Press Releases
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Armistice Tour 2010 (stage 3) Cape Reinga
Posted on August 12th, 2010 by Dakta Green | Filed under Armistice Tour 2010, Events, Information, New Zealand, Press Releases. 4 Comments »
Despite mechanical breakdowns we commenced our tour on time at 11am August 11th 2010 at Cape Reinga. There is no mobile internet or phone access at Cape Reinga so we were unable to broadcast live via the internet but we did record the 11am statement. Here is the raw footage.
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Armistice Tour – Press Release
Posted on August 9th, 2010 by Dakta Bourbon | Filed under Armistice Tour 2010, Featured, New Zealand, News, Press Releases. 3 Comments »
Stage three of the cannabis Armistice Tour kicks off on Wednesday, August 11 and will cover the entire country before a hikoi to Parliament on Armistice Day, November 11.
Dakta Green, founder of Auckland’s cannabis club The Daktory, will be driving Maryjane the Cannabus, along with an entourage of support vehicles in a three month tour commencing at 11 am with a ceremony beneath the lighthouse at Cape Reinga on Wednesday.
“We will visit every electorate Member of Parliament office in the country and talk with MP’s about the harms that criminalisation causes for ordinary New Zealanders,” said Dakta Green. Read the rest of this entry »
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Unlawful Police Search of Cannabis Campaigner
Posted on May 26th, 2010 by Dakta Bourbon | Filed under Featured, New Zealand, News, Press Releases. 4 Comments »
Press Release: Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party
The founder of New Zealand’s first cannabis club the Daktory, Dakta Green, today described a raid Monday on an 18-year old cannabis law reform campaigner’s house in Blenheim as “completely over the top and unlawful”.
“However, because Police knew they had acted improperly in the first place, I am pleased that all charges against this young man have been dropped within 24-hours of the illegal search and arrest,” Dakta Green said.
However, Mr Green believes that Josh Lucas, an 18-year old cannabis law reform campaigner was singled out due to local media attention about his intention to stage a rally in Blenheim protesting the current laws on cannabis.
“Josh is a highly motivated young man who approached us with his plan to hold a midday march on June 10,” said Dakta Green. “He then got a bit of a story in the local newspaper, followed by a harshly negative editorial response, and now this.”
“I’m simply appalled by the reaction of the Police. He was raided at home twice in the same day and now, despite being told that charges are to be dropped, remains on 24-hour curfew. It’s outrageous and draconian!” Read the rest of this entry »
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Rally this Saturday, support Marc Emery and those caught in the Lime Raids
Posted on May 18th, 2010 by Dakta Bourbon | Filed under Events, Featured, New Zealand, Press Releases. No Comments »
Recently, Cannabis Culture announced a worldwide rally to support the Canadian Prince of Pot, Marc Emery, who is being extradited by the Canadian government to the US. We have decided to show our support for him this weekend outside the American Embassy in Auckland.
Dakta Green will be taking down Mary Jane the Cannabis in support.
The rally will also be held in support of those who have been caught in Operation Lime, or the Lime Raids as some are calling it. The media used this operation to water down the coverage of thousands on J Day who smoked openly, which included 300 smokers marching to Parliament, lead by Dakta Green. Read the rest of this entry »
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Armistice Tour raises over 1250 cannabis law reform submissions in first week
Posted on April 23rd, 2010 by Dakta Bourbon | Filed under Featured, Information, News, Press Releases. 2 Comments »
Dakta Green’s cannabis law reform tour of the North Island is making people stop, think and act.
“We’ve collected more than 1250 submissions so far,” said Dakta Green mid Friday afternoon.
“The number is increasing daily. We’ve collected 50 already today, and we aim to have 2000 by next Friday when we deliver them to the Law Commission offices in Wellington.
Maryjane the Cannabus is due in Hawera tonight and her Daktavist crew will campaign for cannabis law reform in Hawera tomorrow.
