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/