 52 years ago.