NORML e-NEWS: Issue 4, October 2009
Date: Monday, October 05 2009
Topic: Get Active
Kiaora koutou, welcome to issue #4 of NORML New Zealand's cannabis information e-letter... please forward this email to your friends and networks! (Scroll down for how to subscribe)
In this issue:
:: NORML News Spring 2009 in stores this week!
:: Come to NORML's 2009 Annual Conference: 14-15 November 2009, in Turangi
:: NORML's New Outreach Plan
:: Labour Network formed
:: Funding cannabis law reform - "Campaign 1000"
:: Alcohol in our lives - Law Commission report on alcohol laws
:: World News & Cannabis Reports: 5 Things the Corporate Media Don't Want You to
Know About Cannabis, & more.
:: In The New Zealand Media: cannabis arrests up 25%, Friday 4:20 protests, drug
driving, hair testing & more.
:: Coming Up: NORML's Annual Conference; Law Commission's Misuse of Drugs Act
Review; Otago University "Drugs and Society" course.
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Local Activism
:: NORML News Spring 2009 in stores this week!
The new Spring 2009 issue of NORML News hits the stores this week. Featuring a
bumper crop of ganja goodness, including:
• NORML's New Plan;
• An exclusive extract from the new book 'Marijuana Is Safer - So Why Are We
Driving People To Drink?';
• Canterbury University's Eric Crampton writing on BERL's failed Drug Harm Index;
• An interview with Dana Beal, founder of the Global Marijuana March and
recently in New Zealand promoting Ibogaine, a controversial cure for drug addiction;
• An interview with T.H.Seeds of Amsterdam;
• Seed Buyers Guide including all about feminised and auto-flowering seeds;
• The Green Ratio - how does your garden grow?;
• Cut out & keep Civil Rights Freedom Card ... and more!
NORML members will get two free copies mailed to them in the next couple of
weeks, but other readers will notice NORML News is now being sold for $5, rather
than given away for free.
Printing tens of thousands of free magazines costs a lot of money so NORML News
has been running at a substantial loss. We're hoping to turn that around. We
also want to encourage more people to join NORML, so we are now invoicing shops
for their supplies of NORML News, meaning readers are likely to be asked to pay
the $5 cover price for this issue. Once magazines are "old" (ie, when the next
one comes out) they will still be given away. Plus NORML activists will still
have stacks to give away or fundraise with, so it gives people an incentive to
interact with their local NORML branch. There are several advantages:
• Sales will cover the cost of producing the magazine, and fundraise for NORML's
work;
• Sales might eventually allow us to pay our contributors for the work they do,
leading to a better quality publication;
• Readers can still get older issues for free - they will only have to pay for
the latest issue;
• Readers can save money - and get magazines delivered to them - by joining NORML!
Our new distributor has more than 5500 outlets on their books nationwide, so you
can help by asking for NORML News at your favourite store. If they don't have
it, ask them to get it in. If they already sell magazines, they will already
have an account with Gordon & Gotch, our new distributors.
So from everyone involved with NORML News, we thank you for your support in the
past, and hope you join us in this new era of growth and sustainability for New
Zealand's favourite marijuana magazine.
And remember, paid-up members of NORML get a free subscription, so if you aren't
already a member please join now and you can save up to $40!
Regards,
Chris Fowlie
Editor
news @ norml org nz
:: NORML's Annual Conference: 14-15 November 2009, Turangi.
Theme: Thirty Years Too Long: Stop the NZ Drug Wars!
NORML Annual Conference and AGM will be held in Turangi this year. Book now, as
accommodation at the Lodge is limited! A special guest and speaker will be Cathy
Healy from the NZ Prostitutes Collective, speaking on how the NZPC successfully
changed the law in New Zealand. There will be an MPs Panel on what to expect
from the Law Commission report, plus workshops and presentations on: Medicinal
Marijuana; Drug Rights, California's path to cannabis law reform, the Police's
Drug Harm Index and the place of cannabis in the NZ economy; plus lots more!
