Hemposium Conference - Nimbin MardiGrass 5th

2023 MardiGrass Hemposium will be an all-Aussie affair showcasing an amazing collection of Cannabis experts across medical, industrial, science, politics, culture and more! MardiGrass is an extraordinary chance to share and learn about our favourite plant ally and healing herb. A Weed University weekend! And as advocates for freedom for all minds, plants and fungi, MardiGrass’23 will also deep dive into mushrooms, MDMA and the emerging world of mainstream psychedelic therapy.

MardiGrass is super excited to welcome canine comedian Jason “Wilfred” Gann, who is best known for co-creating and starring as the title “bong smoking dog” character in the hit “stoner” comedy series Wilfred. In 2019, Jason became a ganjapreneur and launched the celebrity cannabis brand, Wilfred Cannabis in California.

In 2023, we are thrilled that Dr Karen Hitchcock will be speaking at the Hemposium on the current state of medical Cannabis in Australia. Karen is one of Australia’s first authorised prescribers of medicinal cannabis. Additionally, she is a therapist in the St. Vincent’s hospital trial of psilocybin-assisted therapy for depression and anxiety associated with terminal illness, along with Dr Martin Williams, Psychedelic Research in Science & Medicine [PRISM], who is returning to MardiGrass to share his thoughts on the landscape of psychedelic assisted therapy in Australia. Wellness coach, Bek Houghton, will facilitate a panel on the “good, the bad and the ugly” of the February TGA announcement about rescheduling MDMA & Psilocybin for medical use. And on a fungal tangent, we are excited to welcome Caine Barlow, Guerilla Mycology, who will present an introductory workshop on mushroom cultivation.

The 2023 Hemposium will host experts in medicinal cannabis to discuss the role of cannabis in the treatment of disease and disorders, as well as the promotion of overall well-being, drawing on both scientific research and experience as practitioners. Dr John Teh, PlantMed, and Dr Jamie Rickcord, Ananda Clinics, will speak on Cannabis for healing, health and wellbeing.

The big discussion point for 2023 around weed legalisation will be “What’s Next?” Leading Cannabis law reform politicians from the Greens and Legalise Cannabis [LC] parties will discuss their efforts around roadside drug testing, adult use, removing past cannabis convictions, fixing the medicinal cannabis scheme, and decriminalising psychedelics. Victoria’s newly minted LC State MPs, Rachel Payne and David Ettershank have recently introduced a Bill to Parliament to allow medicinal cannabis patients to drive when not impaired — like what we do with every other prescription medication. We look forward to welcoming them to MardiGrass! They will be joined by LC “veterans” from Western Australia, Sophia Moermond and Dr Brian Walker. And long-time MardiGrass supporters from the Greens party will join us again for the Hemposium including the Sniff Off crew exploring justice and Cannabis, and David Shoebridge, now a Federal Senator, will share his steps towards legalising Cannabis federally. In 2023 we welcome back Dr Will Tregoning from Unharm to discuss research conducted into persuasive propaganda for legalisation.

This year’s Mardigrass Industrial HEMP Expo will promote global & local hemp solutions for medicine, food and industry. In 2023, located outside The Hemp Club in Cullen Street, the Hemp Expo will feature local hemp legend Paul Benhaim speaking on hemp plastics; Malcolm Lee on CBGa; hemp engineer Martin Ernegg; interactive farmers, Hanna and Leon ov Hemp Threads; and a Master Gardeners Forum to answer all your questions about hemp farming. Learn how to make hemp balm with The Hemp Club!

And a shout out to MardiGrass legends and stalwart supporters of Cannabis law reform who will share their expertise and inspiration again with us in 2023: Ex magistrate David Heilpern, solicitor Steve Bolt, master gardener Kog, Dr Pot, Radic Al Conscious, hemp historian Dr John Jiggens, and Dr Deb Waldron. Craze Co and friends will descend on MardiGrass again for all weekend glass blowing demonstrations in the markets area. MardiGras 2023 will also explore Cannabis laws and experiences in other countries, and welcome HQ from Bani Tenang Horticulture Centre in Malaysia as well as Marc Selan who operated a Cannabis Club in Spain for a number of years.

It’s time this magnificent herb was welcomed into mainstream Australian life, and the persecution and prejudice to stop. Medical cannabis has been a growing international phenomenon over the last few decades. In 2013 Uruguay became the first country in the world to legalize the sale, cultivation, and distribution of recreational cannabis, with Canada launching legalisation in 2018, and Thailand grooving into the green dream in 2022. Australia is only now starting to catch on and catch up.The 2023 MardiGrass Hemposium aims to expand the mind as much as that special weed herself, and is a space to inform, learn, agitate, inspire and connect in this massively important green revolution. Let’s not take another 30 years! Help us OVERGROW THE GOVERNMENT!

Check out the Hemposium programs from the last 12 years: