Police Conduct Authority investigate targeting of Daktory

The Independent Police Conduct Authority has begun investigating the police operation against the Daktory.

Police continued to target the cannabis law reform centre a week after it was raided on March 22.

On March 29 two police cars and a paddy wagon waited around the corner from the club, pulling over cars leaving the area. All passengers in the vehicles were made to give their details to police.

Three separate complaints have been made to the Independent Police Conduct Authority relating to the police targeting of club members.

The Authority confirmed it was making inquiries into the matter.

Judge rules police violated Bill of Rights

The Daktory in Auckland is NZ's first cannabis club

In the wake of the Daktory arrests, Police imposed bail conditions which would have allowed them to search the Daktory at any time without a warrant.

A Magistrate upheld the conditions and two of the accused were held in custody and made to sign bail forms under duress.

However, the next day the pair made voluntary appearances before a district court judge.

Thankfully, two separate district court judges ruled that bail conditions allowing police to search the Daktory at any time, without a warrant, violated the right not to be subject to unreasonable search in the Bill of Rights.

Opposition parties meet with NORML lobbyists

Simon Power

Following NORML's survey of parliamentarians, meetings were arranged with the Greens and Labour.

Iain Lees-Galloway from Labour and Kevin Hague from the Greens meet with NORML's Wellington based lobbists Phil Saxby and Geoff Clarke.

Iain is optimistic about the Select Committee reviewing the Misuse of Drugs Act.

The Law Commission did extensive research during its review of the Misuse of Drugs Act (1975) and made a number of recommendations including clinical trials for cannabis.

While former Justice Minister Simon Power said there would be no change to the legal status of cannabis while he was a minister, his departure paves the way for the implementation of the Law Commission's recommendations.

This includes a entire rewrite of the classification system for drugs using an evidence based approach.

MPs Kevin Hague and possibly Iain Lees-Galloway would be interested in attending a meeting with NORML as well as discussions between NORML and other groups.

Cannabis Activist Doug McLeod arrested during protest

Doug targeted for arrest because of his political views

During the protest supporting the 'Daktory 4' one of the protesters was arrested and put in a paddy wagon for using a magnifying glass to consume hashish.

Doug McLeod was charged with use of cannabis, possession of cannabis and possession of utensils for consumption of cannabis.

Doug appeared in Waitakere Court on April 4 and another protest was held outside.
Doug was remanded to appear on April 18, the same day as the 'Daktory 4'. The 'Daktory 4' has become the 'Daktory 5'.

Doug was also arrested on similar charges when he smoked cannabis at Ragamuffin in Rotorua.

'Daktory 4' supporters protest at Waitakere Court

Protesters outside the Waitakere Court

About 30 people urged passing motorists to support legalising cannabis outside the Waitakere District Court on March 28.

The pro-cannabis protesters were at court to demonstrate against the arrests of four people from Auckland cannabis club The Daktory, which was raided last week after revelations cannabis was being sold from a vending machine there.

A 45-year-old Dutch woman, a 20-year-old man from Namibia and two New Zealand men aged 20 and 28 are charged with possessing cannabis.

All four appeared in court this morning after police raided the club's New Lynn premises, seizing $27,000 cash, cannabis and drug paraphernalia.

Outside, protesters carried signs reading "It's a health issue, not a crime", "legalise cannabis" and "too many smokers to arrest".

The protest was quiet and orderly, and was monitored by five police officers.

A man asked passers-by to sign a petition urging cannabis be legalised, and handed out pamphlets on medicinal cannabis.

One protester, Dakta Toxin, said she would stay at the court protesting for "as long as it takes", while another protester added that he would be there until his death.

Daktatoxin said the best way for the government to deal with cannabis was to "legalise it, especially for medicinal cannabis users".

She urged law makers to "free the Daktory four".

The Namibian man is also charged with knowingly permitting the premises of the Daktory to be used for supplying cannabis, and the 28-year-old was charged with possessing spotting knives for the purpose of using marijuana.

The woman faces a charge of possessing cannabis for supply.

The Daktory remains open but says it won't replace the cannabis vending machine that led to it being busted.

The New Lynn club in Delta Ave had been selling 1gm bags of cannabis from a vending machine several months and had hoped by doing its members would avoid being prosecuted for dealing the class C drug.

