Norml News Autumn 2010

fo Jo r f in re N e d OR e l ML iv er y!

DRUG LAW REVIEW . HAVE YOUR SAY!

NORML

AUTUMN 2010

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NORML People, Stand up! . THE DAKTORY . Drug RIGHTS . Police state . Dutch COFFEESHOP PIONEER . Nepali hash fields

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Autumn 2010 N O R M L N e W S

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N O R M L N e W S Autumn 2010

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Issue 46: AUTUMN 2010

Note: we are using a new numbering format (was Vol 13.4) ISSN 1172-9074 30,000 COPIES PRINTED MARCH 2010 P U BLISHE D BY N OR ML NZ INC. PO Box 3307, Auckland, NZ. Phone: 09 302-5255 Fax: 09 303-1309 Email: news@norml.org.nz Website: www.norml.org.nz

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ABOUT NORML NEW ZEALAND INC.

The National Organisation for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) was formed in New Zealand in 1979.

NORML is a nonprofit organisation that campaigns to end marijuana prohibition. Our aims are: • To reform New Zealand’s marijuana laws • To provide neutral, unbiased information about cannabis • To engage in political action appropriate to our aims • To inform people of their rights • To give advice and support to victims of prohibition

New Zealand NEWS 6 8 10

Editor & design: Chris Fowlie Contributors: Abe Gray, Harry Cording, Indoor Herb,

Thanks to our contributors, advertisers, distributors, IACM, NORML USA, and drugpolicycentral.org for hosting our website.

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Disclaimer & LEGAL NOTICE: The views expressed in Norml News may or may not be the opinion of Norml News, NORML New Zealand Inc, our advertisers distributors or printers. Norml News is provided with no warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied. The publisher assumes no responsibility for and disclaims all liability for any inaccuracies, errors or omissions. Some content within Norml News is included for “fair use” research, review, education and information purposes. Norml News and the publisher are not responsible for the content of advertising contained within. Publication of an advertisement does not imply our endorsement of any particular product or claims made by any advertiser. Makes sense, really.

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The CannaBus Armistice Tour Do journalists smoke pot too?

Law Commission report - we deserve better! by Phil Saxby

FEATURES

James D, Julian Crawford, Naomi, October15thSolidarity, Phil Saxby, Robert Connell Clarke, Savage, Stephen McIntyre, Wernard Brunning, and assorted anonymous offenders.

Want to contribute? Send us articles, ideas, letters, photos, comments, grow tips etc. Enclose a stamped envelope if you would like it returned.

cover leaf photo: james d. Photos this page: top - rob clarke. right - chris

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Drug Rights by Savage (www.drugrights.org) Towards a sensible drug policy

by Stephen McIntyre Dutch Coffeeshop Pioneer

by Chris Fowlie Police State New Zealand

by October 15th

Home & Garden 36

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Journey to Marma

by Robert Connell Clarke

Making a Hash of it by Indoor Herb Show Your Grow by you, The Reader!

REGULARS World News with Harry Cording Medicinal Cannabis research with Chris Fowlie & the IACM Safer cannabis use - NORML’s harm reduction advice Know your rights and lawyers list Activist Corner How you can help change the law NORML membership/subscription form & shop

Autumn 2010 N O R M L

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Canna-people, rise up!

Govt report shows drug law failure

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With the Law Commission recommending no longer criminalising drug users, a new government report shows almost half of all Kiwi adults admitted they have broken the law.

his is our big chance. The Law Commission has released a longoverdue review of the Misuse of Drugs Act that has recommended substantial reform, including: · ending the criminalisation of drug users · introducing a warning system for the first 3 cannabis offences · allowing medicinal cannabis, and licensing growers to produce it · repealing the presumption of supply, which contravenes the Bill of Rights · legalising pipes and bongs.

These proposed reforms are very welcome and should be supported.

However they don’t go far enough. The terms of reference bound the inquiry to only considering options within the UN prohibitionist framework. Among other things the report neglected to cover: · property seizure and drug testing · the police’s routine use of s18 ‘emergency’ search powers.

Whatever you think, let your views be known. If they are right or wrong, tell them! Take a few minutes - or hours - to write a submission to the Law Commission. Don’t be put off by previous experiences of being shafted by politicians, or by Justice Minister Simon Power’s head in the sand approach. In the end it all comes down to votes, and drug use is normal these days. That’s why good people can no longer remain silent.

Meanwhile, NORML found itself in the news recently, with a TV crew being outed for smoking pot. We are taking this matter very seriously and want to reassure our supporters NORML policy is to never out users unless to expose hypocrisy by a cop or politician. Read more about this on page 8.

And until next time, happy toking!

Chris Fowlie

editor@norml.org.nz

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N O R M L N e W S Autumn 2010

The 2007/08 New Zealand Alcohol and Drug Use Survey measured alcohol and other drug use among 6784 New Zealanders aged 16-64 years, who were called at home.

Almost one in two adults - equivalent to about 1.3 million Kiwis - admitted to breaking the law by usi ng an illegal drug ever used: for recreational 46.4% cannabis 13.5% BZP party pills purposes.

O n e i n s i x 7.3% LSD and other (16.6%) adults synthetic hallucinogens admitted they 7.2% amphetamines h ad u se d a n 6.3% kava illegal drug for 6.2% ecstasy

recreational purposes in the last year, which is about 438,200 people.

The survey shows more than 400,000 Kiwi pot smokers break the law on a regular basis. Fifty thousand say they consume cannabis every day.

The survey revealed the current

Phots both pages by hemlock

Editorial

prohibition policy fails to prevent illegal drug use by young people.

Among people who had ever tried any drug, one in three (34.6%) had first used drugs when aged 15-17 years.

Of those people who had ever used cannabis, one in six (16.2%) had first tr ied it when aged 14 years used in the last year: or younger, and 14.6% cannabis (one-inone in three seven adults) (35.7%) had first 5.6% BZP party pills tr ied it when 2.6% ecstasy they were aged 2.1% amphetamines 15-17 years.

1.3% LSD and other I n c ont ra st, synthetic hallucinogens. ca n nabis law reform overseas has not been associated with any i ncreased use, a nd often been associated with a reduction in use by young people, as well as being a safer alternative to alcohol.

The survey is at tinyurl.com/yzzkuph

Booze worse than LSD and Ecstasy, say drug experts Alcohol is more dangerous than Ecstasy and LSD, and would be a class B drug if put forward for official approval today, say the government’s drug policy advisors.

The Expert Advisory Committee on Drugs decided to test where alcohol would be scheduled if it were classified under the Misuse of Drugs Act, which requires classification of illicit drugs to be based on the risk of harm to individuals or society.

Committee member Doug Sellman said that despite alcohol

being “high risk”, it has become almost as easy to access as bread and milk. Alcohol was closer in danger to heroin and GHB than ecstasy and LSD, and cannabis was much safer.

Sellman said New Zealand lacked a “robust” framework for drug control, as shown by the banning of BZP. He said the ban came after a public outcry, despite any evidence of deaths or addictive properties, while the “free market rolls on for two considerably more dangerous drugs - alcohol and tobacco”. www.NORML.org.nz

Law report breath of fresh air in the murk

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he Law Commission report has been a breath of fresh air in the political murk of drug policy. The Law Commission is by no means a radical organisation so when they recommend serious changes to personal drug use penalties we can be assured its after very serious consideration of the evidence. Which makes Simon Power’s response incredulous. Barely anyone had had time to read the report before National proclaims a willful blindness to both the evidence and the need for a good public policy discussion.

Not only does the report recommend the harm minimisation model, it makes practical suggestions as to how the Misuse of Drugs Act should be reformed. This is the first time in many years when practical alternatives are proposed; practical alternatives that will protect individuals and families, save desperately needed public funds and help keep communities safer.

I am especially pleased with the recommendations that will

D R U G WA R F R O N T L I N ES :

Narks pocket $446,000 Police revealed the amount they paid last year but refused to say how many arrests or convictions resulted from the payouts or which crimes the payouts were for. Informants were paid a total of $1.7 million over the last 5 years.

Property seizure easier Assets valued at $7.4 million have been seized in the first two months of The Criminal Proceeds (Recovery) Act, which was designed to make it easier for Police to seize property.

Right to vote for prisoners A new bill by National MP Paul Quinn plans to strip www.NORML.org.nz

significantly reduce or even eliminate imprisonment for personal use and non-profit supply. Prison time is the key driver of recidivism and the escalation of criminal activity. It’s predicted that the prison population will rise to 10,000 in the next few years. We need to keep our people safe from tyrannical laws that abuse and imprison them with no moral or scientific justification.

As justice campaigners, we must engage with the report and encourage as many submissions as possible.

Make a submission, and get your friends and family to do it too.

This is the best chance we have to be heard. Don’t waste it. Submissions close the 30th of April.

And finally big ups to Dakta Green, for his attempt to put the prohibition of Cannabis on trial. The system has many means of thwarting our efforts for reform, but persistence and commitment like Dakta Green’s is what will see us win in the end. Kia kaha, kia maia, kia u.

Metiria Turei, Green MP

all prisoners of the right to vote. The current law only limits prisoners serving a sentence of more than 3 years. Act plans to vote for the bill, while the Greens oppose it.

Pot campaigner sparks up at police station Wellington Mayoral candidate Al Mansell, who once smoked a joint in Parliament, has been arrested again for lighting up outside Wellington Central Police Station. He did some spots on the steps of the station, using a gas stove and folding table. The incident was posted on youtube. Al says he intends to plead not guilty. “I’ll just drag it through the court and take as long as possible.”

Autumn 2010 N O R M L N e W S

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Armistice tour

CannaBus Armistice Tour launched at Waitangi Dakta Green welcomed “like a celebrity” on Walkabout

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n enthusiastic crowd gathered around the Treaty flagpole to hear Dakta Green and NORML NZ President Phil Saxby launch the “Armistice Tour”. Dakta Green was greeted like a celebrity while official Waitangi celebrations went on behind them.

NORML’s Cannabus will tour New Zealand during the next three months, ending with a rally at parliament.

The tour coincides with the public discussion period on the Law Commission’s issues paper.

Da k ta Green sa id: “A n 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 reg ulated market – replace the uncontrolled cr i m i n a l m a rket w it h a regulated, taxable, cannabis trade.

In unscheduled meetings on the Treaty Grounds, Dakta Green and Phil Saxby met with Prime Minister John Key and Labour leader Phil Goff.

“We told the two main party leaders of our intention to end the drug wars and asked them to help resolve this 35-year conflict,” said Phil Saxby.

T he next day as tou r members walked along the foreshore, Dakta Green was greeted like a celebrity with people giving the Dakta hand signal, and coming over to hug him or shake his hand. As the group moved over the bridge toward the Treaty Grounds a spontaneous cheer of support went up from the crowd who joined in the chants of ‘Free the weed’ a nd ‘No More Discrimination’.

Although a crew from the T V N Z prog ra m me Close Up travelled on the bus to Waitangi, none of this made it on air. In the resulting fallout allegations were made on the NORML website forums that the crew indulged in some herb after filming had stopped (see article, next page).

Daktory busted

By Harry Cording

After more than a year of operation, police finally raided the Daktory in January - just a few days before Dakta Green’s stay of proceedings hearing.

There were several other people at the Daktory but they arrested only Dakta Green. Police seized computers, cellphones, papers including Dakta Green’s diary, cash and cannabis, charging Dakta with cultivation of some medicinal

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N O R M L N e W S Autumn 2010

Bus tour needs your support

Dakta Green plans to take the tour to Parliament, via numerous stops around the country. He will hold public meetings wherever a venue can be found, to have a conversation with local communities.

But it can’t be done without money so anything that NORML News readers can spare will make a difference.

Dakta Green and his colleagues are doing this for everyone - they deserve your support.

It can be done anonymously online. Just make your donation to Armistice Tour 2010 fund 38-9010-0242901-00.

Alternatively, become a member of the Daktory, which costs only $20 per month or $200 for a full year’s membership. The Daktory has members around the country. It is the home of the Cannabus and the support centre for its activites - plus it’s a great place to hang out. www.thedaktory.org.nz

plants there at the time of the raid.

Several days before the raid, local police had taken to stopping people as they drove away from the Daktory. Dakta Green decided to catch them out - he drove away with an associate filming in the back and challenged the police when stopped. The video was posted on the internet, which apparently the police did not appreciate.

Having his computers and documents seized made it more difficult for Dakta Green to present his case for a stay of proceedings - and his diary contained the d ate s of his upcoming cour t appearances Although the timing of the raid was

suspicious with regard to the court case, the actual trigger may have been an article that appeared in Sunday News shortly before the invasion. In the article, reporter Steve Hopkins wrote: “There hadn’t been a single police raid on their Delta St premises until Sunday News asked questions of police this week.”

Those questions put the police in a position where they had to either act or be accused of ignoring the law.

Hopkins apparently didn’t think about the hardship caused by his provocation of the police - after he had enjoyed the Daktory’s hospitality. After all, he got the front page story he wanted.

www.NORML.org.nz

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Autumn 2010 N O R M L N e W S

7

NZ NEWS

Do journalists smoke pot too?

Even if they do, there is no excuse for dobbing someone in, says NORML president

By Chris Fowlie

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ontroversy followed the launch of NORML’s Armistice Bus Tour at Waitangi with claims TVNZ staff smoked cannabis while on the tour.

The original claim was made by a person who was not on the tour, leading to a TVNZ investigation. The story was then broken by the NZ Herald, which had received a copy.

Anonymous posts on NORML forums provided more fuel to the fire.

NORML President Phil Saxby immediately apologised by phone to the TV crew for the “outing” of its members and insisted that NORML policy is never to ‘out’ a cannabis user unless it was to expose political hypocrisy. “We don’t do that. A politician or other person campaigning against drugs might be outed but not journalists just doing their job.”

Phil adds that it is common knowledge that most people in the entertainment industry, including television, use illegal drugs from time to time in their private lives.

“It is very regrettable that some of those who complained about the Close-Up programme took out their anger on the journalists,” says Phil. “It was unethical and misguided, as the programme’s editing was not their responsibility”.,

8

What happened on tour?

TVNZ’s Close-Up show was given exclusive access and three staff travelled on the overnight trip to Waitangi. Documentary maker Arik Reiss also travelled with the bus.

The tour stayed at the Waitangi camping ground next to the lower marae.

The Close-Up crew filmed that evening and after they had finished working they returned later with a colleague. It was at this time that photographs were allegedly taken of the crew.

Three days later the story aired on Close up. The TV crew filmed hours of footage but edited version failed to mention the bus was even at Waitangi. It left out footage of the cheering crowds and did not show the tour leaders meeting with John Key and Phil Goff.

The six minute story was not overtly critical of cannabis use but it did marginalise the issue of cannabis law reform. Titled ‘Reefer Madness’, it failed to show any campaign work, described ‘Dacktar Green’ as ‘obsessive’ and

N O R M L N e W S Autumn 2010

turned a minor incident in Wellsford into an apparent confrontation between pro and anti-reformers.

A source within TVNZ said a senior producer at CloseUp ordered the original story re-cut in order to portray the campaign in a negative light.

Several Armistice Tour members were disappointed with the coverage, and on a NORML online forum the next day someone attacked the story and claimed he had photographs of the journalists smoking pot.

Another forum user joked that Close Up host Mark Sainsbury was a prolific user of illicit drugs.

Newspaper journalists followed up on the online comments and TVNZ’s PR department soon announced an internal inquiry into the matter.

The Fallout NORML believes TVNZ may over-react on the issue of its staff using cannabis outside their working day.

