Dr Carol de Launey
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Dr Carol de Launey has university degrees in Psychology
(with Honours), Business, and Cultural Studies. Her PhD thesis
investigated Nimbin’s so-called ‘drug problem’
and included a door-to-door survey of Nimbin’s drug
use and opinions about drugs. She currently works part time
at Southern Cross University, and is widely published on topics
that include Nimbin’s cannabis culture, the ethics of
research into illegal activities, cannabis crop growers, and
the real value of a cannabis plant. Her most recent work is
a book chapter on the MardiGrass, and currently she and Michael
Balderstone are jointly researching ‘dealing’.
Carol has been using cannabis for about 30 years.
PhD graduate Carol de Launey, of Greenridge near
Casino, presented a copy of her thesis entitled "What
Drug Problem? Cannabis and Heroin in an Alternative Community",
to head of the Nimbin Hemp Embassy and chief Mardi Grass organiser,
Michael Balderstone, at the Mardi Grass last year.