Archive for the ‘Press Releases’ Category

CANNABIS “Joint Research Venture” for Police ‘Extraordinary’, says Dakta Green

May 24th, 2009
Dakta Green

MAY 24, 2009

Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party Mt Albert candidate Dakta Green today called the news that Police have been growing their own crops of cannabis in order to test its potency an “extraordinary conflict of interest”, saying it was the job of the Police to “enforce current laws, not to seek justification to continue prohibition laws. Research is the work of researchers and scientists. Politicians are those responsible for justifying current cannabis laws not the Police. Whilst scientists have been declined the opportunity in New Zealand to research cannabis based medicines, Police have been growing cannabis to further their crime busting duties. It is quite bizarre.”

“The DSIR can easily test the strengths of seized drugs, but I want to know what business is it of Police to know what the THC levels of different strains of cannabis are? How does that information assist them in their job of arresting pot smoking New Zealanders?”, asked Dakta Green. “This is yet another absurd example of taxpayer’s dollars being thrown on the Drug War fire and wasted. ”

New Zealand has the highest arrest rate in the world for cannabis. Over 130,000 New Zealanders carry criminal records for cannabis offenses. Almost 90 percent of these arrests are for cannabis possession alone.

“The only people who should be interested in THC levels are those working with medical marijuana patients”, Dakta Green stated.

Cannabis and cannabis extracts are being legally prescribed in New Zealand, Canada, the UK, the Netherlands, and various states of the US to treat a variety of conditions including MS, glaucoma, AIDS wasting syndrome, and nausea and other side effects caused by chemotherapy.

“Cannabis is such a broad-spectrum medicine that different strains, each with their own unique blend of active compounds and strengths are used to treat specific conditions. This, combined with the fact that it’s an easily grown organic medicine, makes it perfect as both a primary and complimentary health treatment”, Dakta Green said.

“There has been so much research done on cannabis over the past forty years: that it’s a safe and effective medicine is now an established fact. How is can best be employed in the affordable treatment of a myriad of illnesses and conditions is a whole field of research waiting to be explored further … but not by police officers whose time is better spent catching criminals rather than somehow trying to justify going after pot smokers like myself”, concluded Dakta Green.

Dakta Green will appear in Auckland District Court this Tuesday, facing a charge of publicly smoking cannabis.

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Party Welcomes Labour Candidate’s Position On Pot

May 24th, 2009
Dakta Green

Saturday, 23 May 2009, 1:31 pm
Press Release: Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE USE

MAY 22, 2009

Legalise Cannabis Party Welcomes Labour Candidate’s Position On Marijuana

Dakta Green, the Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party (ALCP) candidate in the upcoming Mt Albert by-election, has welcomed David Shearer’s statement at Auckland University on Wednesday that he “wouldn’t want to see someone who was smoking a joint go to jail”, describing the Labour Party candidates view as enlightened and sensible.

Dakta Green currently faces a charge of publicly smoking cannabis and will appear in court next Tuesday.

“Our former Prime Minister, Helen Clark is this country’s most famous cannabis smoker, so it stands to reason that as a Labour man he’s going to agree in principle to a common sense policy on cannabis’, said Mr Green, “but that doesn’t help people like me, about to face the force of the law for doing something as trivial as smoking a joint in public. His party, as Government, had nine years to do something about fixing the law and did squat!”

“They held a Select Committee Inquiry into cannabis in 2001 which recommended law change and then sat on it. The National Government before them held a Select Committee Inquiry into cannabis and mental health in 1997, which also recommended a changing of the legal status of cannabis. Our politicians hear the same advice every time and then ignore it”, stated Dakta Green. “A case like mine is outrageous in this day and age. It’s a complete waste of police time and tax-payer money”.

“It takes common sense to see the folly of our current prohibition approach to marijuana; it takes courage to act on that. Who in this election campaign has such courage? Who will stand beside me and demand change, demand justice, and above all, demand an end to the locking up of good people of Aotearoa/New Zealand simply for being cannabis smokers? We are citizens too.” concluded Mr Green.

ENDS

ALCP Candidate Seeks National Candidate’s Backing

May 24th, 2009
Dakta Green

Saturday, 23 May 2009, 1:13 pm
Press Release: Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party

PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE USE

MAY 22, 2009

ALCP Candidate Seeks National Candidate’s Endorsement In Mt Albert By-Election
The Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party (ALCP) calls on National to endorse Dakta Green in the upcoming Mt Albert by-election after Melissa Lee confessed today on talkback radio that she had no chance of winning the Auckland seat.
“She’s conceded her campaign is over, so any vote for National is a wasted vote”, said ALCP candidate Dakta Green today. “Ms Lee should pull out and endorse the person she prefers amongst the other parties. Given that she’s so keen on keeping criminals out of Mt Albert, I believe I should be that candidate!”
Dakta Green is referring to Melissa Lee’s statement, reiterated by her today on radio, that a new motorway would divert criminals away from Mt Albert.
“Criminals abound in Mt Albert”, stated Dakta Green. “My sources tell me the area is rife with “tinny houses.”
“My position is that Government must re-classify and regulate cannabis. I established the Daktory in West Auckland as a model for cannabis law reform. Community trusts, similar in nature and intent to the liquor licensing trusts, will be established to own and operate Daktories in communities around our country,” stated Dakta Green.
“The Daktory keeps children out with an R18 policy. We know this works: the Dutch have been doing something very much like it for the past 30 years and they have one of the lowest rates of teenage cannabis use in the world.”
“New Zealand on the other hand, has the highest cannabis arrest rate per capita in the world and the highest rate of teenage cannabis use amongst the OECD. It’s high time to address this matter”, said Dakta Green.

ENDS

My response to TVNZ news item 16 May ’09

May 17th, 2009
Dakta Green

The TVNZ story is a little dated. It is some time since I last spoke to the reporter. It is even longer since they were here filming the interview.

I have been arrested 4 times since TVNZ interviewed me. The first arrest was the day after the interview took place at The Daktory.

I was arrested outside the Waitakere Court whilst there in support of a colleague facing possession of cannabis charges. We made the news that night because TVNZ had a camera there to film our protest.

Following the assault on me Friday night 8 May 2009 by a Police officer a formal complaint has been laid. There will be more on this soon.

I have been bailed on my latest charges with only one condition; to live at 80 Delta Avenue, New Lynn.

Coincidentally, this address is also known as “The Daktory.”
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