“All workers should be allowed to have private lives, so long as their performance at work is not

affected. Drugs, including alcohol, are just part of society and employers should back off from making moral judgements about their employees’ private lives,” said Phil Saxby.

Dakta Green defended the three journalists and attacked the notion that any employer has the right to control how a worker relaxes after work.

“Any claims of wrongdoing alleged against the TVNZ staff in question are nothing but hearsay”, said Dakta Green.

“I can categorically say they never smoked cannabis with us on the CannaBus.” Having said that, we know this is not a good look for NORML. To be an effective campaign organisation, we need the trust of our supporters and credibility with the media, so we moved quickly to find out where the allegations had come from. An inquiry of our own determined that several people had independently laid complaints, one of whom was a member of the NORML board. That person subsequently resigned and at press time the board was still considering further action.

The person who outed the journalists online is not a NORML member.

www.NORML.org.nz

Photo: Chris

DISCOVER Dakta Green guilty, says Jury

By Harry Cording

An Auckland jury has found Dakta Green guilty of three cannabis charges - two of selling cannabis and one of possession for sale - with a maximum possible penalty of 8 years in prison.

The verdict surprised the judge, the Crown prosecutor and the barrister assisting Dakta Green. It came down to Dakta’s word against the arresting officer, whose evidence was shaky, but the jury chose to believe Constable Owen Arapai’s version of events.

On August 10, 2007, Dakta Green attended the weekly 4.20 protest at Albert Park. Constable Arapai claimed to have seen him selling cannabis - from over 35 metres away. Closer up, the constable was unable to tell the difference between cannabis and Nope (nettle tea, available at the Daktory).

In court last May Arapai, testifying under oath, was unable to say if what he had seen changing hands was cannabis or money - yet at this trial he was sure of it.

The trial followed Dakta Green’s application for a stay of proceedings on all his cannabis charges being declined by Judge Anne Kiernan in January. www.NORML.org.nz

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Judge Kiernan noted that the evidence Dakta Green presented with his application was “powerful ammunition” for persuading Parliament to reform cannabis laws.

Earlier in the trial, Dakta Green had three other charges dismissed because the evidence was obtained through an invalid search warrant.

Dakta Green will be sentenced on April 13 two days after his 60th birthday. He hopes the Crown will not seek a custodial sentence - but is prepared to appeal if necessary. He still faces numerous other cannabis charges, but remains determined cannabis will be “legal this year.”

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9

Law Commission’s issues paper

Law report: 400,000 Kiwis deserve better!

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ORML says the Law Commission’s issues paper contributes to public awareness that our drug laws are heavy-handed, unjust and unworkable. Although the Law Commission’s language was conservative and even tentative, the message was clear: • Medicinal use of cannabis should be legalised, and growers licenced for the purpose; • There should be a “major overhaul” of the rules for new drugs like BZP, with the burden on manufacturers to show they are safe before they can be marketed; • Lower penalties for personal use (of all drugs), with more diversion and cautioning, and more resources for treatment; • Pay a fine, or attend drug education, instead of prosecution and criminal conviction for lower level drugs (such as cannabis); • A new lesser charge of ‘social dealing’, possibly legalising pipes and bongs, and doing away with the presumption of supply amounts, which the Supreme Court has ruled breaches the Bill of Rights.

These recommendations show the Commissioners see the present law as, indeed, heavy handed and unjust. The Minister of Justice, Simon Power, was quick to reject any idea of reducing penalties but many newspaper editorials and commentators across the political spectrum backed the Law Commission.

It is vital that NORML members and supporters tell the Law Commission what they like about its Issues Paper on Controlling and Regulating Drugs.

This is the first time in 35 years that a full, independent review of the Act has been carried out and there are good things that deserve our full endorsement. See box on making a submission or visit www.talklaw.co.nz or www.norml.org.nz for help.

Our target is to get 2000 submissions in to the Law Commission! Drug Awareness Week, 22-26 March, will be focussed not on discussion but

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N O R M L N e W S Autumn 2010

action – encouraging Kiwis of all ages, all political persuasion, to show their support for a new, fairer, approach to drug use.

Prohibition – it still isn’t working

Extremely detailed and wellresearched it may be, but the Law Commission stopped short of any real examination of what could replace prohibition. Back when the present law was written, the government was advised that cannabis prohibition should continue only if was “largely effective”. The Commission’s own survey data proves that 15% of adult Kiwis used cannabis in the last year, amounting to around 400,000 of us who rejected the law and made our own decisions.

That’s why NORML says the law is unworkable. Passing a law may prohibit, but it does not prevent. The present Act is unenforceable. Despite the highest arrest rate in the world, the Police arrest only about 2% of those who break the law – and that is enough to clog up the Courts.

Laws need to have the general consent of the governed. The Misuse of Drugs Act can never succeed when around 50% of adults think the law is unjust. The Law Commission must understand this, even if the Minister of Justice does not.

The Commission avoided the issue by claiming that New Zealand had to fulfil its obligations under international conventions. And to be fair, the Commission did record some of the arguments against prohibition, noting that drug prohibition (not drug use) caused the following harms:

At present, personal use of Class B and Class C drugs can lead to 3 months imprisonment and a $500 fine. Personal use for Class A can lead to 6 months in jail and a $1000 fine. Even the hard-line United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime is calling for law enforcement to switch from drug users to drug traffickers, and pointing out that “people who take drugs need medical help, not criminal retribution”. (Issues paper, page 215) • the development of a criminal black market in a prohibited drug (and the crime that goes with it) • the cost to the State of enforcing drug prohibition • the impact on a drug user of a criminal conviction are harms of drug prohibition, not of drug use.

Only by moving to a regulated (adults only), taxable, cannabis market, such as exists in the Netherlands, can Aotearoa-New Zealand close down the current uncontrolled criminal market in cannabis. A fresh approach is needed to all illegal drugs, not just cannabis.

Where to from here?

Time is short, but the Law Commission needs to hear from you and more than 400,000 other Kiwi cannabis users, plus all those who don’t currently smoke but who want to see an end to our unjust and unworkable drug laws. The war on drugs is, we all know, really a war on the people of New Zealand. Its time for an Armistice, and a new beginning.

Speak up! Stand up! Make your voice heard, by 30 April.

Phil Saxby - President, NORML NZ www.NORML.org.nz

HAVE YOUR SAY

NORML’s example submission

cut out or write your own - due by 30 April!

Submission To: Drugs Review Project Coordinator, Law Commission

Photo: Chris

MORE INFO: · www.talklaw.govt.nz · www.norml.org.nz · www.nzdf.org.nz/moda

How to have your say

• The deadline for submissions is 30 APRIL 2010 • The simplest way to have your say is to visit www. talklaw.co.nz, where you can simply write what you personally think and press “Submit” at the end. (You will need to give a name, email address and phone number.)

• You may prefer not to give your name – talk to the Law Commission about keeping your privacy in this case.

• Send in a written submission to: Drugs Review Project Coordinator Law Commission, PO Box 2590 Wellington 6140 (or email drugsreview@lawcom.govt.nz) • Download the full report (400 pages) or the summary (30 pages) at the talklaw.co.nz site, and answer the questions on pages 28-30 of the summary.

Hard copies of the summary are available from NORML and from the Law Commission.

• Adopt our simple submission form (at right) and add in your own comments as desired. This form is available on our website (www.norml.org.nz) where you can download it and add some personal experiences to support your ideas.

• When you are done, encourage others by showing them your submission. Send it to your MP and a copy to us!

Drug Awareness Week 22-26 March Get ready for Drug Awareness week, happening everywhere on Facebook, and with local events, 22-26 March. There will be a supporting campaign to generate submissions from those attending this “virtual event”. Contact NORML to get involved or to help organise an event in your town. www.NORML.org.nz

My name(s) is/are: Contact phone: I /we live in: My submission is on the Summary report (questions as shown): • I support the Law Commission view that the legislation should be better aligned with the policy platform of harm minimisation. Especially, the personal use of drugs should be regarded as a health issue, not requiring criminal penalties (Q6).

• All penalties for personal use should be reduced, if not eliminated (Q7,8,9) and State/Police involvement limited to facilitating treatment and/or drug education for those experiencing problems related to addiction or dependence.

• Drug policy should be designed to solve New Zealand problems, such as our world’s-highest teenage cannabis use rate, not simply to comply rigidly with obselete and failing international drug control conventions (Q1,2).

Controlled drugs, including alcohol and tobacco, should be classified on two evidence-based scales: toxicity and addictiveness. Access to high-risk drugs should be tightly controlled (e.g. treatment clinic or doctor’s prescription) and access to low-risk drugs such as cannabis should be controlled via a regulated, adultsonly, taxable, cannabis market such as exists in the Netherlands. Separating the markets for low-risk drugs from those for high-risk drugs should be adopted as State policy.

• If penalties for dealing are to continue, there should be a presumption against imprisonment when “social supply” is indicated (such as; small quantities, supply to friends and acquaintances, not motivated by profit) (Q4) •next Thepage> law should authorise the medicinal use of cannabis by people suffering from chronic or debilitating illness (Q15) under medical supervision, with a system of licensed growers.

• Health problems, including addiction, caused by tobacco, alcohol and other drugs should be treated consistently and funded adequately (Q19), with compulsory treatment reserved for exceptional cases.

• Infringement notice systems are often defective, being easily turned into revenue-gathering devices and/or used to harass people (Q6). Current practices punish disproportionately the young, the poor and Maori; this injustice may be exacerbated under an infringement notice system. Cautioning systems would be preferred, if any penalties for personal use were to remain in the legislation.

• Thank you for the opportunity to make this submission.

Date & signed: Autumn 2010 N O R M L N e W S

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Law Commission’s issues paper

Quotes from the Law Com paper:

“[T]he current prohibition regime is not effective in limiting cannabis use... facilitates the black market, and potentially exposes cannabis users to harder drugs.” - New Zealand Parliamentary Health Select Committee, 2003. For more report extracts see tinyurl.com/drugreports

NORML’s priorities for

drug law reform Stop arresting cannabis users: the Government should immediately declare a moratorium on arresting those who choose to use cannabis. Allow medicinal use - let doctors decide, not police and politicians.

Decriminalisation: remove all penalties for the use, possession and growing of cannabis by adults and the non-profit transfer of small amounts. The draconian search provisions of the Misuse of Drugs Act should be removed and criminal records for cannabis offences wiped.

Regulation: a commercial market for marijuana will always exist. It is better to regulate that market than leave it to organised crime. We

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support the introduction of Dutchstyle cannabis cafes. Overseas experience shows cannabis law changes have not been associated with increased use.

Reasonable restrictions: as with alcohol consumption, cannabis use should be limited to adults.

Driving or operating heavy machinery while impaired should remain prohibited.

Harm minimisation: policies should discourage irresponsible use, including use by adolescents.

Prevention is most effective where cannabis is viewed from a public health perspective, instead of a criminal justice perspective.

N O R M L N e W S Autumn 2010

“There is a significant debate i nternationa l ly about the effectiveness of prohibition.

Some argue that prohibition has not deterred drug use and itself causes very substantial harm.” Summary report, page 10 “The Act seems poorly aligned with the policy platform of harm minimisation.” - Summary report, page 8 “There is a tendency to conflate the harm arising from drug use with the harm arising from drug prohibition.

The development of a criminal black market in a prohibited drug (and the crime that goes with it), the cost to the State of enforcing drug prohibition, and the impact on a drug user of a criminal conviction are harms of drug prohibition, not of drug use.” - Summary report, page 5 “… we see no reason why cannabis should not be able to be used for medicinal purposes in limited circumstances.” -

Summary report, page 21 “While the harms and costs associated with alcohol are typically understated and misunderstood, those associated with illegal drugs are often generalised and overblown.” - Summary report, page 5 “The costs and benefits of prohibition need to be taken into account when deciding whether or not to prohibit a drug.” - Summary report, pages 13-14 “We are aware of concern that options like these may increase drug use. However, most studies in this area have concluded that changes in use levels are independent of the regulatory approach in place – that is, the regulatory approach itself neither increases or decreases drug use.… in any event, the primary objective of these options is to reduce drug-related harm, rather than to reduce drug use per se.” Summary report, page 17

REACTION to the Law Com paper: “No one is probably arguing necessarily that if someone uses a small amount of marijuana that that is necessarily of itself the end of the world. But ... what’s the message we want to send youngsters? And the message is, don’t engage with drugs.” Prime Minister John Key. “There is not a single solitary chance that as long as I’m the Minister of Justice that we’ll be relaxing drug laws in New Zealand,” - Simon Power.

“These are ideas that merit study and debate. But Justice Minister Simon Power isn’t prepared to even wait for the submission period to end before declaring his closed mind... Mr Power and Mr Key should take the blinkers off for long enough to at least have their thinking challenged.” Nelson Mail, 15 February 2010

“The commission’s recommendations may seem radical to a Government in the midst of a war on drugs.

They should not, however, be overstated. Many European nations have developed forms of de facto decriminalisation, whereby drugs deemed to be less problematic, such as cannabis, rarely lead to criminal prosecution.” - New Zealand Herald, 13 Feb 2010 “… it is also clear that the current drug laws are failing.

No more evidence of that is needed than the survey suggesting 15 per cent of New Zealanders broke the law and used cannabis in the last year – higher than the numbers for the United States, Australia or any European country...

What New Zealand now has is clearly not working.” - The Dominion Post, 15 Feb 2010 www.NORML.org.nz

HAVE YOUR SAY

Do something!

The Law Commission review has not lived up to its promise, despite some good recommendations. Approval of medicinal cannabis is very welcome, and would bring us into line with many other countries and 14 of the United States of America. But the really big problem is prohibition, and the Law Commission has not done what it said it would do – start from first principles. It says we should keep using the same old, unjust, controls that don’t work. A regulated, taxable cannabis market is needed to replace the evils of the uncontrolled, criminal market in cannabis and other drugs. So, what can we do about it?

Photo: James d

DO: · Do write letters (email is fine) to editors. Focus on justice, fairness and cost-effectiveness rather than health issues. Look for new angles and give personal experiences. Ask us for help if you need it! · Do ask your local MP to support the good parts of the Law Commission report, such as medicinal cannabis and reducing penalties. A letter is better

www.NORML.org.nz

than email, and a visit is better still! Talk to the Mayor, Councillors, your doctor. · Do let us know what you are doing (copy of letter, name of MP, etc) · Do start getting your friends and any groups you belong to interested in the issues paper at www.talklaw.co.nz, and thinking about writing a submission. Our goal is 2000 submissions on the issues paper!

· Do help the Armistice Tour of the Cannabus, like a meeting in your area (contact us for help with this). Take part in (or help organise) Drug Awareness Week, 22-26 March. · Do take the issue to political parties, social justice groups, eco-groups, youth and student groups, health groups, school/ parent groups, unions,

Maori groups, women’s groups and so on.

Everyone we can think of!

DON’T: · Don’t abuse either the Law Commission or MPs. Always be polite and reasonable – even when our opposition isn’t! · Don’t give up – there are over 400,000 of us and we can win this one!

Autumn 2010 N O R M L N e W S

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WORLD wide weed WITH HARRY

CORDING

California on the way to repealing prohibition

Tasman haze kIWISEEDS

Photo: Chris

C

LA restricts cannabis dispensaries After more than 600 medical cannabis dispensaries opened in the past year, Los Angeles City Council has approved an ordinance that will close most of them.

