A by-election will be held on November 20 in Mana electorate. Maryjane represented at the TVNZ7 Back Benchers by-election special.

Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party candidate Julian Crawford launched his campaign with an appearance on the Dakta Green hour and later on Back Benchers.

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.

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.

“We are also going to talk with as many New Zealanders as possible and ask them for their views on cannabis and the law.”

The Armistice Tour will conclude at Parliament at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month following a march to Parliament.

“We will discuss this issue with everyone, in every part of the country. It makes no difference whether they have or haven’t used cannabis; the current law impacts us all.”

“Whether it’s someone whose family member gets arrested or the taxpayer who has to shoulder the costs of policing cannabis and putting people in prison – every citizen of this country is affected by a policy that doesn’t work.”

Dakta Green pointed out that the recent Police raids on gardening supply shops code-named Operation Lime could lead to significant number of people going to prison in the near future.

“250 people were arrested in that operation,” Dakta Green said. “It costs $1800 per week to keep someone behind bars. That’s a huge financial burden to the State simply because someone was caught growing a little weed for themselves or their friends.”

“The spiraling cost of prohibition alone should give Members of Parliament good reason to listen to the people and immediately stop arresting people for cannabis,” Dakta Green concluded.

ENDS

Note to Media

There will be a departure ceremony at The Daktory on
Tuesday 10th August at 4pm.

Firm departure time 4.20pm.

All welcome to attend.
Interviews will only be available before 4pm.
Some reporters may be able to travel with us for an hour or 2.

Contact
Dakta Green
09 948 1049 (until Tuesday)
Armistice Tour Hotline: 021 213 6646

Original poster image from nzta.govt.nz

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!”

“The Police have turned up and searched his house without a warrant, expecting to find drugs there just because this young man has been brave enough to state his political views in public.”

During the first raid, Police confiscated 3 grams of cannabis (about 5 joints), a bong, and some knives spotted with black paint.

Mr Green said that when Police came back a second time, they remembered to bring a warrant and this time took away brochures, posters and other materials that Mr Lucas had been collecting in preparation for the June 10 rally.

“Attention Police: it is not illegal to campaign to change a law! It is not illegal to possess posters and brochures which oppose cannabis prohibition laws.”

“When you act in this manner, you are acting politically. It is not your job to take part in political debate. Just who is giving you these orders?” asked Dakta Green.

“Judith Collins must immediately reign in the police force or accept full responsibility and resign. This is not a police state and we will not allow this to go on under her watch,” Dakta Green concluded.

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.

The Auckland Rally will be held at:
2pm Outside the American Embassy
(Citigroup Centre, between Esquires and NZ Post)
23 Customs St. East
Auckland CBD

We also have a Facebook event going for this, if you need to update your social calendar.

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.

“We couldn’t fight them off with a stick,” he exclaimed jokingly about Thursday’s reception at New Plymouth.

“I think the support for cannabis law reform is overwhelming.”

“The only people that are objecting to it (the Armistice Tour) will not stop and have a discussion.

“They have pre conceived ideas that all drugs are bad.”

Dakta Green reports some interesting observations after a week on the road, visiting rural communities to inform them that everyone has a right to have their say in New Zealand’s revamp of the drug laws.

“We have lots of non smoking supporters. Not many people knew that New Zealand’s 1970s-era drug laws were in for a much-needed overhaul. And that ordinary Kiwis did, in fact, have the right to speak up on cannabis laws.”

While members of New Zealand’s cannabis community are buoyed by news of submission numbers, many feel the Armistice Tour is also an important face-to-face contact to engage in democratic debate over fair and rational cannabis policy with fellow citizens.

Dakta Green says cannabis law reform is the defining Freedom issue of our age, where the common person growing their own medicine confronts organised and influential big business interests.

“Prohibition didn’t work for Alcohol and it clearly doesn’t work for Cannabis. Our current drug policies are a direct attack on ordinary Kiwi families.

Dakta Green will personally deliver submissions to the Law Commission offices in Wellington on April 30, before celebrating J Day with the Daktory Ethos of “Live like its Legal” in the Capital’s iconic waterfront Frank Kitts Park on May 1.

* If anyone can help support the Armistice with beds for the night, or donations for gas, please contact Dakta Green directly on the Cannabus hotline – text only – 021 213 6646

Anyone who wishes to support the Armistice Tour can deposit donations to the following account.

Name: Armistice Tour Fund 2010

Account Number: 38 9010 0242901 00

ARMISTICE TOUR ITINERARY

Friday 23 April Stratford – Hawera

Saturday 24 April Hawera

Sunday 25 April Patea – Whanganui

Monday 26 April Whanganui – Palmerston North

Tuesday 27 April Palmerston North – Levin

Wednesday 28 April Levin – Otaki – Lower Hutt

Thursday 29 April Lower Hutt

Friday 30 April Wellington

Saturday 1 May J Day, Frank Kitts Park, Wellington

Time 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

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?”

“This is blatant discrimination against a man who chooses to relax with a substance that’s better for his health than alcohol. That cannabis is illegal has no bearing on his ability to play rugby, nor his right to play the game.”

“If sports bodies are concerned about their image, the focus should be on alcohol, not cannabis,” said Mr Saxby. “Half of all serious violent offences and one third of all offences in New Zealand are committed by offenders who have been drinking; while alcohol is associated with almost fifty percent of all reported incidents of sexual violence.”

“How is it that Robin Brooke can be drunk and grope a girl and not get banned? Sports bodies have a double standard – you can be publicly drunk and behave indecently, but receive more lenient treatment than if you simply get caught for smoking a joint at home. Is that really what we want young people to believe?”

“Whare’s punishment at the hands of the Sports Tribunal is far harsher than any court would have handed down. For the next ten years, this man can no longer have anything to do with the game he loves and is very, very good at. He can’t coach, he can’t run the line, or referee or be an official. This sentence is almost medieval in its harshness!” Mr Saxby concluded.

NORML 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.”

“A large number of Kiwis aged 15 and older fear the police to some degree. Many have personal experience of heavy-handedness and intimidation by officers looking for cannabis. Over time, this fear turns into disrespect and resentment,” Mr Saxby said.

“Cannabis is not a violence-inducing drug. Cannabis smokers are not going to attack Police Officers. Alcohol is far more likely to be the cause of a violence, yet it can be bought in supermarkets.”

Mr Saxby pointed out that New Zealand continues to have the highest rate of arrests in the world for cannabis – mostly for simple possession. “While few people arrested for cannabis possession are sentenced to jail, but many of them will spend time in jail during pre-trial procedures.”

“If the Police Minister wants to restore public faith in our Police force then she should immediately call for an armistice on cannabis arrests. The United Nations and the Law Commission agree that police effort should be shifted towards drug suppliers, and away from criminalising users.”

“I believe all law-abiding New Zealanders want to feel safe around a police officer, and this includes cannabis users; the vast majority of whom see themselves as normal people and certainly not criminals,” Mr Saxby concluded.

ENDS

“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