Halfway through his two-week tour of provincial North Island centres, Dakta Green reports an overwhelmingly positive reception from Heartland Kiwis to his campaign. Read the rest of this entry »
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Time To Declare Truce In War On Cannabis Users
Posted on April 15th, 2010 by Dakta Green | Filed under Information, News, Press Releases. 2 Comments »
Wednesday, 14 April 2010, 5:08 pm
Press Release: NORMLTime To Declare Truce In War On Cannabis Users, Says Norml
Dakta Green, Auckland spokesperson for marijuana law reform organisation NORML NZ, today called for a truce in the war on cannabis as he prepares to take Mary Jane the Cannabus out on the ‘Armistice Tour’ to urge the Government to change its stance on our out-of-date and failed drug laws.
Mr Green – the founder of Auckland’s Daktory cannabis club – hits the road this Friday April 16 on a two-week tour that will see him and the Cannabus cover the North Island, inviting everyday Kiwis to come and discuss the best way to repair the Misuse of Drugs Act.
“Everybody is allowed to have their say on changes to the drug laws recommended by the New Zealand Law Commission”, said Dakta Green, “and we will be gathering as many public submissions as possible while we go.”
Public submissions to the Commission close on April 30. The Armistice Tour’s destination is Wellington where Dakta Green will personally deliver the collected submissions to the Law Commission himself, before celebrating International J-Day at Frank Kitts Park the following day on May 1.
With a fortnight left to go, NORML already has more than 600 completed submissions calling for the Commission to recommend an end to the criminalisation of cannabis smokers.
The two-week Armistice Tour will see the Cannabus drop into heartland communities like Patea, Whanganui and Palmerston North, sparking discussion on law reform and making further plans to establish Daktories nationwide, spreading the Daktory ethos of “live like it’s legal”.
Dakta Green says the tour is a call to action for everyone who wants fairness, justice and compassion rather than the continuation of a failed and futile Prohibition policy.
“Prohibition didn’t work for alcohol and it’s certainly not working for cannabis” he says. “We’re wasting hundreds of millions of taxpayer’s dollars a year arresting, processing and prosecuting ordinary New Zealanders for choosing to use a drug that is proven to be far safer than tobacco and alcohol.”
“It’s time for clear and rational thinking on this matter. The Law Commission has already made some constructive recommendations in its discussion document, particularly with regards to allowing medical cannabis. On the Armistice Tour we’ll be publicly debating this vital justice issue and encouraging our fellow New Zealanders to have their say.
“Current drug laws pit Kiwi against Kiwi by criminalising Maori, working class Pakeha, and Pasifika communities. We’re calling for an Armistice – a truce in this Drug War that attacks ordinary New Zealand families. We want peace and justice. God Defend our Free Land”, Dakta Green concluded.
ENDS
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Another Drug War Injustice
Posted on March 8th, 2010 by Dakta Green | Filed under Legalization, News, Press Releases. 1 Comment »
National Organisation for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, New Zealand Inc.
PO Box 3307 Shortland St Auckland 1015 New Zealand
Tel 09 302 5255 Fax 09 303 1309 info@norml.org.nz www.norml.org.nz
Media release
7 March 2010
TO: News Media
FROM: NORML New Zealand Inc
RE: Vince Whare’s Ten Year Ban another Drug War injustice
Contact: President, Phil Saxby 021 069 4542 or 04 461 6631
VINCE WHARE’S TEN YEAR BAN FOR CANNABIS ANOTHER DRUG WAR INJUSTICE
The ten-year ban handed down to veteran rugby league player Vince Whare makes him another casualty of injustice in our 35 year-old war on drugs, said NORML President Phil Saxby today.
The Canterbury Bulls’ prop has just been suspended from any involvement in sport for a decade by the Sports Tribunal of New Zealand after testing positive for cannabis use. He tested positive for cannabis twice before, once in 2005 and then again in 2006.