The new regulation caps the number of permitted dispensaries at 70 and provides strict rules for where they can operate. Dispensaries will need to be at least 300 metres from churches, libraries, schools, playgrounds and other “sensitive” areas. However, the regulations will allow for additional facilities to maintain operations if they opened prior to the passage of city’s 2007 moratorium prohibiting new dispensaries, and if they comply with the newly enacted guidelines.

Advocates of medical marijuana criticised the new restrictions but welcomed the ordinance as a sign that dispensaries were here to stay.

“The ordinance marks an important advance for the legalization of medical marijuana in the nation’s second largest city,” said Dale Gieringer, California co-ordinator for NORML. “It is an example of how the popular demand for medical marijuana can be legally accommodated by local governments.”

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N O R M L N e W S Autumn 2010

Geiringer and others criticised some of the ordinance’s provisions, mainly the restriction on where the outlets can be located, which some say will force patients to travel long distances to get their medicine.

The restrictions are “onerous and will likely force the closure of almost all the dispensaries in Los Angeles,” said Kris Hermes, spokesman for Americans for Safe Access. The group is considering legal action over the restrictions.

“Unfortunately, the city dragged its heels too long in bringing up this ordinance, then rushed to pass it without adequate study,” added Gieringer.

The ordinance also limits operating hours to between 10 am and 8 pm, imposes security measures and requires dispensaries to operate as nonprofit collectives.

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa must approve the ordinance before it can take effect.

alifornia voters will have a historic opportunity in November, with an initiative on the ballot to fully legalise cannabis for adult use. Enough signatures have been collected - over 680,000 - to ensure that the proposal will be put to the state’s voters in a binding referendum.

The initiative would make possession of an ounce or less of cannabis legal for anyone age 21 and over. It would also legalise growing limited amounts on a person’s own property for personal use. The state’s tax board has estimated that a tax of $50 an ounce would raise over US$1 billion annually.

A Field poll last year found 56 percent of Californians support the idea.

If the measure is passed, California would become the first US state to re-legalise cannabis for recreational use. Ironically, California was one of the first American states to criminalise cannabis, in 1913.

First vote to repeal prohibition in 100 years Mea nwh i le, the Ca l i forn ia A ssembly’s Committee on Public Safety voted 4 to 3 in favour of the Marijuana Control, Regulation, and Education Act, which would regulate production and distribution of cannabis and tax it in a manner similar to alcohol. The bill’s sponsor, Assemblyman Tom Ammiano of San Francisco, has argued that changing public attitudes and the need to plug California’s enormous budget deficit are valid reasons for changing the law.

California’s budget deficits this year are around US$60 billion.

Court ruling shoots down plant restrictions A unanimous verdict from the California Supreme Court on 21 January stuck down lim its on medica l ca n nabis imposed by state lawmakers, finding that people with recommendations for cannabis can have and grow all they need for personal use.

The state’s highest court ruled lawmakers improperly limited the voter-approved law that legalised cannabis for patients with a doctor’s prescription. Senate Bill 420 had limited patients to eight ounces (227 grams) of dried cannabis and six mature or 12 immature plants, but the Californian law of 1996 set no limits on how much cannabis patients could possess or grow, saying only that it be for personal use. www.NORML.org.nz

WORLD wide weed

Kiwis busted in India face 10 years in prison

A

nyone thinking of chuffing up at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi later this year should think again. Two New Zealanders have been threatened with 10 years in prison in India after being caught with cannabis in Bhuntar, an area renowned for growing the herb.

The man and woman were reported to have been caught with about 100 grams between them.

In the NZPA report which appeared in this country it was stated that “India has very strict drug laws. Anyone charged with illegal possession risks a mandatory 10 year jail sentence. And under Indian law, you are considered guilty until proven innocent.”

However, cannabis is grown extensively throughout India and has been part of the culture there for thousands of years. The cannabis plant is native to south Asia and the word Indica takes its name from India. For Hindus cannabis is a sacrament to worship and honour Shiva, and their holy men, called Sadhus, smoke openly without fear of arrest.

Travellers to India often report smelling the herb being smoked openly, and many cafes sell “special lassi” - a drink made with bhang (a cannabis paste) and milk. There are also government bhang shops which sell bhang drinks and edibles.

India only outlawed cannabis in 1983 under pressure from the USA. The mandatory 10 year sentence quoted

www.NORML.org.nz

LAND OF CONTRADICTION: In India Sadhus or holy men openly consume cannabis which is considered a sacrament of Shiva. In some states, cannabis is sold in government-licensed “bhang” shops. Charas or hashish is illegal.

by NZPA was scrapped in 2001 and possession of cannabis is now liable to up to 6 months in jail, or a fine, or both for up to 100 grams. Possession of more than 100 grams still carries the risk of up to 10 years.

Indian police often find pot-smoking foreigners to be easy targets. There have been reports of locals selling herb to tourists and then tipping off the police. While it is possible for tourists to bribe their way out of an arrest, it can not be counted on as not all Indian cops will accept a bribe - especially if it is not large enough! Discretion is called for as not all locals appreciate tourists smoking openly.

The Kiwi couple may have been trying to deal - or offended some locals - or failed to offer an adequate bribe - or just met the wrong cop. Whatever the case, we can only hope they are safe and wish them a speedy return to New Zealand.

Autumn 2010 N O R M L N e W S

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WORLD wide weed WITH HARRY

Coffee shops in Copenhagen The Copenhagen City Council plans to set up shops selling cannabis as a way to remove the market from the control of criminal gangs. However, it is not likely that the plan will get support in parliament, where the issue has to be decided.

Source: Copenhagen Post 15 January 2010

Czech decriminalises Czechs can now grow up to five marijuana plants or have a few joints in their pockets without fear of criminal prosecution.

Their penal code allows small amounts but previously what constituted this was not specified which often resulting in incarceration of home growers. Cannabis remains illegal, although possession of up to five plants is merely a misdemeanour, and fines for possession will be like a parking ticket.

Source: tinyurl.com/ybxjeab

Israel to allow medicinal cannabis The Israeli parliament has told the Health Ministry to regulate the use of cannabis for medicinal purposes, since it is already being given out in hospitals.

Patients suffering severe pain and other serious conditions can apply for a license to obtain a free supply of cannabis to relieve their pain. It is now intended to license the production, quality and marketing of the product and also prevent the drug from reaching the illegal market.

Currently, a company called Tikun Olam company supplies free marijuana to 700 patients suffering from serious pain.

However, company head Perry Klein said expanding production significantly would be a burden on the enterprise.

The Sheba Medical Centre in Tel Hashomer has become the first hospital in Israel to administer cannabis to patients for medical purposes. As part of a pilot project 20 patients have been treated with the herb. The hospital has developed a formal protocol which states that if a patient needs cannabis, the doctor in charge of treating him will help him secure the necessary permit from the ministry.

Patients are permitted to smoke inside only if they have their own room with a window.

Sources: Jerusalem Post 25 November 2009, Haaretz 25 November 2009

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N O R M L N e W S Autumn 2010

CORDING

NORML launches Women’s Alliance T

he National Organisation for the Reform of Marijuana Laws is pleased to announce the launch of the NORML Women’s Alliance.

A nonpartisan coalition of prominent, educated, successful, and geographically diverse pr ofe ss ion a l w ome n , t he NORM L Women’s Alliance believes cannabis prohibition is a self-destructive and hypocritical policy that undermines the family, sends a mixed and false message to young people, and destroys the cherished principles of personal liberty and local self-government.

Wo m e n w e r e instrumental in the repeal of a lcohol prohibition - with slogans such as “Save ou r ch ild ren: repeal prohibition!” - and NORML believes women will also be crucial in the campaign to end the war on drugs.

“The NORML Women’s Alliance seeks to replace a f a i l e d , t a x c o f fe r draining and child e nd a n ge r i n g 73 -ye a r old cannabis prohibition w it h f u nct ion a l , ta xproducing a nd youthfriendly cannabis policies consisting of legal and social controls that are Beverly Hills NORML’s Cheryl Shuman with ‘Bud’

The NORML Women’s Alliance: 1. Believes that the fiscal priorities of marijuana prohibition are wasting billions of dollars on a failed policy.

2. Believes that marijuana prohibition violates states’ rights, and improperly expands the reach of government into the families and personal lives of otherwise law-abiding citizens.

3. Advocates for an open, honest

conversation about marijuana with America’s youth that is void of all propaganda and misleading information.

4. Endorses the sciencebased evidence regarding the therapeutic applications of medical marijuana as well as the continuation of research into the subject.

5. Opposes the sexual exploitation and objectification of women in pot-culture and business marketing.

not at all dissimilar to our existing and everevolving alcohol policies,” says Sabrina Fendrick, coordinator of the NORML Women’s Alliance.

Marijuana prohibition makes the difficult job of parenting even more difficult by not actually controlling marijuana use, cultivation or distribution - notably by youth, she says.

“A marijuana policy that fosters children selling marijuana en mass must i m med iately cha nge and be replaced by one that effectively stops children from trafficking in marijuana.”

Charter members of the NORML Women’s Alliance include: film producer A n n D r u y a n , b e stselling author Barbara

E h r e n r e i c h , B e v e rl y Hills NORML director Cheryl Shuman, cannabis activist and author Mikki Norris, Cannabis Action Network and Berkeley Patients Group founder Debby Goldsberry, former prison guard Madeline Martinez, law professor Marjorie Russell, and former ACLU president Nadine Strossen. The founding group of women also includes medical physicians, researchers, business leaders, editors, publ i shers, mot he rs, grandmothers, and great grandmothers.

More information about the NORML Women’s Alliance is available here: http://norml.org/index. cfm?Group_ID=8059

www.NORML.org.nz

WORLD wide weed

Global recession? Drug money to the rescue!

Profits from illegal drugs kept the financial system afloat through the global crisis, according to Antonio Maria Costa, head of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime.

Costa claims to have seen evidence that this was “the only liquid investment capital” available to some banks, and a majority of the US$352 billion of illegal drug profits was channeled into the banking system. In the second half of 2008, liquidity was the banking system’s main problem and hence liquid capital became an important factor.”

He declined to identify countries or banks that may have received drug money, but said the money has now been effectively laundered.

The International Monetary Fund estimated that large US and European banks lost more than US$1 trillion on toxic assets and bad loans from January 2007 to September 2009.

A British Bankers’ Association spokesman said “We have not been party to any regulatory dialogue that would support a theory of this kind. There was clearly a lack of liquidity in the system and to a large degree this was filled by the intervention of central banks.”

Costa is uncompromisingly opposed to cannabis, harm minimisation and any relaxation of prohibition. In 1998 his office proclaimed the goal of a “drug free world” by 2008.

Smoking some weed doesn’t impair thinking, says study

The moderate use of cannabis and other psychoactive substances is not associated with impaired cognitive functioning.

According to clinical trial data published in the journal H uman P sychopharmacology, researchers in Munich, Germany, investigated the association between moderate substance use and cognition. Subjects completed a comprehensive battery of neuropsychological tests, including assessments of executive functions, working memory and impulsivity.

Executive function is defined as “the cognitive process that regulates an individual’s ability to organize thoughts and activities, prioritise tasks, manage time efficiently, and make decisions.”

Researchers determined that “based on mild to moderate substance use, little indication of differences in executive functioning was found.” However “more frequent cannabis use and more extensive alcohol consumption were associated with a higher degree of impulsiveness.”

Source: tinyurl.com/yh7qv9e. More information on cannabis use and cognition is available from NORML online at: http:// norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=6812.

For the latest international cannabis news, download

NORML’s Daily Audio Stash Potcast

stash.norml.org www.NORML.org.nz

Autumn 2010 N O R M L N e W S

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MEDiCiNAL CANNABiS

Cannabis News You Won’t See in the Mainstream Media

MK Ultra

Stockbroker’s legal stash

by TH Seeds

Florida stockbroker Irvin Rosenfeld has received a tin of 300 cannabis cigarettes from the US government every month since 1982. Suffering a rare bone disease, Irvin recently celebrated his 115,000th legal joint. Only three other remaining survivors of this program receive cannabis from the US federal government.

Source: South Florida Sun-Sentinel, 20 November 2009

Sativex cancer trial The British company GW Pharmaceuticals has announced it has completed recruitment of patients into its cancer pain trial using Sativex. The study is being carried out in collaboration with Otsuka Pharmaceutical, as part of the US development programme for Sativex, and is due to report results soon. 360 patients with advanced cancer and chronic pain have been included in the study across 14 countries in North America, Europe, Latin America and South Africa.

Source: GW Pharmaceuticals 25 November 2009

Colon cancer reduced Experiments at the University of Salerno in Italy found the CB1 receptor antagonist rimonabant acted synergistically with the chemotherapy agent oxaliplatin to reduce the growth of a colon cancer cell line.

Source: Gazzerro P, et al. Oncol Rep 2010;23(1):171-5.

Essential oils of cannabis Research by Italian scientists found the essential oils from three hemp varieties significantly inhibited the growth of microbes. They noted that “essential oils of industrial hemp, especially those of Futura, may have interesting applications.”

Source: Nissen L, et al. Fitoterapia, 2009 Dec 4.

Tasting goooood!

Crave something super-sweet every time you get high? New research from Kyushu University, Japan, shows the endocannabinoids anandamide and 2-AG, which act on the same receptors as THC, enhanced perception of a sweet taste, without affecting other tastes (salty, bitter, etc). Scientists said this effect is thought to be relevant for intake of food.

Source: Yoshida R, et al. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2010;107(2):935-9.)

Patient’s Support Group www.greencross.org.nz

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N O R M L N e W S Summer Autumn 2010 2010

Study confirms cannabinoids’ potent anti-cancer properties The main active ingredient in marijuana, THC, is known to have an inhibitory effect on human brain cancer cell proliferation and survival. Now research from the California Pacific Medical Center Research Institute in San Francisco shows the plant cannabinoid cannabidiol (CBD) increases these effects.

The two natural cannabinoids were tested on two glioblastoma cell l i n e s. T H C a nd C B D acted synergistically to inhibit cell proliferation.

The treatment of glioblastoma cells with both compounds led to significant modulations of the cell cycle, induction of f r e e rad ic a l s a nd apoptosis (programmed cell death).

The researchers said there were specific changes that were not obser ved w ith either

compound individually, indicating that the signal pathways affected by the combination treatment were unique. They concluded the results “suggest that the addition of cannabidiol to delta9-THC may improve the overa l l ef fe ct iveness of delta-9-THC in the treatment of glioblastoma in cancer patients.”

Reduced Cancer Risk Another recent study shows the moderate long-

term use of cannabis is actually associated with a reduced risk of head and neck cancer. Results of a population-based control study were published in the journal Cancer P revention Resea rch.

Authors reported, “A f t e r a d j u s t i n g f o r potential confounders (including smoking and alcohol drinking), 10 to 20 years of marijuana use was associated w ith a sig n i fica ntly reduced risk of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.”

Sources: Marcu et al, Mol Cancer Ther 2010;9(1):180-9; norml. org/index.cfm?Group_ ID=7944

www.NORML.org.nz

MEDiCiNAL CANNABiS Detection of THC

New THC drug

Universit y of Trondheim, Norway, researchers reported the case of THC metabolites being detected in a pregnant woman, who had been a heavy regular cannabis user, 84 days after her last use. She was suspected to be still using despite denying any further use. Eventually, the THCCOOH excretion profile was found to support her story, which shows how useless urine tests are at detecting recent use.

The herbal company Bionorica has filed an application in Germany for a new THCcontaining medicinal drug.

The Federal Ministry of Health said the target indications are weight loss, nausea and vomiting in AIDS, cancer and chemotherapy patients.