- © Fairfax NZ News

Daktory raided following global media attention

Police seize an empty vending machine from the Daktory

While the Truth Weekender broke the story of a vending machine allegedly selling cannabis from the Daktory in Auckland on February 24, it took a few weeks before the rest of the media picked up the story.

But when they did the story became the fourth most read story on Stuff.co.nz, then went big in the Australian news media as well as the international media following a report from AFP.

As a result of the media attention the Daktory was raided the next day and the vending machine taken away, despite it being empty at the time.

A 45-year-old Dutch woman, a 20-year-old man from Namibia and two New Zealand men aged 20 and 28 were arrested on charges of possessing cannabis, possession for supply, possessing utensils and allowing their premises to be used for a crime under the Misuse of Drugs Act (1975).

Operating capital of $27,000 was also frozen in the raid leaving the Daktory virtually bankrupted.

All of the "Daktory 4" have vowed to fight their charges until they are free to use cannabis legally in New Zealand.

NZ First MP says 'NO' to Norml

A NZ First MP has said NO to Norml despite Winston
Peters supporting a referendum on the cannabis issue.

Replies are starting to flood in after I wrote to all MPs with a Norml Survey for them to complete.

A Norml delegation will soon be meeting with Kevin Hague from the Green Party and Iain Lees Galloway from the Labour Party to discuss Norml policy further.

New Zealand First MP Tracey Martin has continued her party's famous use of the word 'NO' by answering 'NO' to every question on the Norml survey.

Ms Martin even opposes Food Standards Australia New Zealand's plans to allow hemp foods products in New Zealand, despite hemp seed being one of nature's most nutritious food sources.

"Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) received an Application from Dr Andrew Katelaris MD on 4 December 2009. The Application seeks approval for the use of the seed and seed products of Cannabis sativa, with low levels of delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) as food." (FSANZ Report - 6/12/11)

"FSANZ is satisfied, based on the safety assessment conducted that hemp foods are safe for human consumption. Hemp food products may provide a useful alternative dietary source of many nutrients and polyunsaturated fatty acids, particularly omega-3 fatty acids. Only small quantities of whole hempseed or hempseed oil need be consumed to meet the adult adequate Intake for alpha-linoleic acid (an essential omega-3 fatty acid)."

Hemp is legal to grow in New Zealand once a licence is obtained from the Ministry of Health. I recently visited a hemp farm in Waikato which is pioneering a potentially huge new industry in this country. A booming hemp industry would generated jobs and tackle the economic and environmental crisis head on.

However, figures released to Norml under the Official Information Act show that very few New Zealanders are making use of the opportunity to grow hemp.

In 2011 only four companies and one individual received hemp licences. Only one individual applicant was turned down.

In 2010 no individuals applied for Hemp licences. In the last three years there has never been more than six licences issued in a single year, mostly to companies.

While Norml is primary focused on the rights of cannabis users, we hope that the legalisation of hemp following Nandor Tanczos' Private Members Bill in 2002, will one day result in a much more prosperous hemp industry for New Zealand.

Trip to Waikato Hemp Project

Tending the weed

Earlier this week I traveled with former Norml President Chris Fowlie to the Waikato Hemp Project.

A 10 hectare field of hemp with over 100,000 plants was nearly ready for harvest. The crop is growing in a remote farm location about 30 min drive from Hamilton.

It was surreal to see so many cannabis plants appear before us. The males had died off and the females were in full bloom, fully seeded. The aroma was amazing.

The Hemp farmer Dave Jordan plans to press the seed for oil while his business partner is interested in making biofuel from the hemp.

There is also a lot of interest from Waikato University, with the opportunity for post graduate students to study the potential uses of hemp. These uses include papers, plastics and building materials.

We spend a few hours among the hemp, pulling out weeds and standing up plants that were blown over in the storm. It was a great experience as I have always wanted to get involved in the Hemp industry.

Dave is also setting up an educational hemp farm near Hamilton for the public to view hemp growing and processing in action.

http://eng.waikato.ac.nz/research/comps/projects/hempdeck.shtml

http://www.hempfarm.co.nz/

Community Work Project continues

On Saturday the 3rd of March the Auckland Cannabis Law Reform Community group had its second day working on its fortnightly community work project.

