Archive for July, 2009
Two Americas: One High, One Not.
July 14th, 2009
Dakta Green
In the absence of any meaningful public discussion on cannabis law reform in New Zealand, we turn to America to follow their ongoing public debate.
The main opponents,
IN THE PROHIBITION CORNER: – Barry Richard McCaffrey, 4th Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy
He was Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) under President Bill Clinton from 1996 to 2001. As Drug Czar, McCaffrey was instrumental in negotiating a deal to place anti-drug messages in prime time television shows without acknowledging that these messages were paid for by his Office. This created quite a scandal when it was revealed in Salon.com.
“There is no silver bullet in the drug issue,” the general said. “You just can’t do law enforcement or prevention or treatment. You have to do all of it.”
General McCaffrey drew the strongest applause at a breakfast meeting with the Miami Coalition for a Safe and Drug-Free Community, an umbrella organization of civic and other groups, when he said, “We’re not going to solve the problem by putting another million Americans in jail.”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barry_McCaffrey
and in the green corner: – Rob Van Dam, long time cannabis law reform advocate.
I had the pleasure of meeting and toking with Rob Van Dam when he turned up at a Friday 4.20 Albert Park protest about two years ago. He met Chris Fowlie (Norml News Editor) and was subsequently featured in Norml News.
He had no problem standing openly with the protesters. He shared our anger (at prohibition laws) and our smoke.
Sadly the videos we had linked to this article have been removed from Youtube 
Grow Hemp For Victory
July 14th, 2009
Dakta Green
“Reefer Madness” of the 1930′s is coming to an end.
The Public are beginning to realise they have been conned for decades.
Hemp is useful for many things….medicine, sports cars ……I want one of these…..
What happens when you decriminalize all drugs?
July 13th, 2009
Dakta Bourbon
This is a video I was linked to in an email I got today. It is about Portugal, where all drugs have been decriminalized.
Although we are only pushing for Cannabis to make the list, it shows the effect of decriminalized drugs as a whole. Lets hope that the world can really take notice of this, and start to follow Portugal’s lead.
Sadly the videos we had linked to this article have been removed from Youtube
Green MP Metiria Turei will continue fight
July 4th, 2009
Dakta Green
MP to keep fighting for medicinal marijuana
Updated at 9:37am on 2 July 2009
A Member of Parliament who wants marijuana to be allowed for medicinal purposes says she will continue fighting to give people that option for pain relief.
In a conscience vote, MPs voted 86-34 against a members bill brought by Green MP Metiria Turei on 2 July 2009.
The bill was based on a similar system to Canada where a person, in conjunction with their doctor, can grow a small amount of cannabis for their personal medical use.
Ms Turei says she’s extremely disappointed with the result, but will continue to work with patients, doctors and other MPs towards presenting another bill in future.
Listen to Morning Report – 3 July 2009.
Copyright © 2009 Radio New Zealand
What do we have to do?
July 4th, 2009
Dakta Green
The following lead story and Editorial from Saturdays (4th July 09) Hawkes Bay Today is a classic example of 1930s style of ‘reefer madness’.
As long as our media continue to peddle police nonsense when discussing cannabis, we will continue to suffer the fate of second class citizenship.
HAWKES BAY TODAY
LEAD STORY: Burglaries drug driven, say police
Laptop computers worth up to $2000 are being traded for $20 cannabis “tinnies” in a near-record wave of Hawke’s Bay burglaries police believe is being mainly driven by drug dealing.
Experienced Napier policeman Detective Sergeant Dan Foley said the “bargains” were part of an underworld which was evident when three juveniles ditched about $11,000 worth of jewellery stolen in the burglary of a Greenmeadows woman’s home last month.
The jewellery has been returned but not two laptop computers, a digital camera and an iPod. Mr Foley believed those types of items were often stolen to trade with drug dealers, sometimes for a $20 cannabis “tinnie” (oil-wrapped cannabis). Despite the boys being caught, the goods have not been recovered.
Mr Foley, who has spent 19 years of his 30-year police career in Hawke’s Bay, with significant experience in drug and “break” squads, said: “The most valuable property is often of little value to them, unless they can turn it into drugs straight away.
“A lot of drug dealers will trade stolen property as a form of currency. Our young offenders are simply flicking off stolen property, and the book value doesn’t really have any bearing on what they get,” he said. Read the rest of this entry »