Legalise Cannabis Australia Party campaigner in Byron Bay

The rain couldn’t steer away one Byron man who was eager to get the message out about the Legalise Cannabis Australia Party. Here’s why he’s so passionate about it.

A passionate campaigner stood proudly out the front of the Byron Bay pre-polling booth while the rain poured down asking voters to put the Legalise Cannabis Australia Party first.

Stuart Browne may be recognised by locals who have seen him riding around town on his bicycle with a corflute attached to the back.

Not a candidate himself, Mr Browne became involved with the party when senate candidate Michael Baulderstone approached the hemp farmer to help hand out flyers in Byron Bay.

But for Mr Browne it’s more than just about his business.

“I’m missing a disc in L5 and S1 and I’ve also got a couple of degenerate discs about that,” Mr Browne said.

“As a result of that I’ve got sciatica running down my veins and a bit of arthritis.”

Stuart Browne has been volunteering for the Legalise Cannabis Australia Party at the Byron Bay pre-poll centre.

He said he was previously prescribed opioid medicine to treat his issues which he found to be “horrible” and highly addictive.

“Cannabis has provided so much more for my life, it’s made me able to function as a human being.

“I have PTSD and it’s been able to keep that at bay mostly.”

Mr Browne said he was passionate about seeing a future where cannabis was legalised and anyone would criminal records would see them expunged.

He also believes in the party’s advocacy for law reform and reducing the price of medicinal cannabis.

The party doesn’t offer preferences on their how to vote cards, with only senate candidates running in New South Wales.

“Legalise cannabis is not just about what we need to do for the people of now,” Mr Browne said.

“It’s about every Australian in the future that is driving with cannabis in their system and is involved in a car accident even if not at fault to give them some protection.

“We want to stop the 78,000 Australians getting convicted every year .... and release the $8 billion industry.”

According to the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission there were 76,669 cannabis related arrests in the 2019-2020 reporting period.

A market analysis by Grand View Research valued the Australia legal cannabis market at USD 41.2 million in 2020 with an expected compound annual growth rate of 32.7 per cent between 2021 and 2028.

The Legalise Cannabis Australia Party is running Michael Baulderstone as their primary candidate for the senate in NSW and Gail Hester as the secondary candidate.