Art Vs Science‘s Dan McNamee has penned an email to his local member appealing for a trial year without the use of sniffer dogs at the upcoming Splendour In The Grass festival. He posted the transcript of the email on Facebook this morning.
In the email, McNamee appeals to the Member for Ballina, Don Page, for his support in urging fellow parliamentarians to trial a year without the use of sniffer dogs at the festival so as to reduce the incidents of panicked overdoses.
“I have seen this first hand,” writes McNamee. “People being led out of the festival to ambulances, eyes rolling in their heads. Concerned and panicking friends following and being told to try to relax. It’s a horrid sight. This tragedy is all the more tragic because these people are often inexperienced drug users who might wait all year to go to one or two music festivals and ingest these substances there.”
Mcnamee points to tragic death of 17-year-old Gemma Geraldine Thoms at the Perth Big Day Out in 2009, after she ingested three ecstasy tablets in a very short time frame out of fear the pills could be confiscated if police dogs were present.
“A police presence which focusses on stopping truly anti social behaviour – violence and aggression is all that is needed,” continues the musician. “People who are allowed to ingest drugs without the fear of a lifetime criminal record will have a new fear: the drug itself.”
“Drug taking is dangerous, he adds. “The correct dosage, setting, and friend support is vital. Let this be the only thing that people are worried about.” Mcnamee has since said that Mr Page has responded to his appeal, saying he’ll forward the message on to the relevant ministers.
McNamee also urged fans to voice their opinions and suggestions to their local members in a similar fashion. Art Vs Science will make their fifth appearance at this year’s Splendour In The Grass festival alongside Outkast, Interpol, Lily Allen and Childish Gambino.