• Venue: Sportsman's Lodge, Turangi - cosy accommodation and we will be the only
guests.
• Date: Sat 14 Sun 15 November 2009
• Registration: only $25, including meals.
• Accommodation: Add $55 total for the two nights (Friday and Saturday), though
there may be a concession rate for unwaged or those who have to travel from the
South Island. Ask about this when you register.
REGISTER NOW: send an email to phil @ norml org nz with your details, or call
NORML HQ on 09 302 5255.
Turangi was also chosen as its just a few hours drive from most parts of the
North Island, so we hope to have good geographical representation. River walks
and hot pools are also close by.
I look forward to seeing you at Conference this year!
"Dr Phil" Saxby
NORML president
phil @ norml org nz
More info on NORML's 2009 Conference
:: NORML’s New Outreach Plan
NORML needs an outreach strategy, to be debated and decided at the Annual
Conference in Turangi. This is because, after thirty years of campaigning
against the Misuse of Drugs Act, there is a real prospect of stopping the NZ
Drug Wars.
• Public opinion in important countries like the USA, Mexico, Brazil and
Argentina has turned against prohibition
• European countries are increasingly looking at health-based approaches to drug
problems
• New Zealand is about to start a public debate following the first
official review of the Misuse of Drugs Act since it was passed in 1974.
Over the years, NORML has tried many different approaches to achieve cannabis
law reform, often simultaneously. These different approaches – lobbying MPs,
letter-writing, smoke-ins, J-Day protests and other forms of civil disobedience
– do not necessarily contradict each other. Together, they can work to reinforce
each other and increase pressure for reform.
Campaigns in Aotearoa/New Zealand for cannabis law reform have had some success – such as two Health Select Committee reports, in 1998 and 2003, that identified
the failures of prohibition policies and recommended law reform. As recently as
2009, the same Health Committee proposed improved access to medicinal cannabis.
A weakness of these reports is that the Committee was not able to make a
wide-ranging study of the whole problem of illegal drugs, leading to detailed
recommendations on an alternative system of drug control. Some private attempts
to fill the gap failed to get traction.
At last, after more than 30 years of the Misuse of Drugs Act, a full, official,
study of the Act is under way (by the Law Commission). It should produce the
blue print for change that is so long overdue – but that depends in part on the
public reaction.
That is why it is vital for NORML to reach out beyond our core supporters to the
NZ public. Reform does not just mean finding 62 MPs who privately agree that
reform is needed – reform will happen only when the public sees the failure of
present policies and supports the new approach. It won’t happen overnight!
• We need to re-establish active NORML branches. This was one of the purposes of
my recent tour.
• Branches need to increase their membership; lobby local MPs and the news
media. Members need to write letters but also find clever ways of getting the
issue in front of the public – on the street, on the job and on the Internet.
• We need better links with allied groups such as trade unions and Maori groups,
student and health organisations and political parties. Many of these represent
the victims of prohibition – those who are fined, jailed or hurt in other ways.
• We even need outreach to uncommitted, mainstream or even hostile groups.
• Service clubs are an important target. Another important group are teachers
(via their unions) and school boards of trustees, and principals.
Obviously we need to work closely with Green Cross as part of supporting
medicinal cannabis use. This should be a main focus at present, as it is still a
live issue.
An area of increasing importance, in this time of financial crisis, is the
economic / tax argument for reform – can we afford the gross waste of money that
is prohibition?
While society is quite tolerant of adult use (especially cannabis), most parents
are worried about teenage and child use rates – as they should be! Women,
especially, need to understand why drug law reform is so vital to our future.
And as always, we need to remember the words of Mahatma Gandhi:
"First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win."
No longer can anyone afford to ignore or laugh at the case for drug law reform!