“The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) code requires third-time doping offenders to be banned for at least eight years, but cannabis is no more a performance-enhancing drug than alcohol”, Mr Saxby said. “What would happen to sport if all alcohol-using players were banned after 3 drinking offences?” Read the rest of this entry »
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Restore Respect for Law, End Cannabis Prohibition
Posted on February 27th, 2010 by Dakta Bourbon | Filed under Featured, Information, Legalization, News, Press Releases. 3 Comments »
Friday, 26 February 2010, 4:47 pm
Press Release: NORML
NORML to Collins: Restore Respect for Police by Ending Cannabis ProhibitionNORML President Phil Saxby today called on Police Minister Judith Collins to restore public respect for law enforcement by calling an armistice in this country’s prolonged “war on drugs”.
In response to recent attacks on Police Officers, Ms Collins has been quoted as saying that “it’s extremely important to rebuild the respect and fear for the law.”
“Fear of the law isn’t the problem,” said Mr Saxby. “What has been eroding away in New Zealand is respect for the law and then by association, those who enforce it.”
“The Misuse of Drugs Act created the so-called “war on drugs” which is actually a war on ordinary Kiwis. After thirty-five years of criminalisation, the 400,000 people from all walks of life who currently use cannabis justifiably feel marginalised and discriminated against.”
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“Nobody should be punished by their boss simply for smoking cannabis”
Posted on February 13th, 2010 by Dakta Green | Filed under Information, News, Press Releases. 2 Comments »
“Nobody in New Zealand should be ever punished by their boss simply for smoking cannabis on their own time”, said Dakta Green today.
“So long as no-one is being hurt and no disturbance caused, what goes on outside of the job is no matter of the company or the employer”.
Mr Green was referring to the current investigation by TVNZ into claims that its staff smoked cannabis during a visit to Waitangi on the CannaBus with Dakta Green and members of NORML and the Daktory.
“NORML sympathizes with any employee in New Zealand who fears for their job because of private cannabis use, or who has faced consequences from their employer for having used cannabis”, Mr Green said.
Dakta Green said he knew of many people in the cannabis culture who felt upset about the way in which Close Up treated him in a segment aired last week. “Some have made formal complaints to the Broadcasting Standards Authority, but my understanding is they only complained about the content of the show, nothing else”, he said.
“Any claims of wrongdoing alleged against the TVNZ staff in question are nothing but hearsay”, he said. “We enjoyed their company and I believe they enjoyed ours, but I can categorically say they never smoked cannabis with us on the CannaBus”.
“And besides”, Mr Green continued, “even if they had, so what? They’re adults! It’s only cannabis – a drug that’s far safer than both alcohol and tobacco”.
“I’m very sorry these people are being treated this way; particularly as it’s happened immediately following the Law Commission’s report recommending no more criminalization of cannabis smokers.”
Dakta Green said that such persecution is an infringement of basic human rights, something he plans to talk about more on the upcoming Armistice Tour 2010.
ENDS
Contact: dakta_green@thedaktory.org.nz
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Armistice Tour 2010
Posted on February 7th, 2010 by Dakta Green | Filed under Legalization, News, Press Releases. 9 Comments »
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
7 February 2010
TO: News Media
FROM: NORML NZ and The DaktoryRE: Dakta Green warmly welcomed on Waitangi Walkabout
Cannabis activist Dakta Green received a rapturous Waitangi Day welcome yesterday with chants of “Free the Weed” from the mainly Maori crowd during a Waitangi walkabout.
Dakta Green was greeted like a celebrity while official Waitangi celebrations went on behind them, an enthusiastic crowd gathered around the Treaty flagpole to hear Dakta Green and NORML NZ President Phil Saxby launch the “Armistice Tour”.
“The Armistice Tour is about ending the drug war between the government and people of Aotearoa-New Zealand,” says Dakta Green. “We want to bring an end to decades of prejudice and hurt.”
NORML’s Cannabus (Maryjane) will tour New Zealand during the next three months, ending with a rally at parliament. “An Armistice means that neither side has to admit defeat. We start the tour with three proposed conditions for a just settlement of the drug wars:
• Adult use only- NZ has the highest rate of teenage cannabis use in the world
• Amnesty – stop arresting the people for cannabis (NZ has the highest arrest rate in the world for cannabis use)
• A regulated market – replace the uncontrolled criminal market with a regulated, taxable, cannabis trade.