Despite forecasts of a "weather bomb" around 12 dedicated volunteers turned up to weed the community garden and riverbank area.

The Millbrook Edible Garden near Sunnyvale Primary School is one of many community gardens sprouting in West Auckland.

In about 3 weeks there will be a Neighbours day at the gardens. Members of the Auckland Cannabis Law Reform community and the NZ Police are invited to join neighbours of the area in a family fun day.

http://www.projecttwinstreams.com/where/oratiastream/millbrookediblegarden/

Norml survey sent to all 121 members of Parliament

121 personalised letters to MPs with surveys

One of my first duties as the new president of Norml has been to write to every member of Parliament offering to meet with them to discuss Norml's plans for 2012.

Along with a  personally address letter I included a survey with 16 questions relating to the cannabis issue in New Zealand and a stamped self address envelope.

It is important for our membership to know where each and every MP stands on cannabis and hemp related issues.

The survey questions are:

1) Do you support removing penalties for personal use of cannabis?

2) Do you support removing penalties for personal cultivation and distribution of small amounts of cannabis?

3) Do you support removing penalties for the medical use of cannabis?

4) Do you support a regulated, taxable market for the commercial trading of cannabis?

5) Do you support the immediate release of all prisoners serving jail terms for cannabis-only offending?

6) Do you support the pardoning and issuing of compensation to all New Zealanders with a cannabis conviction?

7) Do you support the Law Commission’s recommendations relating to cannabis?

8) Given that the cannabis plant cannot be patented, who should fund the clinical trials of cannabis recommended by the Law Commission?

9) In your opinion, does the approval by Health Minister Tony Ryall of pharmaceuticals made from cannabis (Sativex) give New Zealand based pharmaceutical companies the same right to produce cannabis products domestically? (To avoid a monopoly in the cannabis pharmaceutical market).

10) Do you support FSANZ’s proposed legalisation of hemp food products?

11) Do you think that Medsafe is the wrong government department to be issuing hemp cultivation licences?

12) Do you think it should be made easier to obtain a hemp cultivation licence in New Zealand?

13) Do you or your party have any plans to introduce legislation in
this term of government relating to the relaxation of cannabis laws?

14) Are you or your party willing to introduce legislation into the ballot drafted by Norml’s policy writers?

15) Do you want more information about Norml’s planned policy sent to you?

16) Do you want more information about cannabis sent to you?

Trip to Hastings for Birthday Party

Marnz brewing up a cuppa for the guests

Marnz Manix is a very active member of the cannabis community so it was great to get the opportunity to head down to her birthday a week ago.

Marnz lives in Paki paki which is also the home of Norml's marae and kaumatua.

Paki paki was also one of the places mother Mary Aubert lived. She produced medicines using cannabis and is soon due to become New Zealand's first saint.

On the drive down to Hastings we met up with the Norml crew from Te Puke and Waihi.

By the time we got to Hastings it was getting late and we were all looking forward to relaxing in the hotel rooms that had been booked.

We got to the Town Lodge Hotel it was fully booked out because of a Rod Stewart performance that weekend. Our booking had been entered on the wrong date and they refused to issue a refund. So we were left on the side of the road with no vacancies in town.

Luckily some cops gave us directions to Paki paki and we we able to stay in Marnz's garage. It was a bit rough but we survived.

The next day we helped set up the party. Guests showed up from around the Nth island to celebrate Marnz's 24th.

There was heaps of good pot food there like pot-corn and muffins.

There were also plenty of farm animals to entertain the party goers, like ducks, cats, rabbits and chickens.

We heard about Marnz's plans to open a cannabis information centre and dispensary in Hastings. It will be opening on the 20th of March.

I will look forward to visiting the new club when it opens.

Trip to Rotorua to make RSO

A few weeks ago I went to Rotorua on a mercy mission.

I had seen a lot of evidence on the net suggesting that Rick Simpson Oil (RSO) could cure cancer.

I had been keen to try some on a cancer patient for some time so when I was contacted by a man in Rotorua whose son has terminal brain tumours, I took the opportunity to help.

It was the first time I had been involved in producing the oil and it took some time to find all the neccessary ingredients.

