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ikol
me

Registered: 05/24/13
Posts: 10
Loc: A.C.T.
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WA Police crack down on people picking magic mushrooms
#23412594 - 07/05/16 04:00 AM (7 years, 6 months ago) |
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Hi folks, heard this story today (05 July 2016) on the radio on the ABC program 'The World Today'. Link is: http://www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/content/2016/s4494719.htm Take care, love, r. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - WA Police crack down on people picking magic mushrooms - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - KIM LANDERS: In a patch of forest near the small West Australian town of Balingup, so called 'magic mushrooms' are popping up.
It's prompted local police to boost patrols of the area as they try to deter those who are searching for the hallucinogenic fungus.
They say not only are the mushrooms toxic and therefore dangerous, it's illegal to collect them.
Our reporter Tim Brunero went along on one of the police patrols.
TIM BRUNERO: Just over 400 people live in Balingup, a village a few hours' drive south of Perth.
Not much gets past the local police, and in recent weeks they've noticed some unusual activity in the pine plantations just out of town.
JAY PERERRIA: My name's first class constable Jay Pereira, currently heading out towards one of the few locations in this area that naturally grow magic mushrooms.
We've had a few incidents whereby magic mushrooms have been seized. Because we've started to come across them we've decided to go out and start policing the area a bit more than we have done in the past.
TIM BRUNERO: The so-called magic mushrooms contain the hallucinogen 'psilocybin'.
Possessing them is illegal. And trying to collect them from the forest plantation is also trespassing on Crown land.
The ABC is allowed to travel with constable Jay Pererira and his partner senior constable Mike Smith as they go in search for people who are picking them.
MIKE SMITH: There's people up there. Yeah, there was a head standing in the road.
TIM BRUNERO: The police cross a large creek and head up into the heavily forested hills.
They soon find two women and a man.
MIKE SMITH: Hello, how are you?
JAY PERERRIA: Guys, the reason we're here is because this area is known for people coming to harvest magic mushrooms. It's one of the few areas in this district where it grows.
So start again. Why are you here?
PICKERS: Just going for walk, just looking at some mushrooms. Not really doing anything to be honest.
JAY PERERRIA: Okay, okay. Because of where you are, the fact that you're trespassing, this is one of those locations, we're going to have a look through your bags to make sure you don't have anything on you that you shouldn't.
PICKERS: That's completely understandable. Yeah, of course.
JAY PERERRIA: Do you have anything that we need to know about now? Nah?
TIM BRUNERO: The three suspected mushroom pickers didn't want to be identified to the ABC.
When police search them they don't find anything.
But when they check some nearby bushes, they discover a blue esky containing 30 magic mushrooms.
PICKER: (Crying) Sorry! I'm sorry I don't mean to shame myself.
MIKE SMITH: Don't stress yourself out too much over it, okay?
TIM BRUNERO: Senior constable Mike Smith takes one of the pickers to the side and begins questioning her.
MIKE SMITH: So you use them for medicinal purposes?
PICKER: Yes, absolutely.
MIKE SMITH: So when we came up the hill, and we saw you, were you holding that bag at the time?
PICKER: Um, Yes.
TIM BRUNERO: Police finish talking to the pickers, and I ask constable Jay Pererria what will happen to them.
JAY PERERRIA: There's two ways this sort of thing can be proceeded with.
One of them is through court, prosecution for drug possession.
The other is via what we call a drug intervention requirement. Effectively we send out a referral to counsellors who have a chat to the people that we refer in relation to drug use, how it can affect them, the potential long term effects of using drugs. That's how we're proceeding for this incident for all three parties.
TIM BRUNERO: The mushroom pickers are relieved that they've escaped a harsher penalty.
PICKER: Based on my intention, the very small weight of the magic mushrooms that I have taken, which is a reflection of personal use only, I believe that there might be an intervention order or some sort of course for me to do.
I think it just gives someone a little bit of learning room. I've given the gentleman here my word I won't come back to this place.
KIM LANDERS: One of the WA mushroom pickers, ending that report by Tim Brunero.
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NobodyYouKnow
Someone else



Registered: 08/26/14
Posts: 16,583
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Re: WA Police crack down on people picking magic mushrooms [Re: ikol]
#23412618 - 07/05/16 04:23 AM (7 years, 6 months ago) |
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I dunno but a lot of these stories from down under seem like they are recycled every few years or so, might be just me. From what I understand the population of Balingup is more than that. 
Quote:
In 2011 there were 560 people living in Balingup. 48.0% are male and 52.0% are female. Balingup has a population of 8 indigenous people.
link
Also this old doco...
Not having a go at you mate but most of our 'news' stories seem to be re-runs.
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ikol
me

Registered: 05/24/13
Posts: 10
Loc: A.C.T.
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Re: WA Police crack down on people picking magic mushrooms [Re: NobodyYouKnow] 1
#23412633 - 07/05/16 04:50 AM (7 years, 6 months ago) |
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Thanks! Only reporting what I heard today - but I take your point, these stories do seem to go in cycles. cheers
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NobodyYouKnow
Someone else



Registered: 08/26/14
Posts: 16,583
Loc: To your south
Last seen: 17 days, 16 hours
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Re: WA Police crack down on people picking magic mushrooms [Re: ikol]
#23412706 - 07/05/16 06:00 AM (7 years, 6 months ago) |
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Turns out this just showed up on my Facecrook feed, pics look recent from the same article here.
I seriously cannot believe this.........
Quote:
Police said not only were the mushrooms toxic and dangerous, it was also illegal to collect them.
^^ Only one of the things in that sentence is true and people are starting to realise they are being lied to. I wonder how long this story will do the rounds for? I pick later in the year, this is exactly why. Cheers for sharing.
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5150
phantom

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Re: WA Police crack down on people picking magic mushrooms [Re: NobodyYouKnow]
#23414601 - 07/05/16 06:01 PM (7 years, 6 months ago) |
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Oz is such a nanny state,they've gotta be up in everyones business
-------------------- "the way of the warrior is the resolute acceptance of death" Miyamoto Musashi
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HybridprX
Biodegrader of coir



Registered: 01/29/08 
Posts: 2,588
Loc: Canada
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Re: WA Police crack down on people picking magic mushrooms [Re: 5150]
#23416392 - 07/06/16 09:28 AM (7 years, 6 months ago) |
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Quote:
5150 said: Oz is such a nanny state,they've gotta be up in everyones business
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jsncrs
DYEL


Registered: 01/16/14
Posts: 1,170
Loc: Mars
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Re: WA Police crack down on people picking magic mushrooms [Re: ikol]
#23419487 - 07/07/16 08:37 AM (7 years, 6 months ago) |
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Fuck this shit makes me angry. How much longer is this bullshit gonna go on for? surely these cops have better shit to do than hide in the bush hunting harmless shroom pickers.
Ice fueled crime and violence is running rampant in small country towns in Aus and they're wasting resources on shit like this.
Edited by jsncrs (07/07/16 08:38 AM)
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