New Zealand Police Minister On the Marijuana Laws:
"My own personal feeling is that it is costing a huge amount of police time at the moment."
NZ Psychologist Remembers Being Arrested Ten Years Ago For Saying That He Smoked.
– 2 Articles

(Marijuananews note: The election of the founder of New Zealand NORML to parliament has generated a lot of publicity there, especially after he said that he would not stop smoking. Things did not go as well ten years ago for the president of the Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party. See the second article.

Today New Zealand is one of the places that the police seem to be ahead of the politicians. The Police Minister, like his predecessor, seems to be open to changes in the law.)
See |
Meanwhile In New Zealand, The Narks and Bureaucrats Stall On Growing Hemp.
Founder Of Kiwi NORML, Now In Parliament, To Push Issue.
and
New Zealand Minister of Police Calls for Legalizing Cannabis – Politicians Opposed
and
New Zealand Prime Minister Disagrees with Police Minister Over Decriminalization.
Down Under The Police Are In Favor, But Politicians Are The Same Everywhere.
The Head of DEAland FBI Pays A Visit.
and links

December 14, 1999
From The Dominion
letters@dominion.co.nz
http://www.inl.co.nz/wnl/dominion/index.html
By Nick Maling

CANNABIS QUESTION UP IN AIR

IF THE fragrant smell of cannabis should waft down Parliament's corridors
of power, police would need permission from the Speaker of [the] House
before smoking out the culprit.

Police were being cagey yesterday about whether or not they would pursue Green Party MP Nandor Tanczos, who has said he will continue to use cannabis as part of his Rastafarian religion despite entering Parliament.

A police spokeswoman said possession and use of cannabis was illegal and anyone who flouted the law risked prosecution. However, the reported comments of Mr Tanczos did not constitute "sufficient evidence" of an offence.

Detective Senior Sergeant Phil Berry, head of the organised crime unit, said that he had had "no requests" and "no intention at this stage" of taking sniffer dogs into Parliament. He said he could not do so without the permission of, or a request from, the Speaker.

Police Minister George Hawkins said: "I think anyone who breaks the law is always subject to be charged. But it is something I won't have anything to do with. There is one law in New Zealand, it doesn't matter whether you are a member of Parliament or a street kid. It applies equally."

Though he wanted a lot more information before he made up his mind about decriminalising cannabis, he said that everyone knew that the report by Parliament's health select committee said cannabis laws should be reviewed.

"I dare say there will be moves with regards to a private member's bill. It is a fairly complex issue. My own personal feeling is that it is costing a huge amount of police time at the moment."

When pushed on this point, he said: "I think most New Zealanders are fed up with the number of burglaries that are happening."

But he said he would not be directing police about the lengths they went to in prosecuting cannabis users.

Mr Tanczos, who is one of the Green Party's list MPs, has said that though he has no intention of being intoxicated while involved in any parliamentary work, he will not give up cannabis.

"I am looking forward to the day when having a joint in your leisure time is no more scandalous than having a whisky," he said.

Copyright: 1999 The Dominion

December 15, 1999
From The New Zealand Herald
letters@herald.co.nz
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/
By Theresa Garner

TEN YEARS ON, THE SMOKE STILL HANGS

Whangarei psychologist Les Gray had a strange sense of deja vu as he watched Green MP Nandor Tanczos tell the nation on the Holmes show that cannabis was part of his life.

Mr Gray was arrested in May 1989 - and lost a year's supply of cannabis - after appearing on the same programme and declaring that he enjoyed the drug.
(Marijuananews note: In 1993 I said on national television that I had smoked marijuana almost every day since 1967, and absolutely nothing happened to me.
See Cowan
The First Amendment is backed by the most powerful vested interests in DEAland. That is why I am not worried about the Hatch-Feinstein Internet Censorship bill. Frankly, I hope that it passes in the House next year. That is a battle that the narks cannot win.)
See
The Hatch-Feinstein Methamphetamine Anti-Proliferation Act of 1999
Will Censor The Internet, Make It A Federal Crime To Teach Farmers To Grow Hemp,
Or To Tell Medical Marijuana Patients How To Use or Grow Marijuana,
Or Even To Link To A Site Selling Pipes!

He expects Mr Tanczos will fare better than he did - and that was the early indication from police.

"We're 10 years down the track, and we're a lot closer to seeing the law changed than 10 years ago. But, my God, it takes a long time."

Mr Gray, who at 55 is still president of the Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party, recalls his comment on Holmes that sparked four court cases and a national debate on cannabis.

"I decided I wouldn't just admit that I used it. I said, 'Yes thank you, Paul, I enjoy it.' I knew it would antagonise a lot of people, particularly the cannabis cowboys in the police."

Three days later, police swooped on his houseboat and arrested him for possession. The arrest came five years after Mr Gray, then an Education Department psychologist, was sacked from his job for publicly stating his pro-cannabis views.

Mr Gray fought the possession charge, and Judge David McKegg ruled in his favour, saying it struck at the basis of honest debate and freedom of speech that the police had obtained their search warrant as a result of Mr Gray's admission on Holmes.

But the police appealed, and Justice Henry said the dismissal had been exercised on a wrong principle.

Mr Gray failed to overturn the ruling through the Court of Appeal, and ended up back before Judge McKegg.

This time he was fined $100. He resolved to go to jail and fast rather than pay, but an anonymous person came up with the money and nipped the protest in the bud. "I'm not sure if it was John Banks or the Commissioner of Police," he joked yesterday.

He doesn't regret his actions, "though at times I get fed up ... I've had 15 years fronting this issue and surely we could have had it resolved years ago.

"It's still taking people such as Nandor to have the courage to be honest and to state their position bravely and be prepared to face the consequences."

Mr Gray said the current debate was one-sided and "people who want to speak against prohibition dare not in case they get the same treatment I got."

However, he was happy most of the political parties acknowledged the need to review the law.

Mr Gray said prohibition had caused trauma to families and widespread contempt of the police and blocked credible drug education. His long association with the drug doesn't mean he's not partial to other pleasures. "I still enjoy cannabis, and I still enjoy Chardonnay as well."

Copyright: 1999 New Zealand Herald

National Organisation for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, NZ Inc.

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