Dunedin J Day draws 200; no arrests

The 25th anniversary of J Day passed without incident in the Octagon, but its supporters hope the past quarter-century has ignited debate about legalisation.

About 200 people were present at the annual celebration of cannabis culture and civil disobedience in the Octagon in Dunedin by 4.20pm on Saturday.

This year's celebration passed without incident and was marked by "a couple of speakers, lots of smoking and no police'', Cannabis Museum of Aotearoa curator Abe Gray said.

Senior Sergeant Ian Temple said police maintained a "watching brief'' on those in the Octagon on Saturday, but police did not attend and there were no arrests.

"We didn't have any issues there,'' he said.

Mr Gray said he felt the "tipping point'' of support for cannabis law reform had now been reached.‘‘All these years more people have been opposed to legalisation than supported it,'' he said.

"That's not true now.''

He was unsure when the political will for change would follow but believed public support was now behind cannabis reform, especially regarding its medicinal use.

"The premise that prohibition is somehow preventing harm or protecting people has been totally demolished,'' Mr Gray said.

Cannabis Party leader Julian Crawford said Dunedin was at the forefront of cannabis law reform in New Zealand and the support on Saturday was heartening.