Source: Westin AA, et al. J Anal Toxicol 2009;33(9):610-4.

Photo: Chris

Research discouraged A recent article in the New York Time s s aid the U S federal government actively discourages research into medicinal or beneficial uses of cannabis. The University of Mississippi has the only federally approved cannabis plantation. If researchers wish to investigate cannabis, t h ey m u s t a p p l y t o t h e National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) to use the Mississippi cannabis, and must get approvals from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DE A) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

But federal officials have repeatedly failed to act on cannabis research requests in a timely manner or have denied them, according to a ruling by an administrative law judge at the DEA. Source: tinyurl.com/y8sb7nw

New Jersey gets it Governor Jon Corzine has signed legislation allowing the medical use of cannabis.

New Jersey is now the 14th US state to allow patients with diseases such as cancer, AIDS, glaucoma and multiple sclerosis to use cannabis to alleviate their pain and other symptoms.

Source: Associated Press 19 January 2010 www.NORML.org.nz

Source: Report of the Federal Health Ministry of 25 January 2010

Schizophrenia not likely A nti - dr ug ze a lot s of te m claim pot will drive you mad.

However according to new re s e a rc h fro m A u s t r a li a there was little difference in cognitive per formance b e t we e n c a nn a bi s u se r s and non-users amongst both healthy individuals and patients with schizophrenia.

Researchers said the result suggests “that cannabis use has only subtle effects on the neurocognitive performance indices assessed.”

Legal Highs · Ethnobotanicals Smokers Supplies · Vaporizers · Books

· Shop-Online 24/7: www.mindfuel.co.nz · Mail-Order: P O Box 3260, New Plymouth 4341 · Retail-Store: 91A Devon St West, New Plymouth

Source: Scholes KE, et al. Psychol Med 2009 Dec 17.

No increased suicide risk A long term study of over 50 thousand military conscripts found no incresed risk of suicide among those who used cannabis. The longitudinal study tracked 50,087 men con scripte d for Swe dish military service and found 600 suicides over 33 years.

Cannabis use was initially associated with a 60% increased risk of suicide, but the association was eliminated after adjustment for factors that influence suicide risk such as psychological problems.

Researchers concluded that “cannabis use is unlikely to have a strong effect on risk of completed suicide.”

Source: Price C, et al. Br J Psychiatry 2009;195(6):492-7.

the latest research is at www.cannabis-med.org Autumn 2010 N O R M L N e W S

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MEDiCiNAL CANNABiS Pot helps opioid dependence

Pot use is harm reduction, new study says

Research at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York suggests that the natural cannabinoid CBD “may be a potential treatment for heroin craving and relapse.” CBD occurs in higher concentrations in indica strains, and in hemp.

new study shows cannabis users put harm reduction into action by using it instead of more dangerous illicit drugs, alcohol, or prescription medications.

A

Source: Ren Y, et al. J Neurosci 2009;29(47):14764-9.

Fi b ro my a l g i a i s c h a r a c t e r i ze d by widespread chronic pain and insomnia.

The effects on sleep of low doses of the THC-derivative nabilone and the antidepressant amitriptyline were investigated in 31 patients with fibromyalgia and chronic insomnia, at the Pain Clinic of McGill University, Montreal, Canada.

Sleep was improved by both amitriptyline and nabilone, but nabilone was superior.

Researchers concluded that “nabilone is effective in improving sleep in patients with FM and is well tolerated. Low-dose nabilone given once daily at bedtime may be considered as an alternative to amitriptyline.”

Source: Ware MA, Fitzcharles MA, Joseph L, Shir Y. Anesth Analg.

Happy dream time Research at the University of Mexico found acute and subchronic administration of the endocannabinoids anandamide or oleamide increases a sleep phase called REM sleep in rats. REM stands for Rapid Eye Movement, and is the period of sleep when most vividly recalled dreams occur.

Source: Herrera-Solís A, et al. Pharm Biochem Behav, 2010 Jan 6.

Immune system The natural cannabinoid Cannabidiol (CBD) influences the immune system in rats, according to research from Poland.

Repeated treatment reduced the number of T cells and B cells, while enhancing an anti-viral and anti-tumour immune response related to natural killer cells (NK cells) and natural killer T cells (NKT cells).

Source: Ignatowska-Jankowska B, et al. J Physiol Pharmacol 2009;60 Suppl 3:99-103.

the latest research is at www.cannabis-med.org

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N O R M L N e W S Spring Autumn2009 2010

Photo: Chris

Improved sleep

MK Ultra According to survey data recently published in the Harm R eduction Journal, Amanda Reiman of the University of California surveyed 350 members of the Berkeley Patients Group, a licensed medical marijuana dispensary.

T h e s t u d y fo u n d 6 6 percent of respondents used cannabis as a replacement for prescription drugs, and 57 percent said marijuana provided bet ter relief for their symptoms than conventional medications.

Forty percent of respondents said they used marijuana as a substitute for alcohol. Twenty-six percent said that they used marijuana to replace their former use of more risky illegal drugs.

Of those who reported u s i n g p o t i n p l a c e of alcohol, 65 percent said that they did so because it has less adverse side effects than alcohol.

The study concludes: “The substitution of one psychoactive substance fo r a n o t h e r w i t h t h e goal of reducing negative outcomes can be included within the framework of harm reduction. Medical cannabis patients have been

engaging in substitution by using cannabis as an alternative to alcohol, prescription, and illicit drugs.”

Cannabis is a safer alternative to other drugs.

According to a 1999 US Institute of Medicine report, the rate at which people who try a substance and go on to become hooked is 32 percent for nicotine, 23 percent for heroin, 17 percent for cocaine, 15 percent for alcohol, and 9 percent for cannabis.

Giving up the weed can

lead to an increase in more harmful behaviour. Recent survey data published in the journal Drug and Alcohol Dependence repor ted that stopping marijuana use is associated with an increase in alcohol use among both infrequent and heavy drinkers.

Commenting on the most recent survey results, US NORML Deputy Director Paul Armentano, co-author of the book M arijuana I s S a fe r : S o W h y A r e W e D riving People to D rink , said: “Rather than being a so-called gateway drug, marijuana is a terminus th a t e n a b l e s u s e r s to reduce or eliminate their use of more harmful substances, including other illicit drugs, certain prescription medications, and especially alcohol. It makes little sense for our laws to criminalise the use and possession of the less harmful substance.”

Sources: tinyurl.com/ yg96j3j; tinyurl.com/ ygacpw9; http://norml. org/index.cfm?Group_ ID=7980; http://www. marijuanaissafer.com/

Gateway theory discredited

The so-called ‘gateway theory’ - which says the use of pot leads to the use of harder drugs - is one of the major stated reasons for continuing with cannabis prohibition, but it was not supported by recent study from the World Health Organisation.

A large international working group analysed data from surveys carried out in 17 countries.

The data did not support the gateway theory according to which the use of certain drugs (cannabis, tobacco, etc) leads to the use of harder drugs. Researchers said this “implies that successful efforts to prevent use of specific ‘gateway’ drugs [such as cannabis] may not in themselves lead to major reductions in the use of later drugs.”

Source: Degenhardt L, et al. Drug Alcohol Depend, 2010 Jan 7. www.NORML.org.nz

www.NORML.org.nz

Autumn 2010 N O R M L N e W S

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Our people

Drug A Rights

re you proud to be a cannabis smoker? The Drug Rights Project is a group working to overcome drug discrimination. At the core of its message is the idea that everyone has a drug preference and so has a right to use a drug or drugs of choice.

By Savage Director The Drug Rights Project: www.drugrights.org

The Drug Rights Project is campaigning for New Zealand to be the first country to suspend its participation in the United Nations ‘War on Drugs’. The UN needs to end its coordination of drug oppression and adopt a drug control policy consistent with its commitment to human rights.

The United Nations is responsible for coordinating a worldwide system of drug prohibition and criminalisation.

The Misuse of Drugs Act 1975 is part of these larger United Nations conventions and agreements.

The Law Commission’s issues paper on the Misuse of Drugs Act makes it clear that parties to these conventions

are “bound under international law to the obligations the conventions impose. The only alternative is for a state to denounce one or more of the conventions, an action no state has ever taken” An International Declaration of Drug Rights - drafted to replace the United Nations various conventions on illegal narcotics - has been published on the drugrights.org website.

As part of our campaign we are working to establish a network of drug reform movements, so reform movements here in New Zealand can connect with campaigns happening in over 40 countries around the world.

Since starting work on the project I have been inspired by the work that NORML has been doing. I sense a

growing feeling of pride in being part of the drug reform movement.

With each global success the cannabis reform movement here has been spurred on to achieve more. The constant campaigning means cannabis reform is now constantly in the news media.

Cannabis culture and community is expanding and is finding its voice.

The rest of the country is finally beginning to understand that hemp and cannabis are an integral part of New Zealand’s economy and cultural identity.

MPs and political parties are declaring their positions either for or against discrimination. The Law Commission is continuing the process of debate and while the National Party have been quick to denounce what their ideas there is no

NORML’s Principles of Responsible Marijuana Use Adults Only. Cannabis consumption is for adults only. It is irresponsible to provide cannabis to children.

Set and Setting. The responsible cannabis user will carefully consider his/her mind-set and physical setting, and regulate use accordingly.

Resist Abuse.

Use of cannabis, to the extent that it impairs health, personal development or achievement, is abuse, to be resisted by responsible cannabis users

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Safe Driving. The responsible cannabis consumer does not operate a motor vehicle or other heavy machinery while impaired by cannabis, nor (like other responsible citizens) impaired by any other substance or condition, including prescription medicines or fatigue.

Respect the Rights of Others. Responsible cannabis

users do not violate the rights of others, observe accepted standards of courtesy, and respect the preferences of those who wish to avoid cannabis.

www.NORML.org.nz

DRUG RIGHTS

Savage: I have two postgraduate degrees, I am a screenwriter and a political campaigner. I also own a house painting company.

I’m 37 and I’ve been smoking off and on for twenty years. I am a vegetarian and my health and fitness is important to me. I have never hidden it from my friends or family. Its my drug of choice and I will never stop campaigning for it to be legalised.

Cat: Since becoming a Mum I have become more of a casual smoker, my own rule being “After the kids go to bed”. Smoking cannabis helps me unwind after a day of being a mother to two kids under four. I also enjoy using this time to be creative. I don’t drink or do other recreational drugs. I just enjoy Cannabis and I think it is wrong I’m considered a criminal. denying what the Commission did say – The Drug laws need to change.

With all of this happening around me as a smoker and as a drug rights campaigner I had to ask myself - Am I proud to be a cannabis user?

It is a question I think is seldom asked.

Are you proud to be a cannabis user? If, for you, the answer is no then you have to ask why? What is stopping you being proud of who you are?

If it’s because you are underage, or smoke too much then it is understandable that you might say no. If you do have a problem with cannabis then all you need to do is reach out to a friend or a family member and ask for help. Call a quit line and get some advice. There are people around you who can help you cut down or stop smoking.

If you don’t have a cannabis problem but you are still ashamed or afraid to admit it then those are other issues.

If you are afraid to admit to nonsmokers that you are a cannabis person then that is fear. Fear and persecution has made you too afraid to be yourself. It

has limited your personal freedom.

If you are feel constant anxiety about your use then that’s another problem.

It’s possible you are not someone who should be smoking cannabis at all. If you are ashamed then perhaps you have taken on board the stereotypes and prejudices that are being used against you. You are weighed down with insecurity and self doubt and prone to anxiety?

Drug prejudice is so entrenched it is difficult to get people to understand that it is a prejudice. Suggesting that cannabis users are discriminated against is often met with derision. For some, the idea that disliking cannabis users is actually a form of discrimination goes against everything they thought they knew about the world.

If you are a cannabis user then clearly it is time to ‘come out’. My advice is to start with people you trust and with people who love you. Tell a teacher or a tutor. Tell your doctor or lawyer or neighbour. Tell the woman at the dairy or your church minister. Wear it

Brendan: I am a musician and bartender. If the government wants to win the war on drugs, taking over the supply chains and regulating them is definitely a better strategy than perpetuating a black market.

Change begins at an individual level. People are change.

I say “Know yourself. Stand up for what is right” www.NORML.org.nz

The Drug Rights Declaration Article 2 Every person has the right to choose a recreational drug appropriate to their individual personality, disposition, or preferences.

Article 22(i) The right to form legal entities and companies with the express intent and purpose of commercially producing, selling or distributing recreational drugs for profit and personal or collective gain

Article 33 The right of the community, when acting in a fair and democratic manner to regulate and licence the cultivation, manufacture, sale, distribution, and consumption of recreational drugs.

Article 58 The right of all people to live out their lives with dignity and respect enjoying all the political, economic, cultural and natural benefits their country has to offer.

To read the entire Drug Rights Declaration see www.drugrights.org

on a T Shirt, put up a sign in your front yard. When you are ready, contact this magazine. Take out an advert or send in our photo. Out yourself in style.

Coming out as a user doesn’t have to happen overnight. It might take a year or more before you are fully out there as a cannabis person. There are countless different ways you can do it. If you are not a naturally courageous person then you may just have to build up the courage and make a stand with the help of your friends and family.

There is no point shooting your mouth off about everything happening around you. When and where other cannabis people choose to come out is not your responsibility. It is for each person to decide for them self when the time is right.

The other thing important thing to do is join one of the groups involved in the reform movement. Join a reform group like Green Cross, NORML or ALCP. Join the Drug Rights Project. They will give you an outlet for all your cannabis energy. It will help you find like-minded people and you’ll finally be able to get Autumn 2010 N O R M L N e W S

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DRUG RIGHTS Maki: I am 50 and have two grown up children and two granddaughters, I’m trade certified hairdresser.

I didn’t really smoke much until in my late 20s, after I broke my back while gardening. I became self medicated on herb and I haven’t looked back, I smoke everyday. At present I look after my 93yrs old grandmother full time. She looks like she will be around for a while!

Dan Byrne: I am a 33 year old self-employed father of two and I have used cannabis for over 20 years. I consider myself a medicinal user as I smoke to regulate my depression & insomnia. Being a cannabis user is an integral part of who i am as a man, a father and a human being. I am extremely proud to be a part of Aotearoa’s cannabis culture. those business and campaign ideas organized and off the ground.

If you are a cannabis grower or a distributor you will probably need to be a more tactical. You might need to stay safe until more protection has been won for you. In the meantime it is a good policy to start behaving as ethically and as business like as possible. Avoid criminal activity. No more stolen property and underweight ounces. Make a commitment to reject violence and throw your gun away. Start writing your business plan. Start looking around for where you are going to open your first café.

For the last thirty years, anti-cannabis campaigners have been claiming victory in their ill conceived efforts to decrease drug use and alleviate drug harm.

Unwilling to accept the failure of their world view and unable to see outside the prejudice that has entrapped them.

Instead they have simply escalated their efforts, convinced that if they try harder their ill conceived theories will

Legalise

be vindicated.

Instead of decreasing use and harm their policies have actually made the situation far worse. More people than ever before smoke. Smokers are getting younger and younger and without a regulated market it will only get worse.

The prohibitionists have built up a huge system of oppression and discrimination that has succeeded only in spreading ill health, conflict, misery and neglect.

It is time the prohibitionists stepped aside. Their policies are a failure and they need to realise there are better ways to control and regulate cannabis use in New Zealand. Drug policy must be based on the overriding principle of equality. It must be guided by a commitment to human rights and by us all respecting the inherent dignity of all people regardless of the drug they happen to choose.

See www.drugrights.org

YOUR BACK YARD!