- by Phil Saxby
:: Labour Network formed
Responses to an e-mail letter in early 2009 were so favourable that a Labour
Party network of drug-law reformers has been formed. Calling itself LEADR
(Labour E-list Advocating Drug-Law Reform), the network aims to promote debate
within the Labour Party and trade unions on drug law reform.
Current LEADR co-ordinator Phil Saxby is also NORML president. Phil promoted
LEADR at the Party Conference in Rotorua in August, lobbying sector groups
within Labour and talking to MPs and delegates. Invitations are flowing in for
LEADR to speak to groups within the Party.
He says: “Drug law reform is already a significant political issue. It’s not
going away any time soon. Our current drug control policies have largely failed
to achieve good public health outcomes, with New Zealand having the highest
rates of cannabis use by children and teenagers in the world”.
World Health Organisation figures show that 27% of young New Zealanders have
used cannabis by age 15, while in the USA the figure is 20% and in the
Netherlands only 7%.
“For some reason, the public does not seem to realise what a disaster our
current policies are,” says Phil. “We need to encourage effective participation
in the current Law Commission review of the Misuse of Drugs Act.”
LEADR points out that criminal sanctions for drug use mainly fall on our
already-marginalised young people, especially Maori, and often exacerbate their
problems. Phil hopes that NORML members will soon be networking in the other
main political parties to increase support for sensible, workable drug law reform.
Contact phil @ norml org nz if you can help LEADR.
:: Funding cannabis law reform - "Campaign 1000"
NORML has survived for thirty years on the dedication of volunteers and the
goodwill of our supporters - people like you who have given their time, energy
and often money.
Some of our generous supporters make regular automatic payments every month or
so; others make a donation from time to time, based on what they can afford.
Every donation is very much appreciated!
But there is always a need for more funds, and with the Law Commission paper due
in November we could really use more money right now, for leaflets, stickers,
posters and banners, not to mention postage costs and all the other expenses
required to run a successful campaign.
Many of our supporters want to be anonymous. They don't want publicity. If that
sounds like you, there is still a way for you (and all your toker friends) to
help - make an online donation today to to NORML!
If just 1% of cannabis consumers gave us $10 or $20, NORML would receive 3000
donations! We decided to aim at getting just 1000 donations before the Law
Commission reports in June next year - that's our "Campaign 1000" and we ask you
to donate today - and get others to join the campaign!
*** NORML's fundraising bank account is: (ASB Bank) 12-3057-0594667-00 Please donate today! ***
In the payee reference column, put "1000" to show you are part of Campaign 1000.
And if you prefer to post a donation (to NORML, PO Box 3307, Auckland), tell us
you are supporting "Campaign 1000".
(With online payments, you can also include a name or code that lets us identify
you, if you want.)
This campaign will work best if you spread the word to others - think about it!
Of course, you could make as many payments - even an autopayment - to the
campaign as you like. We will report month by month on the progress of Campaign
1000!
Thanks, in advance, from the NORML Board.
:: Alcohol in our lives - Law Commission report on alcohol laws
The Law Commission has released a public discussion paper on the reform of New
Zealand’s liquor law. While it proposes significant changes to the way alcohol
is sold, the Law Commission is to be commended for sticking with the R18 age
limit for licensed premises.
“There has been constant criticism of R18 for the last few years, and we get out
there and support the idea that people have to be treated as adults, and given
adult responsibilities, at 18,” said NORML president Phil Saxby. “It’s the Kiwi
culture of binge-drinking and drink-driving that is harmful, not the legal age
of purchase. Attitudes to the legal drinking age will affect people’s stance
towards marijuana law reform, so it’s important NORML people engage in this debate.”
