THE STORY OF PAUL POT AND THE WORLDS LONGEST JOINT

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THE STORY OF PAUL POT AND THE WORLDS LONGEST
JOINT
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In 1984 an article appeared in the Daily News in
Western Australia. The article titled Its an
Odd World tells the story of two groups of
people, one Dutch, one Swiss, who have claimed
they have rolled the worlds longest joint. The
article read GENEVA (AAP) Philibert Roux (29)
claims to have rolled a world-record-size
marihuana joint of 7.93 metres. The previous
record was held by a dozen Dutch nationals, who
succeeded in rolling a joint 4.48 metres long on
November 10, 1982. Mr Roux, president of the
Swiss Pressure Group for the Legalisation of
Cannabis, said his joint contained 100 grams of
marihuana. Around about the same time the WA
business man, Alan Bond, had beaten the Americans
at the Americas Cup yacht race with his 12 metre
yacht Australia One with its world famous
winged keel. The next Americas Cup race would
now be  held in Fremantle, WA, in January
1987. Paul Pot, a passionate joint roller and
pot smoker was inspired by these two developments
and set course to roll the worlds longest joint
and show it off to the worlds media when they
came to WA to film the Americas Cup race. To be
a truly local event Paul Pot planned to grow a
crop in the bush and use it to roll a 12 metre
joint. This was the same length as all the yachts
in the race. 
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The weather of the 1986 pot growing season was
very favorable and as the season closed the
plants were ready to harvest.
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With the harvest dry the next important step was
the weigh in.
With one kilo in the bag Paul Pot and friend
rolled 14 separate joints that were 90
centimetres long and contained approximately 70
grams of cannabis.
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When all the joints were rolled Paul Pot grabs an
arm full so his mug shot could be taken. The rest
of the joints were later covered in stars and
stripes joint rolling papers and joined together
to make the worlds longest joint. While the 12
metre joint was being rolled, construction was
proceeding on a miniature replica of a 12 metre
yacht. This yacht was to be used to conceal the
real nature of the challenge to be contested on
February 5, 1987, which was also the day of the
final race of the Americas Cup. The joint
venturers were convinced that by using this type
of Americas Cup propaganda they could contest
the 12 metre joint challenge in public and escape
detection from the Western Australian authorities.
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Covered from head to toe with military camouflage
cloth to conceal his identity and with ostrich
feathers around his feet Paul Pot prepares to
launch the 12 metre joint at a small  ocean side
park overlooking the Indian Ocean.
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THE DAY OF THE CHALLENGE At 10 a.m. on February
5, 1987, as preparations for the final race of
the Americas Cup in Fremantle started, a new 12
metre challenger was being launched at the
coastal suburb of North Cottesloe, overlooking
the race course. This remarkable challenger would
set a new 12 metre record without even entering
the water. His yacht was called Ranger 1.
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The replica yacht was more radical than it
looked. Wedged between the rear sails was coiled
the 12 metre joint which would break all known
world records for joint rolling. Paul Pot, the
skipper of the radically designed yacht uncoils
the joint along the park and pegs it out on two
stakes to enable spectators to view this
world-shattering record with the Indian Ocean in
the background.
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The yacht was equipped with two car vacuum
cleaners and a car stereo unit and while Paul Pot
proceeded to light the joint the tape deck played
Dont bogart that joint my friend by the group
Little Feat.
For two hours the display stood on the beach side
park undisturbed until one good citizen hailed
down a passing police car and informed them of
the fact that one kilo of cannabis was displayed
only metres from them.
 
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The first police appear at the scene and check to
see if the crew are still on board. Not waiting
for confirmation that the joint contained
cannabis, a policeman leaves the scene to radio
for assistance.
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The crime fighters went into immediate action and
proceeded to demonstrate their investigative
skills. With displays of head scratching and
looks of dismay they tried to remember a
childhood  story about a Trojan horse. The paddy
wagon has arrived but this detective doesnt know
who to arrest.
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The crowd distracts a policeman while a young man
takes a sample of the joint.
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Unable to capture the joint roller or gain any
information from reliable witnesses the cops roll
up the joint and take it back to the station,
where they confirmed it contained cannabis. They
even weighed and measured it. The day was a great
success!
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Later that day in an ABC radio interview with
Mario DOrazio Paul Pot said he rolled the 12
metre joint to make a bid for the Guinness Book
of Records and highlight the repressive drug laws
in Western Australia. He felt it was very unfair
that for this Americas Cup event a casino was
built, hotels had their licences extended and
people could drink alcohol all night. On the
other hand people who wanted to celebrate with a
joint instead of alcohol were harassed by the
police as usual. Paul Pot wanted some changes for
the pot smokers in Western Australia so they
could grow a couple of plants for personal use
and enjoy a smoke in peace. 
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The last time Paul Pot was seen, he was sitting
on a log in the bush pointing a bone at the
authorities he despised so much. Some say he
still roams the bush growing pot and some say he
moved to  Nimbin in New South Wales on the East
Coast of Australia to join the jungle patrol.