Rowan: I have been a carpenter specialising in cabinetry for the past 6 years. In my spare time I play guitar, run a large culinary garden, cook, and study history and politics. I smoke pot regularly; have done so for years.

I smoke when I’m relaxing after work, at BBQs with friends, days at the beach. Mary Jane and her people are everywhere. You can’t defeat Mother Nature.

Harry Cording: I am 61, a writer and have been smoking cannabis since I was 18. I have never smoked tobacco and do not use alcohol. Over the years I have seen the cannabis culture grow from a rebel underground to include all sectors of society. In 1970 I never would have believed that cannabis would still be illegal in 2010. What makes it worse is that politicians who toked up in their youth still refuse to change the law!

Max Coyle: I run a radio station in Hamilton, have my own promotions company and am heavily involved with the music scene. I am proud to be one of NZ’s 100’s of thousands of smokers.

It’s time to stand up, come out and say ‘Yes I smoke, it’s my choice, it’s part of who I am.” Arohanui Aotearoa.

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www.NORML.org.nz

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FEATURE

TOWARDS A

SENSIBLE DRUG POLICY L

By Stephen McIntyre

ast December, Australian and New Zealand Police announced the launch of Operation Unite – a co-ordinated trans-Tasman blitz on drunken violence over the festive season. The hundreds of alcohol-related arrests at New Year’s celebrations all around New Zealand – despite extensive liquor bans and the deployment of additional police – were yet another reminder of how big a role alcohol plays in incidents of social disorder, violence, injury and premature death. And not just over the festive season either, but all year round.

With the Law Commission’s discussion document on alcohol legislation entitled Cannabis in Our Lives published last year and another just released on the Misuse of Drugs Act 1975, now is an appropriate time to consider the known harms and their impact on public health of New Zealand’s two most popular recreational drugs: alcohol and cannabis.

In doing so, what becomes clear is not only how out of synch our drug laws are, but also the extent to which alcohol currently harms society, and how cannabis, when legalised, can actually benefit overall public health by providing adults with a demonstratively safer alternative, while at the same time making access to cannabis much more difficult for young people.

Negative Health Impacts of Alcohol and Cannabis Use

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nnually, one thousand – or 3.9 percent of all – deaths in New Zealand are directly attributable to alcohol; half from injury, a quarter from cancers2.

Alcohol is extremely poisonous because it affects brain centers regulating respiratory and cardiac functions; excessive consumption can quickly result in the loss of consciousness, loss of breathing and death3. The relatively narrow margin between safe and toxic amounts explains why younger drinkers frequently overdose.

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Consume too much pot on the other hand and you’ll most likely fall asleep. Cannabis activates receptors in the brain which regulate biological functions like appetite and reproduction. They are located in the brain’s frontal lobe, not the brain stem, so unlike alcohol, cannabis is incapable of producing a fatal overdose, regardless of potency or amount consumed4.

Alcohol’s high toxicity means even moderate use is known to affect brain development, particularly in young people5, and can lead to organ damage and cancers6.

Alcohol abuse can exacerbate an existing mental illness, and those with alcohol use disorders are at increased risk of suicidal behaviour7. Alcohol use during pregnancy can cause harm to the foetus, including brain damage and other birth defects, and foetal alcohol syndrome8.

While there is evidence suggesting chronic cannabis use increases the risk of impaired lung function and respiratory cancers in very long-term smokers, research remains inconclusive9. In 2006 for example, the results of the largest case-controlled study ever to investigate the respiratory effects of pot smoking found – much to the researcher’s own surprise – that it was not causally associated with lung-related cancers, even among heavy users10.

Acute adverse effects of cannabis use include anxiety and panic, especially in naive users, and an In New Zealand, increased risk of accident $172.2 million if a person drives is spent annually while stoned. Women policing alcoholwho smoke pot during related crime; pregnancy increase the risk of having a low-birth $40 million more weight baby11. than for all illegal The most likely adverse drugs. psychosocial effects

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www.NORML.org.nz

DRUG LAW REVIEW

Photos: top - james d. below - Chris

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among adolescents who initiate early are an increased risk of cannabis dependence and impaired educational attainment 12. Evidence from the Christchurch longitudinal study found that cannabis dependence at age 18 predicted an increased risk of psychotic symptoms by age 2113.

Cannabis use has not been found to be a cause of either depression or suicide14.

Alcohol intoxication can lead to risk-taking, injury, and accidental death. In 2008, over 120,000 New Zealanders (nearly 5 percent of the entire adult population) report incurring injuries due to their own drinking15. Alcohol is involved in one fifth of drownings16, and is responsible for over 500 serious and fatal crashes on our roads annually17.

While about 8000 New Zealanders (or 0.3 percent of the entire adult population) reported incurring injuries

due to their own cannabis The most likely consumption in 200818, harmful effect research finds little evidence of marijuana use is linking marijuana use with an getting caught. increased likelihood of injury requiring healthcare. In fact a recent University of Missouri study – which found that alcohol consumption “greatly increased” the chances of experiencing injury requiring hospitalisation – also found cannabis use associated “with a substantially decreased risk of injury”19.

Studies have found that cannabis smokers tend to compensate for their intoxication by being more careful; something which helps explain pot’s nominal culpability in traffic mortality statistics.

A British governmental study concluded that “marijuana intoxication plays a relatively insignificant role in vehicular accidents”20, while an earlier Canadian study found that: “The more cautious behaviour of subjects who have received marijuana decreases the impact of the drug on performance, whereas the opposite holds true for alcohol”21.

Since operating a vehicle while intoxicated under the influence of any drug increases the risk of accident, NORML expects that drivers stopped for impairment caused by cannabis will be dealt with the same way as those who drive drunk.

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lcohol factors significantly in violent crime statistics: one third of all offences and half of all serious violent offences in New Zealand are committed by offenders who have been drinking22. Annually, ten percent of men (equivalent to 115,000 people nationally) report being physically assaulted by someone who has been drinking23, and alcohol is associated with 46 percent of all reported incidents of sexual violence24.

Research estimates the yearly cost to New Zealand from drinking to be at least 5.3 billion dollars25, while Police

Case Study: Regulated sales in Holland The Dutch have a cannabis use rate only one third that of New Zealand. Their policy concentrates on reducing harm, while allowing the sale of small amounts of cannabis to adults in cafes, similar to how alcohol is sold. By licensing cannabis shops, the Dutch have controlled the way it is sold and successfully broken any link with other drugs.

Coffeeshops are subject to inspection and infractions can mean loss of license. www.NORML.org.nz

Coffeeshop Rules · No nuis ance, which c an mean no littering, loud noise or graffiti; · No youth - Adults only · No hard drugs · No alcohol · The maximum amount for single purchase is limited to 5grams. The coffeeshop can hold a total of 500g on the premises. · No advertising or displays of cannabis outside shop.

Autumn 2010 N O R M L N e W S

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FEATURE Cannabis is Safer Than Alcohol here are now more than 17,000 published studies and papers analyzing cannabis. It is demonstratively less harmful than alcohol and cigarettes and has been described by a US Drug Enforcement Administration judge as “one of the safest therapeutically active substances known to man”27.

Of course, inhaling smoke into the lungs isn’t harmless, but virtually every government study conducted concludes that cannabis poses significantly less burden to public health than most legal drugs. To put this into perspective, a recent Canadian study calculated the annual healthThe regulated sale of cannabis related cost per user for cannabis at only $20 – one should not be a free-for-all; eighth the cost for alcohol and one fortieth that for neither must it become an industry tobacco28. like alcohol and tobacco.” Surveys however indicate that people – non-users TOWARDS A especially – overestimate the drug’s real harms.

Misconceptions about the alleged risks of cannabis are the primary obstacle to ending its prohibition and correcting some of the significant social problems figures reveal that dealing with alcohol-related offending caused by alcohol. eats up almost one fifth of their entire annual budget.

New Zealand has witnessed an increasingly problematic Nothing in the NZ Drug Statistics indicates cannabis booze-culture develop partly because, for over 80 years use itself as a cause of violence. Any association between now, we’ve only been legally permitted to use the one cannabis and violence is linked to the black market and is – addictive and highly toxic – drug for relaxation and therefore a direct result of prohibition. recreation. People who don’t like alcohol but who wish to use a recreational intoxicant therefore have little choice Impacts of Cannabis Prohibition but to take part in criminal behaviour. on Health Latest figures show that more than 1.2 million New annabis has significantly fewer harmful impacts Zealanders have now broken the law by trying cannabis on human health than alcohol, although it is certainly sometime in their lives; in 2008, over 730,000 of us used it at least once, with 50,000 people aged 16 or more not benign. In reality though, the most likely harmful (equivalent of two percent of the total adult population) effect of marijuana use on any New Zealander trying it is consuming it every day29. getting caught by the police.

The health risks from cannabis sufficiently justify We continue to have the highest cannabis arrest rate in substantial regulation and control – not prohibition – the developed world, mostly for possession. While few on its marketing and sale; with those risks accurately people charged with possession for personal supply are communicated to users. Only by doing so, will public ever sentenced to jail, many will spend time behind bars policy accurately reflect the relative harms in comparison during pre-trial procedures. Young people and Maori are to legally available, and far deadlier, drugs like tobacco most vulnerable both to arrest and other harms, and are and alcohol. identified in the Health Select Committee’s 2003 cannabis report as being “high risk groups”.

Learn From Overseas Experience In 2001, for example, Maori made up 14.5 percent of esearch shows that rates of cannabis use the population, but received 43 percent of convictions of by young people shrink in places where drug cannabis use and a whopping 55 percent of convictions 26 laws are less punitive. This was the case in Britain after for cannabis dealing . cannabis was downgraded from Class B to Class C there A charge of cannabis cultivation, even for personal 30 in 2004 .

In the U.S., a 2005 survey found that all states use, often leads to jail time. A criminal conviction passing medical marijuana laws reported a resulting for cannabis can stay with a young person their decline in cannabis use among teenagers31. Apparently, whole life, potentially creating all sorts of barriers young people – by nature a highly impressionable lot – to employment, as well as leading to the loss of other found pot “de-glamourised” by association with the sick privileges: rejection of a US visa application for example.

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www.NORML.org.nz

Photo: Chris

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DRUG LAW REVIEW and the dying32.

The regulated sale of cannabis should not be a free-forall; neither must it become an industry like alcohol and tobacco. What we need to do is apply what has worked overseas – particularly in Holland where cannabis has been sold to adults-only in licensed coffee-shops for 35 years now – and studiously avoid what hasn’t.

For example, the Dutch have only ever regulated the retail sale of cannabis, not its cultivation or supply to the shops. So all coffeeshops must break the law and illegally purchase their marijuana from organised crime. Because it is not fully regulated, the Dutch government has never collected any excise tax on cannabis sales.

They have, on the other hand, successfully separated cannabis smokers from suppliers of hard drugs, resulting in the lowest heroin use rate in Europe. Additionally, by enforcing a legal age limit of 18 years to buy cannabis, it has become far more difficult for teenagers to access than here: 7 percent of Dutch teens under 16 have tried pot, compared with 27 percent in New Zealand33.

Not arresting drug users has made access to education and treatment much easier and Dutch users are far more likely to seek treatment. Fear of arrest or other negative consequences is the number one reason cited by New Zealanders for wanting to but not seeking help for problems with cannabis use34.

Regulate Cannabis to Improve Overall Public Health

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egalising cannabis through a regulated market similar to alcohol won’t add another vice, but will instead lighten the general burden to health by providing a safer, legal alternative. Overall rates of cannabis use are expected to rise, but modestly, and will be offset many times over by the immediate and longterm health benefits of corresponding declines in alcohol consumption by adults and cannabis use by minors.

In addition, by changing the cannabis laws, we permit REFERENCES: 1. NZ Police 2. NZ Law Commission, Alcohol In Our Lives, 2009; also Min. of Health: 2007/2008 NZ Alcohol & Drug Use Survey 3. World Health Organisation 4. ibid.

5. Stevenson, 2009 6. National Health & Medical Research Council 7. NZ Law Commission, Alcohol In Our Lives, 2009 8. Ministry of Health: 2007/2008 NZ Alcohol & Drug Use Survey 9. Beckley Foundation, Global Cannabis Report, 2009 www.NORML.org.nz

10. Hashibe et al., 2006; reported in the Washington Post, May 26, 2006 11. Beckley Foundation, Global Cannabis Report, 2009 12. ibid 13. Moore, et al., 2007 14. NZ Health Select Committee, Mental Health Effect of Cannabis, 1998 15. Ministry of Health: 2007/2008 NZ Alcohol & Drug Use Survey 16. Ministry of Health 17. NZ Police 18. Ministry of Health: 2007/2008 NZ Alcohol & Drug Use Survey

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people to make more Legalising cannabis responsible choices through a regulated when deciding to get market similar to intoxicated. alcohol won’t add With cannabis legally available to another vice, but will adults, somewhere provide a safer, legal in New Zealand, a alternative.” young woman will decide to stay home on Friday night and smoke a few joints with friends, thereby avoiding the sexual assault that would have occurred had she gone drinking in the city until 3 a.m. instead.

Somewhere, an abusive father or husband will realize that he can contain his temper by switching from beer to cannabis and there’ll be a reduction in the 22,000 annual incidents of family violence where alcohol is identified by the Ministry of Justice as a “significant factor”.

Elsewhere, a first-year university student will eat too many pot cookies and wind up fast asleep on his mate’s couch, rather than comatose in a hospital bed after playing drinking games.

These are infinitely improved health outcomes from a far more sensible drug policy. With the Law Commission’s long overdue review of the Misuse of Drugs Act, New Zealand has an opportunity to learn from our failed experiment with cannabis prohibition, take the best of what has worked overseas, and come up with a new drug policy that leads the world. With new governments here and in the White House, there’s never been a better time.

An abridged version of this article appears at publicaddress.net/ default,6406.sm#post

19. Vinson, 2006 20. British Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions, 2001 21. Canadian Center for Addiction and Mental Health, Health Effects of Cannabis, 1999 22. Stevenson, 2009; cited in 2007/2008 NZ Alcohol & Drug Use Survey 23. APHRU 24. NZ National Survey of Crime Victims, 2001 25. BERL, 2009 26. NZ Health Select Committee, Public Health Strategies Related to Cannabis Use, 2003 27. US Dept of Justice, DEA,

In the Matter of Marijuana Rescheduling Petition, 1988 28. Thomas, et al., 2009 29. Ministry of Health: 2007/2008 NZ Alcohol & Drug Use Survey 30. UK Dept of Health, 2005 31. Earleywine et al., 2005/2008 32. Gorman et al., 2007 33. World Health Organisation, 2008 34. Ministry of Health: 2007/2008 NZ Alcohol & Drug Use Survey

List of websites for source material www.mpp.org/research/teenuse-report.html; www.beckleyfoundation.org/ policy/cannabis_commission. html; nzhis.govt.nz/moh. nsf/pagesns/130; www.moh. govt.nz/moh.nsf/indexmh/ alcohol-use-in-nz-oct09; www.aphru.ac.nz/hot/ violence.htm; www.police. govt.nz/news/release/21610. html; www.moh.govt.nz/moh. nsf/pagesmh/9841/$File/ drug-use-in-nz-2007-08.pdf

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FEATURE

Dutch Coffeeshop Pioneer An Interview with

Wernard Bruining Interview and photos by Chris Fowlie

The Dutch policy of tolerating the sale of cannabis to adults is well known. Their separation of cannabis consumers from those who sell other drugs led to one of the lowest rates of hard drug use in the world. Still controversial and subject to constant tweaking, the lowland nation remains resolutely determined their policy is the best in the world. It all began with one man in 1973.

