 | NORML News: NORML Branch Reports |
 NORML News Autumn 2003
News from Auckland, Hawkes Bay and Christchurch.
Auckland
Kia Ora from The Big Smoke. This summer Auckland NORML has been about going to lots of concerts as part of The Hempstore’s stall. Vibes on a Summer’s Day, bFM Summer Series, Grey Lynn Community Festival, WOMAD and more. At these events we sweeten the air with Knaster Hanf, which is legal low-thc cannabis from Germany. Knaster smells just like the real thing so it draws in good folk and confuses prohibitionists.
We have also been running a stall at Aotea Markets every Friday and Saturday. WOMAD was amazing, we got to bring the message to lots of ’Naki folk (you guys rock) and checked out a hemp research crop on the way home.
As we continue to scour Auckland for ideal club premises, we burn sweet knaster and beget bafflement in Babylon: “No officer, this is legal Knaster Hanf!”
We also attended the uni orientation and signed up more than 130 students to a revitalised AU NORML club. It’ll be great to have the uni active again, just like the good old days. Right now we are working on this mag and preparing for J-Day in Aotea Square. ‘Nuff from us, have a great harvest and remember, don’t leave home without your Knaster Hanf!
Pictures: top left: Auckland Norml’s Stuey, Harry, Chris and Mike at the GE-Free rally; top right: flying the Eco Nation flag; middle: our stall at Raglan Reggae Festival.
Hawke’s Bay
Mark Smith unsuccessfully tried to get his cannabis conviction overturned from behind bars (Norml News, Summer 2003). But he did win a consolation victory that set a precedent and earned him his Lion’s Mane. Mark applied to get grow lights that had been seized during an earlier raid returned. No conviction had come from that arrest (illegal search) so police had to return his gear! Mark is pictured above collecting his lights from the station. Well done Mark!
Like so many other victims of prohibition, Mark has now turned his attention to changing the law and is in the process of signing up members for the new Hawke’s Bay Norml branch. Contact Norml to join.
Christchurch
While our city office in High Street may have closed down last year due partly to a lack of funding, Christchurch NORML continues on from the home office of Stephen McIntyre.
Since December, local reformers have been meeting monthly to discuss the current issues and strategise. Under the monicker ‘Christchurch Cannabis Coalition’, we have representatives from NORML, the Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party, the Mild Greens, the Drug Policy Forum Trust, Canterbury Drug Policy Group, and the Unitarian Church.
Recently, a delegation from the coalition met with the Acting District Commander of the Christchurch Police to propose that a Lambeth-style non-arrest policy for possession of small amounts of cannabis be instituted here in Canterbury. While the Acting DC was unable to approve of such an initiative himself, he did listen to our argument for change, and duly acted on his promise to forward the proposal on to policy analysts in Wellington. The meeting was cordial and certainly opened the door for further discussions with the Police in the future.
We went to the Roots Festival in Kaikoura to spread the word and hand out hundreds of copies of NORML News. Big thanks to Salmonella Dub for hosting us!
Canterbury University NORML has been resurrected with over 75 members. Many are fresh, new faces, but some are also old hands from previous varsity cannabis clubs. Good on ya people.
Christchurch J Day isn’t too far away now, and we’ve got a great day planned for 2003. As always, the J Day rally will be held in the Square from High Noon, with speakers, celebrities, bands, contests and the declaration of a prohibition-free zone. As well, we plan to hold a gig on the Friday night prior to the rally, with the very finest of local bands lending their support to the cause. Keep your eyes peeled for posters.
Incredible as it may seem with so much activity going on, Christchurch NORML currently runs on a budget of nothing! We need your help - both physical and financial. So if you have time and energy to spare, or would like to make a donation, phone Stephen at (03) 3227 448, or email him at: christchurch@norml.org.nz. Cheers.
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