Michael Balderstone

15/10/2026

High Headliners!

Like the garden, I’m happy with the misty light rain that’s hanging about keeping the place cool. I’ve been in the Big Smoke for a few days and might as well have been on another planet, compared to Nimbin.

If I was dropping in from another universe it would be clear the animals here, called humans, just love alcohol. I was in the city, and in the evening, every gathering was around alcohol, bars and pubs. Happy to join in, I’ve convinced myself an odd tequila with fresh orange juice from the garden is a health drink, but where can we smoke a joint?

Smoking anything was scarcely seen and we had to hide in dark alleys where the sweet smell of w**d soon caught peoples’ nostrils. How good would it be to have rooftop smoking spaces, bars if you like? So many stoners have to hide their habit at home for a multitude of reasons.

The stigma remains huge and there’s a very real fear of the boss finding out, or even the landlord. I’ve discovered many people won’t even get a prescription because they don’t trust having it on their health records. So they’re certainly not going to register with Transport for driving.

Changing cultural practices is a slow process, but there is no doubt it is happening. Research consistently shows that people who use cannabis decrease their alcohol use and in many cases stop it altogether. When Americans are surveyed, the majority believe cannabis is a much healthier option than alcohol. We seem a long way behind that here.

In the Western Australian Parliament, Dr Brian Walker argued this week that grog poses a greater societal danger than pot and asked the Government to investigate a regulatory framework that treats each according to the evidence and harm. Way too rational for them I suspect.

There was yet another disappointing television show about the dangers of legal w**d being unapproved and too high in THC, this time by SBS. Stories from people who have little experience, it sounds like, and doctors who pull out the same closed-minded nonsense.

Their blindness in only allowing indoor, mostly hydroponic pot to be legal (and then it must be irradiated, but most importantly so little is organic), is a big part of the problem. Powerful chemical fertilisers are growing most of our food as well and I just know it’s not healthy.

I did find the figures (from SBS) below, interesting. Basically the authorities can’t handle that the horse has bolted, when they opened up Telehealth during the pandemic. Has anyone died from cannabis yet? No. Are thousands more getting huge pain relief from it? Yes. Will it lessen the stigma? Yes. They still don’t comprehend we have an Endocannabinoid System, each one of us.

Easily the highlight of my week was reading Lucy Haslam’s freshly penned story of her discovery of cannabis via her son Dan’s cancer treatments. She called it, “Fragile Wings Of Hope”. I couldn’t put it down. An extraordinary story about a remarkably determined woman of our time who turned every mother’s nightmare into a lasting legacy for goodness.

And it’s not over yet, she’s still in the trenches, arguing for us all, trying to get heard by the rule-makers, as determined as ever. The book is available through print-on-demand via Lucy’s website (https://authorlucyhaslam.com/). It’s an inspiring story, also available on Amazon. A great read.

Love to everyone.

Michael Balderstone

Nimbin H**P Embassy Head

https://us14.campaign-archive.com/?u=3b7a3805c4bd1c253536b1e54&id=0992397697

Like the garden, I’m happy with the misty light rain that’s hanging about keeping the place cool. I’ve been in the Big Smoke for a few days and might as well have been on another planet, compared to Nimbin.

14/10/2026

It's all happening in Victoria thanks to our committed candidates and volunteers.

11/10/2026

WA - Dr Brian Walker MLC, introducing a bill to parliament to legalise cannabis.

11/10/2026

A lot of people are joining in as the momentum keeps growing.

Curious about volunteering with Legalise Cannabis WA? Join a relaxed introduction to what we’re working towards and how you can get involved 💚
https://f.mtr.cool/qnnklndjl0

10/10/2026

High Headliners!

Just a few sprinkles of rain keeping the greenery smiling with perfect temperature days—before it gets too hot! The native Sandpaper Figs are ripening on trees that grow wild everywhere around here. So much bush tucker is sour, I find, but not these little lollies (I like figs). When I was living on Patmos, they were left rotting on the ground, there were so many. Gnarly old trees growing out of almost bare rock, with the most delicious fruit.

I have an awesome fig story from my travelling days, hope I’m not repeating myself. I was hanging out in Colombo at the ancient Buddhist Temple and got to know an old monk who spoke good English. I was telling him how magic mushrooms changed my life and he said, “Do you want to see how Buddha got enlightened?”.

It was an experience to remember. He led me down into the bowels of the Temple, pulled an ancient key out from under his robe and opened an equally ancient cupboard with it. He pulled out an old book, the pages looking very handmade, which told the story of Buddha’s journey. There were simple drawings in the book, which was helpful, because I couldn’t read any Sanskrit.

He found the page and read it to me. Buddha had reached the end of his search for Truth and sat down under the Bodhi Tree and fasted for thirty days. He was determined to sit there until he attained awakening. Figs were falling from the tree and lay scattered around him on the ground. Birds were eating the fermented ones and getting drunk, falling over and so on. Buddha ate some and was enlightened and that was it! Tradition has it that he wondered whether what he had discovered was too subtle to communicate, but soon after he started teaching the Middle Way and the Noble Eightfold Path. That was 2,500 years ago—another world.

When I think about it, after fasting for so long, the alcoholic figs would have done the job. However, not all Buddhist’s I tell that story to like it! My first mushroom trip was in Bali and I understood for the first time exactly what Jesus was talking about. It was all so obvious!

Four Corners on the ABC wasted a show this week, I thought, on a few companies ripping off the DVA by prescribing huge amounts of w**d to Veterans, just like the NDIS rip offs. The real story for me is doctors who have no cannabis experience, being the prescribers. They’re so fortunate no one can die from using cannabis as they have no idea about it, a lot of them, and everybody is different. Experience is the real teacher.

I like that PlantMed wont prescribe THC without C*D as well. Just imagine if they let the hippies, who’ve used w**d for decades, sell medicine from dispensaries, as well as cuttings of cultivars, suited to your needs, that you could grow at home. That’s the dream and I’m sticking to it!

Love to everyone.

Michael Balderstone

Nimbin H**P Embassy Head

Just a few sprinkles of rain keeping the greenery smiling with perfect temperature days—before it gets too hot! The native Sandpaper Figs are ripening on trees that grow wild everywhere around here. So much bush tucker is sour, I find, but not these little lollies (I like figs). When I was living ...

07/10/2026

Go Xavier Menta - LCV Candidate for Western Metro

We are launching the campaign of my candidacy for Western Metropolitan this Wednesday 7 October.

Come and meet me and the team, and hear about everything we are doing to keep a Legalise Cannabis voice in the west.

We’ll kick it off with some speeches, after which we’ll encourage everyone to stay a bit longer and enjoy some tunes, a joint and our amazing community.

When: Wednesday 7th of October, 5:30PM
Where: Sunshine Park, 103 Dickson St, Sunshine, VIC

Here’s what you need to know:
🌿The park is accessible from both Gertrude Street and Devonshine Road, and a 10-minute walk from Sunshine Station. It’s next to the Sunshine RSL, which is temporarily closed.
🌿Due to the nature of our party, it’s possible that police may attend at some point, although the Sunshine police have historically been very respectful, we encourage you to know your rights.
https://davidettershank.com.au/know-your-legal-rights/
🌿If bringing prescribed medicinal cannabis, we encourage you to have it in its original container and a form of ID to verify your prescription.
🌿This is an alcohol free event.

Look forward to seeing you all there!


Legalise Cannabis Victoria