A couple of high grade Oz was procured in Sth Auckland, no mean feat at this time of year, and off we went to Rotorua.

The recipie involved soaking the material in isopropyl alcohol, before straining and evaporating the alcohol off in a rice cooker.

It took about three hours to make and we produced around 2/3 of a syringe of oil. Of course the syringe is used for storing and dispensing the medicine for oral ingestion, not injecting.

The oil was given to the terminal cancer patient who appeared to like its effects. A drop smaller than a grain of rice proved to be more than enough for a single dose.

Taking the oil three times a day for two or three months, should be enough to treat most types of cancer.

I have not yet heard whether the patient is improving but I will keep you posted.

A young child with the same sort of brain tumour recent became cancer free using the medicine. http://www.kxly.com/news/30529342/detail.html

http://phoenixtears.ca/video-library/

Auckland Cannabis Law Reform Community Project

Cannabis law reformers at project Twin Streams

The Auckland Cannabis Law Reform community has begun helping out the wider community by cleaning up a west Auckland river bank.

Around 15 volunteers turned up on Saturday February 18 to do two hours of weeding and picking up rubbish for project Twin Streams. The organisers were blown away by the turn out and were happy to have us back fortnightly.

Project Twin Streams is a large-scale environmental restoration project. it is working to improve water quality in Waitakere streams by revegetating 56 kms of streambanks with native trees and shrubs, and purchasing properties within the flood plain for removal. This stabilises the banks from erosion, creates a cool, shaded environment for ecology to thrive and filters toxins entering the streams.

It was great to see so many cannabis activists turn out to help the local community. The group got a lot of work done in a short space of time. It is important for the cannabis movement to reach out to the local community to show that we are responsible citizens and not criminals.

https://www.facebook.com/events/229827060438199/

Trip to Norml Conference in Wellington

Norml's AGM was held at Tapu te Ranga Marae

I was lucky enough to be able to fly down to Wellington to attend the Norml NZ conference on February 11 2012.

A highlight of the conference was a presentation by drug councillor Roger Brooking, who performs drug assessments in prisons.

Mr Brooking has written a book about the lack of drug treatment programmes in prison called Flying Blind.

"The corrections department spend more money on their uniforms than they spend on drug treatment programmes," he said.

During the formal AGM, Phil Saxby stood down as Norml's acting president.

Much to my surprised I was nominated and voted in as the new president of Norml.

This will be a great opportunity to grow the cannabis movement and truly overgrow prohibition.

I look forward to working with vice president Abe Gray, secretary Phil Saxby, treasurer Chris Fowlie, editor Will de Cleene, direct action co-ordinator Dakta Green, medical marijuana representative Billy McKee, Auckland Representative Sean Norris-Davidson and Wellington lobbyist Geoff Clarke.

After the eventful Norml conference we had a wonderful party at the house of ALCP leader Michael Appleby, who was turning 65. Michael has a spa bath on the roof of his hilltop mansion which we we happy to relax in.

It's a tough life.

Living at New Zealand's first cannabis club

The Daktory featured in the Truth Weekender 24/2/12

Working in a cannabis cafe has been a lifelong dream for me, so when I was offered a position at New Zealand's first cannabis club, I took the job.

The Daktory is located at 80 Delta Ave, New Lynn, Auckland and sells cannabis to the public five days a week.

Cannabis is dispensed from a vending machine which has 1g bags available for $20.

Daktory owner Dakta Green is serving 23 months in Mt Eden prison for charges related to the Daktory. However the club continues to operate and has a good relationship with Police and the local community.

Seeing hundreds of people queue up to buy cannabis each day, reinforces just how popular cannabis actually is in this country.

Most of the customers are the sort of people who don't want to buy from the black market. There are professionals who come to the daktory in suits after work.

The club is the ideal example of how well a legal regulated cannabis trade could operate. The club is R18 and customers must have zero alcohol on their breath when they enter.

While there is no likelihood of the NZ government legalising cannabis, there are big plans for these clubs to spead nationwide.

Community trusts will be used to return profits to local communities and bring public support to the idea of cannabis clubs.

Welcome to my new blog

I'm Dakta Journo. I am a professionally trained freelance journalist, specialising in cannabis news. I will be bringing you the latest in cannabis and hemp news from around New Zealand and the World.