The report proposes some possible changes to the way alcohol is sold:
• Retaining the R18 age limit for purchasing alcohol on licensed premises, but
for off-licences such as bottle shops the age of purchase could be raised to 20;
• Bars and clubs would stop selling alcohol at 2am, with some extensions to 4am
for those with a one-way door policy;
• Police would be given powers to immediately close bars and clubs that breach
liquor laws, and licences could be cancelled on more grounds;
• More weight given to community concerns when considering granting a licence,
and the Liquor Licensing Authority could be allowed to impose additional
conditions on a licence for the purpose of reducing liquor-related harm;
• Alcohol excise taxes could be increased, but may be lowered for low-alcohol
drinks, and some drinks could be banned on health grounds.
What do you think? The Law Commission’s review is intended to stimulate public
debate. The report - Alcohol in our Lives - is comprehensive but easy to read.
Have your say! You could use the opportunity to promote a consistent regulated
approach to both alcohol and cannabis sales. The deadline for submissions is
5pm, Friday 30 October 2009. The Law Commission says it will take these into
account when preparing its final report, due in March 2010, which will be
presented to the Government as suggested law changes. Keep an eye out for their
Misuse of Drugs Act review, expected in November.
You can download the report from www.talklaw.co.nz/liquor or see www.drugfoundation.org.nz/liquor-review
======================================================
World News & Cannabis Reports
Pot Advocates Think Legalization Is Nearer
5 Things the Corporate Media Don't Want You to Know About Cannabis
If Pot Prevented Cancer, You Would Have Read About It, Right?
Cannabis "Withdrawal" Syndrome Short-Lived, Affects Few
Pot Smokers Likely To Increase Their Use Of Alcohol During Abstinence
Cannabis may prevent osteoporosis
Dutch Government may ban foreigners from coffee shops
Marijuana Use By The Numbers
Canadian 'Pot Prince' In Custody, Awaiting Extradition To U.S
======================================================
In The Local Media
Fifth anniversary of Otago NORML's Friday 4:20 protests - nice one!
Otago Daily Times - Friday 420 Protest
Channel 9 - Otago NORML throw party
The Great New Zealand Drug Driving Survey
Drug Foundation Driving Survey
Stuff - cannabis improves driving some users say
NZ Herald - Drug driving a problem in NZ - survey
NZ Herald - drug driving epidemic worse than thought
Drug testing your teenager may do more harm than good
Drug Foundation press release on hair testing
TV3 - just a few strands needed for hair test
Police arrest 25% more people for cannabis - where are their priorities?
"The increase in cannabis offences was almost entirely driven by an increase in
offences relating to cultivation, supply and possession offences. Extra
resources were invested in the National Cannabis and Crime Operation..."
Police press release on their arrests, and the Dept of Statistics Table Builder
======================================================
Coming Up
NORML New Zealand's 2009 annual conference will be in Turangi on 14-15 November
More info on NORML's 2009 Conference
The Law Commission's Misuse of Drugs Act review issues paper is expected to be
released for public comment in November.
More info on the Law Comm's Misuse of Drugs Act review
The Otago University "Drugs and Society" course critically engages with the
nature of humanity's relationship with drugs, particularly in recent and
contemporary times. It is expected that participants will gain an understanding
of the meaningfulness of this phenomenon in the context of reality, with
consideration of harms and policy options surrounding drug use.
• Six classes, Tuesdays, 6pm to 7.30pm, 13 October to 17 November.
• The course fee is $50 waged, $25 unwaged.
• Phone the Summer School and Continuing Education on 03 479 9181 for more details
and a registration form.
Video of a local news piece on the course
Youtube videos of the lecturer Geoff Noller expanding on his views is here and here.
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We want to hear from you!
We hope inspire and encourage local activism by telling the stories of what
different groups are doing to promote drug law reform around New Zealand. You
can help by writing about what you or your group are doing in your local area,
or send news tips or URL's for local drug news stories. The deadline for content
is the last day of each month, with the email sent out within a week later.
Please send your articles or news tips to news @ norml org nz
If you find these useful and informative, please help spread the word about drug
law reform in New Zealand - forward this email to a friend or two and ask them
to join our list by sending an email with "subscribe norml-nz" in the subject or
body to majordomo@norml.net
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