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Hemp candidate confronts Joyce

The president of the Hemp party has gate crashed an event being attended by Malcolm Turnbull and his deputy Barnaby Joyce.

A Senate candidate has been removed from a campaign event before he could offer the prime minister or his deputy an inflatable joint.

Michael Balderstone, president of the Hemp Party, gate-crashed the Friday visit to a macadamia processing facility in Alphadale on the NSW north coast.

He claimed to have an innovative idea for Malcolm Turnbull - legalising medicinal cannabis - that would create 100,000 jobs.

"We are legislating for medicinal cannabis," Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce told him.

But nothing was happening yet, Mr Balderstone replied, complaining about the slow progress of a NSW trial.

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He asked whether he could apply for a licence.

Mr Joyce asked him whether he wanted the drug for medicinal reasons or for recreation.

Mr Balderstone said he needed the medicinal herb for post-traumatic stress from attending boarding school.

"We've given you a good run mate," Mr Joyce said before the candidate was removed by federal police officers as Mr Turnbull's convoy arrived.

Mr Balderstone said he wanted to give the prime minister an inflatable joint, claiming not to have received a response to a letter he sent him.

Mr Turnbull is in the marginal Nationals-held seat of Page to announce a $25 million jobs and investment package for the NSW North Coast.


2 min read

Published

Source: AAP



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