Chris: You opened the first coffee shop in Amsterdam, the Mellow Yellow. How did it all start?

Wernard: In the old days in Holland, everybody who was smoking was a bit of a dealer. So when you had ten smokers there was always a couple of guys that knew where to get the dope from and who were the guys that were buying it and sold part of it to their friends. The whole trick was to have at the end of the day a piece for yourself that was free to smoke. Like everywhere is even today, we have the same kind of situation.

In those days there were places where there were a lot of smokers, vegetarian restaurants, foodstores, coffeeshops, cafes, things like that and that meant that were also a lot of dealers – sometimes in the coffee shops there were like twenty dealers at various stages and prices. Our idea was to end that all and to have a coffee shop with just one dealer, who is one of us of course, who is sitting in front of the bar pretending to be just a customer. In those days police

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couldn’t shut a shop down just because somebody was found in there dealing. So that was the big lie let’s say.

The other thing that we did was we treated hash and grass the same like you treat Bountys or Mars Bars. You go to a big store and you buy a big box and then you sell them one by one. So we brought a kilo of this, a kilo that, and then cut it up into pieces of ten and 25 gilders, put it in plastic bags and then thought that the problem was solved, and that that was the golden coffee shop formula because that made it accessible to everybody.

Now suddenly everybody could go to a coffee shop and buy hash and grass and you did not need to know a lot about hash and grass itself. You could just go to the one guy who is sitting at the bar and ask what have you got, and he mentions all these words “I’ve got Nepalese and afghan and this and that” and so on. Then you just reply just give me ten gilders of that Nepalese and then you got ten gilders of the Nepalese. Before that you needed to know what it was , what the variety was, what the price was what a good price www.NORML.org.nz

OUR PEOPLE “Our hippy idea was that marijuana growing would be successful and cannabis would never go away. ”

was, you had to bargain the price, things like that – that was all over. Now suddenly everyone could come and score.

So within a couple of months we had a lot of customers.

Sometimes customers lined up outside on the pavement and of course that attracted attention from a lot of our visitors and friends who saw us doing that and thought this is a good trick that these guys found we can do it also and we can do it better. So that is when coffee shops like Restaurant and The Bulldog started and they did it better, you know, because they were much more efficient than we were. We were just interesting in having a free smoke for ourselves.

Like a social club. What was the authorities reaction when you first started?

Well, in the beginning we kept a low profile.

Even with the line of customers out the door?

Yes. Because tolerance only functions when you voluntarily restrict yourselves. That is why we called our shop not a coffee shop but a tea house, so that the outside world knew that is was not just a regular shop, but that there was something fishy going on in there. Better not know! That worked fine. It was about four or five years before we had our first bust. I opened up the shop in 1973 and the first bust we had in 1976 or so.

We were prepared. We had our stash hidden and we had certain systems to prevent them from finding the stash or the motherload and things like that, and that worked. We had about 3 or 4 busts and they never found our stash.

The dealer they just arrested him and kept him for a couple of hours but then he had to appear in court or whatever 6 months or a year later and we didn’t care about that.

Were you ever the dealer?

Yes sometimes. I didn’t like it that much! It always had somebody who was doing it for me. I preferred to be the bar man so I had lots more communication possibilities and more time to play football – I like table football! Whenever it was quiet, I would rush downstairs and play table football and table football is one of the things that go better when you smoke! Because you need to focus completely on the game and forget about everyone else. When you’re high it goes very well, it increases your pleasure. www.NORML.org.nz

What was it about the time or place that allowed the tolerance to occur?

First because nobody knew we existed, and the place was named Mellow Yellow and Mellow Yellow was the title of a song by Donavon. It was about when you had nothing to smoke you could fry banana peel and smoke those and only the insiders know what the title meant. So we figured that when we called our shop Mellow Yellow outsiders would think “its just that Donavon song” and insiders would know “oh that’s something to do with smoking”. So we kept a low profile for the first couple of years - nobody knew we existed. The phenomena of police busting coffee shops started after they busted us a couple of times. After that [busting people] became an industry.

How long did that continue and what made them stop?

Well, they busted us three of four times and then in 1978 we had a fire in our shop and I was looking for other things to do because I was getting bored. I had a friend in America who said come and see me and after the fire I suddenly had a lot of time. I booked a flight and went to the States and saw my American friend and I noticed something totally new. I saw Americans who were smoking and dealing marijuana that was grown in America. Then we realised that the marijuana the Americans were growing was better than the third world country grass. They were getting like $10,000 per kilo. If you would get maybe a dollar a gram for Dutch grass that was fantastic, and nobody was even willing to even pay that and imported grass wasn’t much better.

So in the beginning we just brought a couple of kilos in our bags to Holland. Nobody suspected anybody to take drugs from America to Holland so there was not chance for anybody to check. In the beginning we would smoke that and sell whatever excess we had. Now we had this huge group of expanding coffee shops now and the product needs to be smuggled in to Holland and it would be a good idea if we teach the Dutch to grow their own. So we asked an old man who was 65 at that time [“Old Ed”] who was a grower just busted in America – why don’t you come over to Holland and help us grow this marijuana? We will do two things - we will sell it to the coffee shops and then I’ll talk to the Dutch and say you can grow it yourself and if you don’t believe it you can go to the coffee shop and pay a lot of money. So that Autumn 2010 N O R M L N e W S

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Dutch

interested in money, I was interested in selling the idea of enriching your life by selling a few plants.

People came to our shop from all over Holland and all over Europe. Journalists came to our shop and if was fine for me, because I knew if I talked to a journalist for an hour is how I convinced the Dutch that it was worthwhile to grow they would go home and broadcast this thing and people marijuana in Holland using the special seeds we have. We would read about what I wanted to tell them. My record call ourselves the green team and it took us five years to was one session with 60 minutes and it was 30 million convince the Dutch people – from 1980 to 1985. viewers. Successful. And that is how the idea of growing In 1985 my green team was expanding constantly with your own marijuana spread really fast all around the world. foreigners who also wanted to try this successful thing that Nederweit is now Euro weed. And our idea - our hippy we were doing. In ‘85 we were growing 200 kilos per year idea - was that marijuana growing would be successful and and I was selling it in the coffee shops. cannabis would never go away. And that cannabis was an If the police had caught you what would have improvement of modern lifestyle. happened?

I will say that cannabis is a entheogen drug which means it is a drug that enables people to sense god in themselves Our first bust was in 1983 – that was a policeman that and in others, so instead of old fashioned religion it is a new came up with his bike. We had a farm in Freisland and in religious kind of lifestyle in a way, the front of the farm we had small and such a product should never be fake vegetable gardens, and in the “tolerance only works when commercialised. It should always be back we had a lot of tall trees, and you voluntarily limit yourself accessible to society, only accessible behind the tress there was huge for 10 15 percent of the population in presenting yourself” plants growing. We had 1000 kilo of who is interested and able to confront plants that year and this policeman themselves with themselves, came up in his bicycle while we because that is what cannabis does: were doing our fake vegetable it confronts you with yourself. garden, and says “Hi guys what are you doing here?” and we said What are the key changes that “we are just growing vegetables have happened since then? and enjoying the outside country Look at me, a mature man, I don’t life”. And he said “well, I don’t wear a suit and tie. When I started know what you are doing here growing marijuana and when I started and I don’t want to know it either. coffeeshops it was impossible for old But I want to tell you one thing males to go around without a suit and whatever you did last year you tie, all males have the same leather shouldn’t try to do it again this shoe. Now days everyone is clothed year”. And we were like “oh what are you taking about?” differently and that is one of the achievements of marijuana and then he left. It took him maybe ten minutes, this whole because marijuana was smoked by a lot of people who conversations, but in a way he busted us because we moved functioned as a role model like filmmakers, artists, famous maybe 1000 females that we had in the back - that weren’t people were all into smoking marijuana. Marijuana changed that big maybe fifty centimetres - but we could never the world without most of the world knowing about it. It is harvest at this place. So we had to find other locations and much more free, liberal, much more fantasy, colour than we found 10, 20, 30 different locations. We put our plants ever before and that is due to marijuana. over there, we made deals with the local growers: You take Speaking of changes, the Dutch government care of the plants, harvest them and sell them and we’ll has said it will close a lot of coffee shops in give them a cut of the profit. That is how we really started Amsterdam. Are the coffee shops a scapegoat or to expand. Then in 1985, when we were 200 kilos a year, are there really problems? the green team was joined by other Americans who said we need to grow in greenhouses and the greenhouse need A lot of coffee shop owners are not pioneers anymore, so to be at least 5000 square metres and another voice said they don’t know how to present their case in such a way so we need to grow in 5 greenhouse, and I thought well it’s not the public laughs and thinks “oh well let those guys go along my cup of tea – I’m not into making money and I’m also not with their thing as long as they don’t bother me”. Modern into becoming a criminal. It’s better these guys go out on coffeeshop does bother everybody because it is a public their own and I go onto something else – I want to build the place. Anybody can just walk into a coffee shop. That’s a perfect football table and in order to that I needed to make scary thing for people who don’t like change, and the thing money, so I started to make lights. is that coffee shop owners don’t understand that they can I was already importing lights from America. They I only be tolerated when they present their business in such got so much I decided to make my own reflectors and fashion that it is acceptable for the non smoker. That’s what light systems. I had to employ a friend of mine to install they neglected to do. Because tolerance only works when these light systems, and that really was the beginning of you voluntarily limit yourself in presenting yourself.

Positronics, the first grow shop in Europe. Within seven years I had 60 people working for me, a newspaper, a More information is at www.wernard.nl & www. restaurant. A big demand and lots of money but I wasn’t

Coffeeshop Pioneer

cannabisconnections.nl

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Search & Surveillance bill

IS NEW ZEALAND BECOMING A

Police State?

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he Search and Surveillance bill is before Parliament now. It has been through its second reading, but its passage has been temporarily stopped because of what was considered widespread public misunderstanding of the bill. The October 15th Solidarity group does not believe that there is any misunderstanding of the Bill- it enhances state powers and fundamentally alters some core concepts in law to such a degree that even the Law Society and the Chief Justice have serious criticism of it. This massive new law would substantially increase State powers to search, surveil people and places. It also allows expanded powers to set up roadblocks, like the one set up in Ruatoki on 15 October 2007. The law effectively removes the right to silence and allows for covert surveillance on private property.

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o much is hidden within the 197 pages and 316 clauses of the Search and Surveillance Bill, it’s hard to know where to start. The bill is meant to streamline search and surveillance, by redefining not only police powers but also the powers of over 70 government agencies- called ‘enforcement officers’ in the bill. However, the bill does much more than that. It effectively gives police powers to agencies such as Work and Income and the Pork Board.

Dramatic Increase in Powers

Basically, once this bill becomes law, state power increases and search and surveillance become open slather. The Bill treats a single search and on-going surveillance as one and the same thing.

For example, installing a video camera in a home for a month is treated the same as a one-off search of a car; taking a copy of an entire hard disk (with all kinds of information on it, some possibly covered www.NORML.org.nz

by a search warrant, other intimately private) is considered no different than making photocopies of business files, and all enforcement officers have the same powers, regardless of the purpose of their job.

The Right to Silence

When this bill becomes law, the right to silence will effectively no longer exist.

Using an Examination Order the police can demand that you report to them for questioning. The criterion is that they suspect you of being involved with two or more people in the commission (or plotting) of any offence punishable by imprisonment. Even extremely minor offences such as trespass or disorderly behaviour would qualify.

The only way you can refuse this order is to cite a bit of legal jargon: ‘Section 60 of the Evidence Act’ and claim ‘privilege against self-incrimination’.

But even if you happen to know this, it may not help-you can be ordered in front of a judge where you then have to offer Autumn 2010 N O R M L N e W S

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evidence as to why you would be likely to incriminate yourself if you talked: the ultimate Catch-22.

Examination Orders

Examination Orders last for up to thirty days and the only penalty available for refusing to comply is a maximum of one year’s imprisonment.

These Orders weren’t part of the Law Commission’s original report to Parliament. They were inserted into the bill by the Labour government on the pretext that the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) was going to be abolished; but the National government has decided to keep the SFO. When the SFO was created, there were many of us who opposed it. We argued that sooner or later their powers would be transferred to the police and applied outside of the business context. We were right.

The Right Not to Participate in Proving your own Guilt

Current practice is that the police have to provide all the evidence to prove a person is guilty-next year they can sit back and order you to produce some of that evidence. Instead of getting a

search warrant, they will be able to apply for a Production Order.

This will require you to produce documents you are suspected of having (or will have in the future) and is available to any enforcement officer covered by the Act. If you refuse to supply the documentation, the sentence is a maximum of one year’s imprisonment.

Surveillance Devices

Surveillance devices include bugs, video cameras and tracking devices for cars. Currently, there are no specific laws regulating surveillance on private property. Police need a warrant to enter your house and install a listening bug. Video surveillance by police inside a house or other private place is currently illegal. of powers for other Agencies” and Police do it anyway knowing calls it a constitutional change. The that most judges will admit it NZ Council for Civil Liberties calls it as evidence. That will change “law by stealth”. The law firm Bell with this bill. It introduces Gully says the bill “erodes the right the concept of a surveillance to be free from unreasonable search device warrant, which can be and seizure” and that the aim for all obtained by any enforcement agencies to “share common search officer (not just police) under and surveillance powers is flawed”. the same criteria as a search The Chief Justice (whose submission warrant – that is, the suspicion is on behalf of all Supreme Court, that the search (or surveillance) Appeal Court and High Court Judges) will uncover evidential material is concerned about the easy access necessary for a prosecution of police have to Examination Orders. a crime. This equates on-going She is also concerned about the video surveillance with a one-off granting of search warrants via the search. phone and says that a lot of provisions This contrasts to legislation apply to too wide a range of offences. elsewhere.

In the US, Canada Claiming that the opinion of the and a number of European Chief Justice – arguably the most countries, phone bugging and experienced lawyer in the country installing a surveillance camera – is “based upon a remarkable in a home is treated as a much misunderstanding of both the current more serious invasion of privacy law and the provisions of the bill” than a search. In order to get a (Young) is a tall order. Even if it was surveillance warrant, police have true, it would be a bad sign. If the to demonstrate that other ways Chief Justice doesn’t understand of obtaining the evidence have the law, what are the chances that a failed. In the new bill, there is no District Court Judge, a police officer such restriction. or a WINZ case manager will?

Widespread opposition to the bill

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ver since public submissions were heard in October, Warren Young, Deputy Commissioner of the Law Commission and main author of the Search and Surveillance Bill, has been busy responding to criticism of the bill. Young keeps re-iterating that the bill does not extend powers, that it does not give new powers to police or other agencies. He claims that everyone who says differently can’t understand the bill. This is a remarkable claim, given that the list of those who have voiced serious concerns over the new powers includes several law firms, the Human Rights Commissioner, the Privacy Commissioner, the Law Society and the Chief Justice. All of these have made written submissions to the select committee.

Of the 42 submissions the select committee received, only one was unreservedly supportive of the bill.

A few asked for minor alterations, the Police Association wants yet even more powers, but the overwhelming majority of submitters raised serious concerns. The Law Society argues that the bill is “a dramatic expansion

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Photo: iAN bRODIE

FEATURE

Search & Surveillance bill

Plain View Searches

There is no restriction on the use of any thing the police find during a search or surveillance operation. Using ‘plain view’, if the surveillance data shows evidence of a different offence than that for which the warrant was obtained then that material can still be used in court.

