Dope smokers down at Yatton Park on Saturday afternoon as part of the international event, J Day. Photo / Ruth Keber
Dope smokers down at Yatton Park on Saturday afternoon as part of the international event, J Day. Photo / Ruth Keber
Questions have been raised over an apparent lack of enforcement at an event where it was advertised people would gather to smoke drugs.
J Day took place at Tauranga's Yatton Park on Saturday with about 40 people lighting up cannabis joints, bongs and cones. J Day is a global dayof protest against cannabis prohibition which included rallies in 10 centres around New Zealand.
Tauranga Sensible Sentencing Trust spokesman Ken Evans said: "A group of people announced... they were going to break the law, by smoking cannabis, and the law enforcement appear to decide not to bother. The question would be why?"
Western Bay of Plenty area commander Inspector Clifford Paxton said police monitored the event "to ensure public order was maintained".
"Police patrols were present in Yatton Park and surrounding areas throughout the day. There were a large number of families present using the park. There were no complaints received, nor offences disclosed."
The event's organiser, who would only be known as Dane, said it was an R18 event and "J Day is not about breaking the law, but people showing their support for sensible cannabis laws".
