Nimbin, North Coast: Residents fearful after hard drug operations, dealers flock to the streets

A hippy town is facing the arrival of harder drugs and dealers in the streets, according to locals. See what’s at stake here.

The state’s unofficial Cannabis capital has been overrun by “out-of-town” dealers and commercial “hard drug” operations, according to fearful locals.

The colourful community of Nimbin on the NSW North Coast has been known for decades for it’s relaxed lifestyle, artwork, hippy culture — and a passion for marijuana.

Hooded, out-of-town drug dealers are now common across Nimbin, local’s say.

But concerned residents say streets in the Nimbin town centre now feature hooded dealers “openly offering cannabis to locals”.

Furious residents, who spoke anonymously, say ‘cold transactional’ drug dealing in the tight-knit suburb is “damaging the community’s spirit”.

Locals are fearful of the rise of “hard drug” dealers in Nimbin.

Local artist Neil Liddell would like to see cannabis use legalised, but said he has witnessed the takeover of “hard drugs” within the community he has called home since 1973.

“I’ve watched the town over the years go through many changes that have been good and bad,” he said. “The town is now less for the locals and more tuned to the tourist trade.

“It’s the hard drugs that have messed up the image of the town.”

Nimbin resident Neil Lidell. Picture: Savannah Pocock

The presence of drug dealers on street corners across the community hasn’t seen a significant change in reported incidents of drug offences across the Lismore Local Government Area.

In the six years to March 2022, incidents of drug offences across the region has dropped from 904 to just 406 cases, according to the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research.

Meanwhile, there were just three recorded incidents of dealing or trafficing cannabis in the year to March 2022.

Nimbin local gypsy Tara Flavell shares her views on marijuana being legalised.

Twenty-one year old gypsy, Tara Flavell, said it is “absolutely ridiculous” that cigarettes and alcohol are legal and marijuana is not, when you compare weed to other drugs that are so much more detrimental to your wellbeing.

“Compared to something that is natural like marijuana or even magic mushrooms. These things are natural and have no chemicals and no b-llsh-t. I don’t even use cannabis myself, but I have seen it be used to benefit a lot of people and help with their mental health,” she told The Byron Shire News.

Richmond Police District representatives were contacted for comment.