The same applies for a search warrant.

‘Plain view’ is an opportunity to ‘have a nosy’ at what else is around.

Warrant-less Searches

Once you are arrested or even simply detained, the police and enforcement officers are able to search your home, workplace, car, friend’s home or any place with which you are associated, without a warrant if they believe they can find evidential material related to the offence. This power, combined with ‘plain view’ searches is a nightmare.

Whilst you are sitting in the cells, your home can be turned upside down with no warrant.

Similarly, a warrant will not needed to record a conversation when two or more people are talking if one person consents to a recording of the conversation. This person could be an undercover cop sitting in a meeting, someone employed by an ‘enforcement officer’ or a friendly person at the bar.

A warrant is needed for a computer search, however this warrant allows them to have access to your entire hard-drive and then using plain view they can trawl through other information not on the warrant.

Stop the Surveillance State

The Search and Surveillance bill is one component of the government’s grasp for more power over our lives. It is part of a large agenda of social control that is called the ‘war on terrorism’. The ‘war

on terrorism’ has nothing to do with terrorism; it is about curbing freedom, privacy, and autonomy. It is about criminalising people on the margins of our society like those who dare to speak out about injustices here in Aotearoa and around the world. It is also about criminalising Māori and other minority groups who represent a challenge to existing power.

The Search and Surveillance Bill will legalise many currently illegal police practices.

The police ‘Operation 8’ which culminated in massive nationwide ‘terror raids’ against activists in October 2007 is but one example. This should have been a wake up call to police about what NOT to do. Instead, it has formed the blueprint for a whole new surveillance regime.

‘Operation 8’ involved the surveillance of hundreds of people, the use of covert cameras, bugging of cellphones, landlines and cars, and the collection of computer data such as TradeME account names and passwords.

People involved in a wide variety of community groups and campaigns such as Peace Action Wellington, the Save Happy Valley Campaign, the UNITE! Union, Students for Justice in Palestine, and Te Mana Motuhake ō Tūhoe were arrested. Initially the police tried to charge them as terrorists. Those charges were unsubstantiated: there was no terror plot and no evidence. Nevertheless, 18 activists face politically motivated charges as a result of this enormous police operation.

Our campaign is not only aimed at stopping the Search and Surveillance Bill.

It is also aimed at raising awareness about the ‘surveillance state’ and educating people about how to protect themselves against government power and take back their lives.

We invite you to join in the campaign.

There is need for people of all backgrounds: teachers, IT geeks, lawyers, students, factory workers, store clerks and people on a benefit. The surveillance state affects all of us.

Get in touch & fight back! info@October15thSolidarity.info www.October15thSolidarity.info

www.NORML.org.nz

HERE’S WHAT YOU CAN DO

1. Public Awareness: Distribute “So what’s all the fuss about the Search and Surveillance Bill?” leaflets to your friends, family, neighbours, community centres, cafes etc. Put up posters in your neighborhood.

We can send some to you if you provide a postal address (email us at info@ october15thsolidarity. info). Alternatively, you can print them out from our website http:// october15thsolidarity.info/ surveillance 2. Get friends, family, colleagues etc together and have a letter writing evening: send messages to your local MP & newspapers opposing this bill. At present, the National and Labour party both support this bill. ACT and Maori party support is unclear while the Greens are opposed to it.

3. Organise a demonstration/ picket/street theatre in your community showing your opposition to the bill 4. Request copies of all of the submissions from the Clerk of the Select committee (james. picker@parliament.govt. nz) and find any sympathetic people/organisations in your community.

5. Get involved in the October 15th Solidarity group or organise your own local group. We hope to organise some public meetings around this bill in the lead up to a day of action in May.

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ETHNOBOTONY

Journey to

Marma An exclusive peek into a hidden valley high in Nepal.

Words and photos by Robert Connell Clarke

Mountain high - The enchanting land of Marma lies at 3000 meters elevation nestled in the steep Himalayan foothills of far western Nepal high above a roaring alpine river. Legendary Marma is home to peoples who have grown Cannabis for generations as a source of hemp fiber for spinning yarn and weaving cloth used for blankets, sash belts and sacks; nutritious hemp seed and seed oil; and psychoactive resin called charas in Nepalese. Hemp bhangara blankets from Marma are considered the finest in Nepal.

Autumn Sun - Seeds are sown close together to encourage rapid stalk growth and increase fiber production. Clusters of female ganja flowers yielding both hemp seed and charas appear atop tall thin stalks averaging two meters in height.

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NEPALI HASH FIELDS

hemp Field – Hillside terraces of ganja flowers ripen in intense autumn sunlight.

Harvest time – Ripe plants are harvested as the stalks and leaves begin to turn yellow. Plants are cut at the soil line to preserve as much of the valuable fiber as possible.

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ETHNOBOTONY Journey to

Marma

resin glands (below) - Nepali hemp is the narrow leaf drug type Cannabis indica found throughout the Himalayas. A few male plants are left in the fields to pollinate the female flowers which are completely filled with seed. Sparkling resin glands containing psychoactive THC cover the surface of the seed bracts and small leaflets of the ganja flowers.

Harvest haul (above) - Before winter closes in—when the fields are fully ripe and the weather remains mild— everyone finds work to do. Harvesting the crop, hauling plants back to the village, collecting charas and threshing seeds are chores often shared by the whole family. The stalks are dried and the bark removed at a later time.

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NEPALI HASH FIELDS Happy rubbing – Farmers collect charas by warming the plants in the sun and rubbing the ripe ganja flowers between their hands—applying sufficient pressure to smear the warm sticky resin across the palms.

Hand rubbing with light pressure produces less, higher quality charas; while pressing harder results in more, but much lower quality charas. At the end of a collecting session green leaf fragments are carefully picked out of the resin; and the palms are rubbed together briskly to remove bits of resin which are rolled into sticks and formed into bundles. Poor quality pieces containing excess moisture and bits of leaf dry out quickly and become hard or may spoil and turn moldy; while highquality pieces of nearly pure resin stay soft and flexible for months.

Hash and seed – Marma farmers harvest three valuable products from a single Cannabis field—hemp fiber for weaving their traditional cloth, hemp seed used to express oil and prepare condiments, and psychoactive resin. This triple cropping strategy employed in western Nepal may have been much more widespread in the past. Hemp cloth and seed are either used domestically or sold—while charas largely enters into the illicit marketplace— eventually finding its way to Kathmandu and beyond.

Enjoy! www.NORML.org.nz

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GROW YOUR OWN

Making a Hash of it

How anyone can turn their harvest trash into primo stash

A

t harvest time most people manicure their weed and throw away the trim, but those little leaves often contains some very sticky crystals that is better consumed!

These days it’s possible to make high quality hash at home from the rubbish you would normally throw away.

By Indoor Herb Photos by Cannalyst

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All you need is some trim, ice, water, a bucket, a wooden spoon and the right sized mesh to filter the resulting slurry and you can make the best damn hash right in your own home. Some of you may have heard of ice water hash extraction. For those just catching up here’s how it works.

Principles of ice water hash THC is stored on the leaf surface in tiny glands called trichomes. These trichomes are what is used to make hash - the less adulterant

N O R M L N e W S Autumn 2010

(plant matter) mixed with the trichomes the higher the quality of hash will be produced.

Trichomes append to the surface of the leaf using a comparatively long thin stem. It’s because of this long thin stem that we are able to harvest the trichomes using ice and ice cold water rather than the traditional method in New Zealand of soaking the plant matter in alcohol.

The key to making high quality hash is simple: water that is as cold as possible, minimal agitation and careful filtration.

It ca n be as si mple as grinding up some bud and putting it in a large glass of water. The plant matter floats on top, the trichomes event u a l l y set t le to t he bottom, and the water is carefully decanted off.

These days however, there are ice making kits available – either just the filter bags or bags plus a portable washing machine - that let anyone easily make high-quality stash from trash.

Cannabis trim (or bud, if you have enough!) is added to some ice-cold water, either in a bucket or washing machine.

The ideal water temperature once ice is added – a nd before agitation begins – is 2-4 degrees Celsius. The purpose here is to “freeze” the trichome stalk, allowing the gland head to be knocked off cleanly into the cold water solution. Trichomes do not dissolve in water, and are heavier than water, so they sink to the bottom like fine sand.

A s u c c e s s io n o f f i lte r bags are used to first trap unwanted plant material and then isolate different fractions of trichomes.

Smaller finer trichomes such as those found on sativadominant plants or outdoor grows will be trapped in the finer filter bags, such as a 25 or 45 micron bag. Growers with plants that have larger trichomes, such as indicadominant strains or indoor grows in general, will find they get the best results in slightly larger filter bags such as the 45, 60 or 70 micron.

How to do it Always use frozen trim for making hash. My trick is that if the leaves are already dry, I soak them in very cold water for an hour. I drain the water and chuck the leaves in the freezer for an hour, then use this semi frozen mixture.

Without doubt, the best way to agitate your plant material www.NORML.org.nz

GROW YOUR OWN MK Ultra ice hash

is to use a small benchtop washing machine, such as the Iceolator or the X-tractor.

The powerful water jets at the base are able to blast the trichomes from the leaf surface without the need for direct contact.

I f you c a n’t a f for d t he washing machine, you can use a pa i nt bucket w ith either a drill with paint mixer attachment, or a hand-held cake mixer fitted through a hole in the lid (use the lid to keep the electric drill / mixer away from the water! Always take care with electrics and water). But be warned, too much agitation will result in low quality hash.

Filter bags are a must. If you don’t have filter bags, it’s at this point you head out and fit yourself up with a set. Most bags come in a 3 bag set, and there are quite a few manufacturers. They are used for resin extraction on all manner of plants, the final product being used for among other things soap making, aromatherapy and candle making. But I digress.

Filter bags come in different sizes but most people get the ones that fit nicely inside one of those 20L paint buckets.

The basic principle is that you place the bags into an appropriate sized bucket, ensuring the bag with the finest mesh is placed first in the bucket. Then nest the other bags inside this bag, going from the finest screen to the most-coarse bag placed last. www.NORML.org.nz

T he fi na l (c o a r s e r) bag added, which will be the first bag removed, captures much of the adu ltera nt plant matter, leaving a dark green s l u r r y trapped in the bag’s mesh. This is rubbish and should be dumped.

Removing the second bag (often a 45 or 72 micron bag) will capture both any plant matter small enough to slip through the first mesh and any trichomes too fat too slip through to the final bag. This hash is of a lower quality than what you will get in the next bag, but from the first wash it is still very usable.

The final bag contains the gold. This is the almost white - finer than sand - herbal concrete that we have been

looking for. Remove this hash from the mesh, ensuring it is kept separate from the lower grade hash.

The most efficient method of retrieving hash from the depths of your bag is to use a second bucket. Remove the bag from the slurry, letting most of the water drain back in. Place the bag inside a second bucket and fold the edge of the bag around the top, so that the bag covers the circumference of the bucket, then simply pull the edges of the bag down bringing the mesh of the bag up so that the mesh is stretched over the top of the bucket. Next use water from your slurry to wash (and purify) the hash in to the middle of the mesh.

A teaspoon can then be used to remove the hash from the mesh.

Once removed the hash should be placed on a nonporous surface - something that will fit into the freezer (for reasons that will become clear.)

Drying & storing water hash When removing new ice water hash from the filter bags, you m ight notice it’s sticky! Hash will stick to anything - and I mean anything - and in fact resins have been used as a form of glue or bonding agent for centuries. This stuff will stick to anything while at room temperature, and ironically the key to dealing with hash lies with heat and cold.

The best way to cure your hash (there are a couple and it’s an individual choice as to which method is best) is the traditional way where hash is gently warmed and pressed. This process bursts the gland releasing the oil within. The result is a rather homogeneous mix which will cure in to what most people know of as hash: a dry cutable workable almost putty-like mixture.

The other method is to chop the hash into finer and finer

Super Lemon Haze from the Green House Seed Co (feminised seeds), shown here at 7 weeks flowering.

The abundance of trichomecoated leaves means this strain an ideal candidate for making ice water hash.

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GROW YOUR OWN

Ask Herb Hi Herb, it’s really hot in my room!

The room is a wooden box in my garden shed and the tin shed gets really, really hot, so my cupboard gets even hotter during the day - up to 38 degrees. My plants are not doing so well, please help!

Hey there, long hot days followed by long warm evenings are great for barbeques but unfortunately are the bane of indoor growers, as increased temperatures can result in overheated grow rooms and an explosion of insect numbers.

Fortunately there are some things you can do to take the edge off.

First, make sure you have adequate air flow.

Keeping air moving inside the grow room will help (a bit) reduce hot spots, so put in some fans. Make sure your intake delivers cooler air to the ground level of the room, with

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the extractor taking hot air from above the lamps, ideally on the opposite side of the room to the intake.

Second, try running your lights at night. The lower temperature means a cooler grow room. If the air temperature is above 30 degrees you can move as much air as you like but unless you cool the air your grow room will be higher than the outside temperature.

Cooling your lamp: Cooltubes are a clear glass cylinder that surrounds your lamp.

Vented on one end to outside the grow room, cooltubes are able to reduce the increase in temperature caused by the lamp.

Cooling the growroom: is probably the most difficult, labour intensive and expensive way to control the temperature in a growroom. You will need a fairly powerful cooling unit attached to a thermostat that will start once the temperature reaches a preset level.

Summary: air movement helps, lower air temperature helps

N O R M L N e W S Autumn 2010

Leaflets surrounding the bud are covered in trichomes and can be made into excellent hash. pieces. This dry powder can then be smoked in a pipe or sprinkled in a joint. I prefer this method as it leaves more of the unique hash flavour and I also find this type of hash remains potent longer.

Although water is used to make the hash, water is the enemy of long term storage. If you want to keep it for any more than a few days, you must remove all the water or you could end up with a lump of mould with some hash in it.

One of the best ways to do this is to use the back of a spoon to press the fresh wet slurry though a sieve (an ordinary kitchen one will do), onto a plate or paper towel below. This will separate the slurry into a fine powder, which will dry in about an hour in the hot water cupboard.

The fine powder can be kept as is, or pressed together using the warmth from your fingers.

Finally what to do with your high quality water hash? Left exposed to air and light the hash

will oxidise fairly quickly so after a week or so the potency will drop dramatically. Even stored in an airtight container safe from air and light the hash will still break down eventually.

The best way to store your hash (or bud for that matter) is in the freezer. This will keep your bud or hash as fresh as the day it was frozen, and the best thing is both hash and bud can be smoked straight from the freezer with no need to defrost! The only killer to your bud or hash in the freezer is moisture: one method to avoid this is to use a frost free freezer, another and something that should be done in any freezer is to use multiple bags. Place the bud or hash inside a bag and seal it, place that bag inside another bag and seal it, place that and any other bag in another bag and seal it, now place the whole lot in the freezer to be removed as needed. (continues over page...)

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GROW YOUR OWN Crystal cleaR Auckland

more, removing heat will help even more, and cooling the air will help the most. It depends on your budget how far you go.

Hi Herb, I’ve got webs on my plants! When I get up close, I can see little insects crawling about on the webs.

I’ve tried to pull the webs off but they come back the next day. What should I do? I’m 3 weeks in flowering I don’t want to spray chemicals on my plant.

Hey bro, you are quite right to not want to spray anything on your flowering plants. Particular care should be taken before any spraying is started.

The symptoms described indicate an infestation of spidermites, and a pretty well established one.

Webs are the final stage of infestation, although this does not mean relief from attack, merely a consistent increase in numbers until all available food sources have been exhausted.

