MardiGrass Organising Committee, The Nimbin GoodTimes
For 33 years, MardiGrass has given voice to the Oz weed resistance, tirelessly educating and agitating for an end to the war on weed.
As usual, MardiGrass offers mind-blowing ideas and education all weekend at the 2025 Hemposium, and is an extraordinary chance to share and learn about our favourite plant ally and healing herb.
The Hemposium will showcase an impressive line-up of speakers who will share their cannabis expertise and experiences across medical, industrial, science, politics, culture and more. A Weed University weekend!
MardiGrass is also all about sensible law reform for ALL drugs, so in 2025 we once again partner with Entheogenesis Australis to present a program dedicated to a rainbow range of medicinal plants.
We promise expert knowledge-sharing on iboga, mushroom cultivation and the alchemy of fungi, the effects of psychedelics on the brain, harm reduction, and San Pedro as a Guide to Surfing the Apocalypse. Don’t miss it! 10am-10pm, Saturday 3rd May in the Town Hall Garden.
In 2025 we are excited to welcome nurse and cannabis clinical researcher Dr Melanie Dreher from California. Melanie was a graduate student at Columbia University in the 1970s studying with famous social anthropologist, Margaret Mead, and went to Jamaica to study the use and effects of marijuana among the Rastafarian people, in particular the way that cannabis is used by the women and children of Jamaica.
Cannabis and the law
In 2025 MardiGrass is promoting a “human rights and justice” theme with an array of impressive and passionate speakers.
Behavioural scientist and leading saliva testing expert, Dr Michael White will discuss the science and justice of Australia’s roadside drug testing programs.
Local poet, ex-magistrate and Dean of Law at SCU, David Heilpern, will host a Q&A on drug driving laws in Australia, while Cameron Francis from The Loop will give us a rundown on what’s happening with drug and pill checking in Australia.
Human rights lawyer, Dr Pat Keyzer, will step us through why cannabis is now legal in so much of the United States, but not here in the land of Oz.
Long-time local drug law reform advocate, Steve Bolt, will provide helpful legal advice. Bring your questions!
Cannabis and science
And we haven’t forgotten science or medicine. Plant Tissue Culture wranglers, Jess and Allison, from Cymra Life Sciences will instruct us on the best way to propagate and store disease-free clonal lines of cannabis.
Join Dr John Teh and Chloe Jean Teh, from PlantMed Medicinal Cannabis, for a medical cannabis Q&A. John and Chloe have been working within the Medicinal Cannabis industry since the legalisation of cannabis for medicinal use in Australia in February 2016.
Paul Benhaim, Chief Cannabis Officer of Cannabis Psychedelics, will take us through the respectful use of this medicine for deep therapeutic enquiry, while our market area will host a dedicated Hemp First Aid demo space with Radic Al Conscious.
Cannabis and politics
Now the election has been called for Saturday 3rd May, our politician guests have thinned out somewhat. We are very excited that long-time cannabis law reform supporter, Federal Senator David Shoebridge will share the Greens Party’s fully-costed scheme for legalising cannabis across Australia – a green new deal!
NSW State MLC, Jeremy Buckingham from the Legalise Cannabis Party will record episodes for his ‘Into the Weeds’ podcast which explores cannabis current events, politics, crime, conspiracies and culture.
We’re pleased to welcome Miles Hunt, Lead Senate Candidate (NSW) for Legalise Cannabis Party to share his campaign experience: a story about fighting for a better future – one that involves decriminalising nature and supporting the many functions of hemp and the incredible cannabis plant.
Industrial hemp
This year’s MardiGrass Industrial Hemp Expo will feature a hempstone workshop by molecular sculptor Martin Ernegg; and agronomist John Shaw Muir will share how abandoned hemp crops can provide re-entry points for more sustainable farming rotations.
Gerald Taylor of the Hemp Club will discuss accessing the endocannabinoid system through the skin, and the program will include a demo on soothing your tired body with Deep Hemp oil.
Meet licensed hemp farmers and demos all weekend at The Hemp Club, 80 Cullen Street, and Northern Rivers Hemp Growers Co-op, 46 Cullen Street.
Legends
And a massive shout-out to MardiGrass legends and stalwart supporters of cannabis law reform who will share their expertise and inspiration again with us in 2025, including legendary master gardeners, Tony Mullaways and Kog.
Hemp historian John Jiggens will return to ask whether Australian was originally intended as a hemp colony?
We are also honoured to announce that John Shipton, Julian Assange’s father, will speak at MardiGrass 2025 about the importance of journalistic freedom as a cornerstone of a thriving democracy against dangerous tyranny.
The 2025 MardiGrass Hemposium is a space to inform, learn, agitate, inspire and connect in this massively important green revolution.
Tickets are for sale at: nimbinmardigrass.com and cost $150 for three nights camping and entry into all events.