Fortunately there are non-spraying methods of culling and eventually defeating these life-sucking little bastards. First thin out their numbers. Various methods can be employed, including removal of webs,

Photo: Rob Clarke

Trichome Tips Agitation should only be enough to ma x i m ise the trichome harvest, but not sufficient to overly damage the leaf. Too much agitation will break off bits of leaf matter, which will mix with the trichomes, lowering the overall quality. If you are using the washing machine, t r y e x p e r i me nt i n g w it h different cycle lengths. My guess is you’ll soon work out

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that running it for shorter times gets you better hash.

Most instructions will say leaf matter may be washed a second time for a smaller harvest. The extra leaf matter in a second wash renders that hash much less potent but it’s still worth the effort. A third wash is usually only fit for the rubbish and is not worth the bag of ice used.

Clean bags are vital to the quality of the final product.

After each use the bags should

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be cleaned thoroughly. If you find after time your bags will no longer drain readily you can clean the mesh surface using an alcohol cleaner and a clean cloth. Place the mesh on a clean flat surface and wipe thoroughly with an alcohol soaked cloth, then rinse clean with water.

The finest bag, which you remove from the bucket last, usually has the best stuff but in rare cases for some strains it can be too fine and you may

physical removal from the leaf (particular care should be taken to clean the underside of the leaf).

Then introduce some Predator mites (known as MiteE). These little beauties will hunt and kill spider mites in your garden until the available food source (spidermites) have been consumed.

Each predator mite will eat 5 adult spidermites or 20 spidermite eggs per day, and they will breed twice as fast as spidermites, eventually gaining control of and eliminating the enemy.

Depending on the level of infestation, you can expect the predators to have eliminated the enemy within 4 weeks.

This may not seem like much help 3 weeks in, but as the balance of the battle tips in favour of the predators your plant will regain vigour, health and of course growth!

One note of caution is to never use predator mites after spraying pesticide on your plants. The pesticide will kill off your hired bugs as quickly as the spidermites.

Ultimately, cleanliness is the key to a productive garden. Insect infestations should be discovered and eliminated quickly. get more trichomes collecting in the coarser bags. Hash makers experiment w ith different grades of mesh to discover the most appropriate one for the strain they are growing.

So that’s the lot: cold water, ice, a washing machine, a set of filter bags and you can make the best hash you ever smoked using rubbish.

No shit!

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CANNABIS USE

The vast majority of cannabis consumers use it responsibly and suffer no harm, however it is not without risks and some people have problems. This guide is intended to help you make an informed choice so you can stay safe.

Harm reduction > The main thing is to ensure that your cannabis use does not impair your health, family, employment and education. It’s also good to have regular periods of reducing use or not consuming cannabis. > Remember that “Less is More” - the less you use, the less you will need - and the more high you will get! > Heavy long term cannabis use may lead to some respiratory damage. Deep tokes and long breath duration are more harmful to the lungs. Take it easy! > Water pipes and bongs help cool the smoke, filter

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solids, and absorb the most harmful tars in the water.

Bongs can make the smoke very smooth, so avoid inhaling too deeply. Replace bong water each time and regularly sterilise your pipe or bong (eg using meths, alcohol or denture cleaning tablets). > If you’re into spotting, try using a lower temperature.

Red hot is too hot! Cooler knives will give you a much better taste and smoother hit with no coughing. > Try other ways of ingesting cannabis, such as eating or drinking it, or using a vaporiser to heat the herb and release THC without combustion.

> When eating cannabis preparations, start with a small piece and wait an hour before increasing the amount, if desired. The effects of edible cannabis products may be stronger than smoked cannabis. > NORML recommends consuming organic cannabis whenever possible.

Health ADVICE > Cannabis is best avoided by pregnant and breastfeeding women. > Meningitis and other diseases can be transmitted through saliva, so don’t share spit on joints or pipes. > People with a history of severe mental illness should reduce any cannabis use to a level agreed with their clinician, or avoid cannabis altogether. > People on digitalis or other heart medications should consult their doctors before using cannabis. > Never consume cannabis

that appears artificially coloured, as it may have been sprayed with a blue toxic poison by the Police.

If cannabis has a chemical taste or weird ash it may contain residue of fertilisers or Buds ground up and pesticides. put into capsules > Do not use any provide a consistent cannabis that appears dose without smoking. contaminated or has mould or fungus on > Smoking cannabis as it as it could be very a way of dealing with harmful if inhaled. unpleasant feelings or > Be cautious about mixing emotions can sometimes drugs, as the effect of intensify these feelings, or combining substances is stop you sorting out the more unpredictable and problem. If you experience can increase health risks. anxiety or paranoia Especially use caution cannabis may make it when mixing cannabis with worse. Avoid using cannabis depressants such as alcohol as it can make you more out to deal with bad acid trips, as it could intensify the of it than you intended. experience. > Mixing pot with tobacco > Being arrested is also will cause more smoke harmful, so make sure you damage to your lungs, and stay safe and know your may make you nicotine rights. dependent.

Photo: CANNALYST

Safer

HARM REDUCTION

Autumn 2010 N O R M L N e W S

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LEGAL INFORMATION

The new Bushlawyer.co.nz website can help you.

By Abe Gray & Julian Crawford

T

he ‘War on Drugs’ is a global war fought by governments against the very people they are elected to represent. Anyone arrested for cannabis enters the front line of this war and goes into battle against the State or Crown.

The battle is not fought with physical violence, but takes place on a intellectual level. Since the rules of the game have been set by the opponents, it is of paramount importance to understand the process, in order to survive.

If you know a lawyer or law reform political arguments is a fallacy. The expert you can talk to to get advice more people who take the ‘Roaring that is helpful, but these people are Lion’ stance, the stronger the message few and far between and each person to the court will be that they are knows relevant details that the applying unjust laws. In New Zealand others may not. Enter the new online as well as in other commonwealth cannabis court support network If everyone takes Bush Lawyer. the stance of a Bush Lawyer ‘Roaring Lion’ and (www. pleads not guilty to bushlawyer. cannabis charges co.nz) is an online on the grounds that resource dedicated the laws are unjust, to supporting any it becomes more New Zealander trouble than it’s facing prosecution for cannabis. On worth for the police the website you can and the courts. find information about going through nations, the court has the court process, strategies for the power to change the law if they defending cannabis charges, NORML’s feel that politicians have neglected recommended lawyers, and an archive their duty to do so. Courts in Canada of actual court documents. Many have repeatedly found the country?s members of the cannabis movement cannabis laws to be unconstitutional, have agreed to share their stories and forcing politicians to modify the law, case documents with Bush Lawyer, particularly for medical use. and anyone who has had been arrested One of the main functions of Bush for cannabis in the past or is currently Lawyer is to introduce a wide range facing prosecution is encouraged to of different defence strategies, so share their experiences as well. defendants can choose the best one Too many misinformed cannabis for them. In New Zealand the medical defendants have martyred themselves use of cannabis is gaining credibility. in court without putting up a fight.

There is far more scope to defend Accepting guilt at an early stage may cannabis charges on medical grounds seem like an easy option, however now that the therapeutic benefit the longer a case lasts, the more of cannabis has been recognised potential there is for discrediting the by the Ministry of Health, and the prosecution. You can also proudly THC spray Sativex has been made defend your use of cannabis rather available on prescription. Or, you than pretending you have done may like to challenge the prosecution something wrong. The notion that the on the grounds that a search was court is the wrong place to introduce conducted illegally or other improper

46

N O R M L N e W S Autumn 2010

Cases include: · Chris Fowlie was found not guilty on the grounds that he was searched illegally; · Dakta Green got a Judge to hear an argument for a stay of proceedings and had the same Judge say he provided ‘powerful ammunition’ for the argument of law reform; · Abe Gray was discharged without conviction for possessing cannabis, resisting arrest and obstructing police; · David Carey had possession of utensils charges dropped when he asked for a jury trial, 3 times in a row; · Julian Crawford experienced numerous examples of cannabis prosecutions over the years; · Kevin Yates was convicted for growing 180 cannabis clones, but claimed he only did it in anticipation of the Green Party’s Medicinal Marijuana Bill which he believed would pass.

The judge accepted it as a mitigating factor and sentenced Yates to Home Detention instead of prison.

For more information see www. bushlawyer.co.nz www.NORML.org.nz

Photo: James d

Busted? See the Bush Lawyer!

procedure was followed. Or you may argue against a conviction on some other grounds such as the effect on your future or a religious defence (The Italian Court recently ruled that Rastafarians have the legal right to use cannabis because it is necessary in order to enter the meditative state required to commune with God).

Whatever route you take, no one deserves to be prosecuted for cannabis, and no one enjoys going through court for a year or more and dealing with the stressful situations involved. Therefore, those that do undertake lengthy defences need the full support of the cannabis community, and Bush Lawyer is here to provide. Tell your story, upload your documents, get advice from people with experience, chat with like minded people and rally supporters to your court appearances. Plus you can browse our documents of numerous historic cannabis cases and learn examples of defences that have been successful and those that have been not so successful.

Legal information

KNOW YOUR RIGHTS E Tu! Kia Kaha!

www.NORML.org.nz

· You have the right to list of lawyers & civil rights get bail unless information there is a good reason for holding you or you have been charged with a very serious offence.

Going To Court: know your options · First appearance: you can enter “no plea”, and before your next appearance ask for “full disclosure” of the evidence against you, and seek legal advice. Check with the court registrar if you can get legal aid or, see the duty solicitor. · If it is your first arrest, you may be eligible for the police diversion scheme.

Civil rights advice & support Ask your lawyer or the police’s duty www.norml.org.nz/rights sergeant for more information.

TXT NORML TO 343 (costs 99c) · Otherwise, you can plead Guilty and accept the punishment given to you, or Call NORML: 09 302 5255 plead Not Guilty and fight the charges. or in the South Island: 021 399 822 (Please call weekday daytime · If you plead Not Guilty you can plea only. Our priority is to norml members.) bargain at a pre-trial “status hearing”.

Try to strike a deal that gets the charges L A W Y E R S w i t h 021 3264547 or 06dropped, or negotiate a reduced sentence. experience defending 3798049 Wellington: · Preparing your defence: write everything c a n n a b i s c h a r g e s . Michael Appleby 0274 down in as much detail as possible. Go Whangarei: David Sayes 403363; Chris Tennet 021 through the police evidence and identify 09 4382154; Nick Leader 626878 or 04 4711952; any discrepancies or errors. Search the 09 4384039 Auckland: Christchurch: David internet, local law libraries and courts.govt.

Peter Winter 09 3797658; Ruth 03 3745486 Timaru: nz for relevant cases.

Johnnie Kovacevich 09 Tony Shaw 03 6886056 3093364 or 021 653933; Invercargill: John Pringle Remember to stay calm.

Matt Goodwin 09 3750052 03 2144069 Be smart, don’t get smart! or 0274-999433, Rob MORE INFO · Try to get all the police officer’s names, Weir 09 3099636; Colin > Under 25? YouthLaw. numbers and police stations. Try to get Amery 09 2665910; Marie co.nz Ph 09 3096967 someone to witness what the police do.

Dyhrberg 09 3604550; > Low income? www. · If the police breach your rights tell your A d a m C o u c h m a n 0 9 communitylaw.org.nz lawyer/a duty solicitor or make a police 3733592; Charl Hirschfeld > Help with prisoners: complaint later, rather than argue at the 09 3076997; Maria Pecotic www.pars.org.nz time.

09 5227399; Owen Harold > Legal Aid: www.lsa.

Police Complaints 09 6304969; Rodney govt.nz ph 0800 600 090 · Independent Police Conduct Authority Harrison 09 3034157 > Find a lawyer: www.

0800 503 728; Talk to YouthLaw, your Hamilton: Roger Layborne lawsociety.org.nz lawyer or NORML. Write down everything 07 8396288 Rotorua: > How courts work: www. that happened while you remember. Get Simon Lance 07 3460796 courtsofnz.govt.nz photos of any injuries and see a doctor.

Palmerston North: > Laws & Statutes: www.

Peter Coles 06 3581075 legislation.govt.nz Wairarapa: Peter Broad

Photo: Chris

Police Questioning: you have the right to remain silent! · Yes, just like on TV you really do have the right to remain silent – and this includes not making a statement or answering questions - but if suspected of a crime you must give your correct name and address and in some cases your date of birth. · Talk to a lawyer before saying anything else. · If the Police want you to go with them, ask if you have been arrested. · You have the right to talk to your own or a free lawyer on the Bill of Rights list if you are being questioning about an offence. · If you’re under 17 you have the right to have a supportive adult of your choice with you at the police station.

Searches: refuse consent! · Always ask why you are being searched. If you don’t want to be searched you must say so. Silence is consent! · The police can only search you, your bag or car if you let them; or after being arrested; or they have a search warrant; or they have reasonable grounds to think you have drugs, or an offensive weapon. · The police can search your home if: you let them; or they have a search warrant; or they have reasonable grounds to think it contains drugs. You are entitled to witness a search but not to obstruct police. · If you are female usually only a policewoman can search you.

Arrests, Detainment and Charges: do not make a statement! · Always ask if you’re being arrested, detained or charged and why. · Don’t run away or resist arrest. · Ask to make a phone call and phone someone you trust. · You don’t have to answer any questions or make a statement. You have the right to talk to a free lawyer. Tell police you want to talk to one on the Bill of Rights list before talking to them.

TEXT NORML TO 343 for the latest

Autumn 2010 N O R M L N e W S

47

Activist Corner

You can help

SUPER LEMON HAZE / CANNALYST

Legalise ! cannabis can help.

you There are heaps of ways to Here are some easy ways get started. > 10 MINUTES

Buy a copy of NORML News!

Buying NORML News is an easy and effective way of sup porting our law reform efforts, because it takes a lot of money and time for us to produce.

Send our sample submission to the Law Commission see page 8 Email your MP > The format is firstname.lastname@ parliament.govt.nz or see ww w.norml.org.nz/emailMP Donate online > 12-3057-0594 667-00 Join NORML > on the opposit e page.

Support the Canna-Bus > don ations can be made to the Canna-Bus account: 12-305 7-0594667-03 Write a letter to the editor Join our monthly email list > email “subscribe norml-nz” to majordomo@norml.net

OR SO sion’s review of the > 1 HOUR the Law Commis

For the latest international cannabis news, download

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or listen at www.norml.org.nz LOCAL ACTIVISM

download shows

Take part in www.talklaw.co.nz Misuse of Drugs Act 1975 - see g.nz/forums and l.or orm Get informed > visit www.n ne members. onli 0 850 our h wit join the discussion r own in an you to hold Raise your voice > learn how l .htm pic8 z/to argument at www.norml.org.n gs rnin mo ay urd Visit your MP on most Sat r doctor.

Medical users > talk with you your town. Find und aro s New ml Distribute Nor ds for NORML. fun e new outlets. Sell mags to rais

> 1 DAY OR SO

Organise an event like a local J Day on Sat 1 May, or a demonstration, public talk , local petition, movie showing or social evening.

Grow hemp > apply for a permit from MedSafe.

Apply for a medical permit > get the backing of your doctor then write to the Ministe r of Health.

Form a local anti-prohibition group > and get active in your area! discuss your ideas

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Next issue

J Day report s, the Spann hemp expo, abis interview w ith Simon from Seriou s Seeds & m ore... hits 50 N O Rth MeL st N e W S Autumn 2010 ores June 20 10!

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Autumn 2010 N O R M L N e W S

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N O R M L N e W S Autumn 2010

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