NORML e-NEWS: Issue 5, November 2009
Date: Thursday, November 05 2009
Topic: Get Active
Kiaora koutou, welcome to issue #5 of NORML New Zealand's cannabis information e-letter... please forward this email to your friends and
networks!
In this issue:
:: NORML's 2009 Annual Conference: 14-15 November 2009. ===Full Programme Registration Form below===
:: Norml Board – Nominations open for 2010!
:: Drug-driving law takes effect Sunday Nov 1st
:: NORML's submission on "Alcohol in our lives" is now online
:: World News Cannabis Reports: Obama's medical pledge, and more!
:: In The New Zealand Media: drug-driving law, and more.
:: Coming Up: NORML's Annual Conference; Law Commission's Misuse of Drugs Act Review delayed; NORML Marijuana Nation talk radio, more.
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LOCAL ACTIVISM
:: Join us at NORML's Annual Conference: 14-15 November 2009, Turangi.
Theme: Thirty Years Too Long: Stop the NZ Drug Wars!
Click here for the full Conference Programme & Registration Form!
NORML's 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!
REGISTER NOW: send an email to phil @ norml org nz with your details, or call NORML HQ on 09 302 5255
I look forward to seeing you at Conference this year!
"Dr Phil" Saxby
NORML presidentv
phil @ norml org nz
:: Norml Board – Nominations open for 2010
NORML needs to be ready for the Law Commission's review starting in
November 2009! There are some Board vacancies to be filled, so if you
think you can help please contact phil @ norml org nz or any other
Board member. All positions are open for election at Turangi. Members
can be considered for a position, even if you cannot get to the
conference. Contact us!
These job descriptions below show only the core responsibilities; some
other roles could be picked up, in addition to those listed.
President: Spokesperson, media releases, strategy, submissions,
Parliamentary liaison
Editor: Norml News, email list, website content
General Secretary: Board agenda and minutes, official correspondence including annual returns. Branch liaison
Information Secretary*: website forums, assists General Secretary.
Treasurer: accounts, taxes/GST returns, budget and monthly reporting, paying bills
Bus Tour Coordinator: bus tour, daktavists (direct action).
Communications: spokesperson, news media releases letter writing
Fundraising/Merchandise*: fundraising (merchandise),
Membership Secretary: membership database, contact management, mailouts (Not a Board member.)
Regional Representatives (new positions) at least one additional person to represent the main population centres: Auckland, Central
North Island, Wellington, Canterbury, Otago-Southland.
* position may be combined with another
:: Drug-driving law takes effect Sunday Nov 1st
A new testing regime has taken effect from 1st November 2009 that will
let police officers test drivers for impairment caused by illegal
drugs. Police will first perform a standard breath test, and if the
driver passes that but appears impaired, the officer can then require
the driver to perform a Field Sobriety Test (standing on one leg, etc).
If the officer then believes the driver has failed that test, they can
compel a blood test. Any traces of cannabis residue, which for regular
users can permanently stay in the blood, will be enough for conviction,
whether or not it is enough for impairment.
NORML advocates "responsible cannabis use", and believes driving to the
point of impairment is not responsible and should remain illegal even
after cannabis use is legalised. However NORML has several concerns with
the new driver testing regime.
Please see this link and also the NZ Ministry of Transport:
Questions & Answers on new law to combat drug impaired driving
:: Alcohol in our lives - Law Commission report on alcohol laws
NORML's submission on "Alcohol in Our Lives", the Law Commission's
Issues Paper on reform of New Zealand's liquor laws, is now available
online. Sample quote: "We reject in advance the
notion that this
submission is pro-alcohol or pro-drug, merely because we advocate
treating all NZ users of such substances with consistency, equity and
justice."
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WORLD NEWS & CANNABIS REPORTS
Major Blow To The War On Drugs: Obama Tells Fed Prosecutors, Don't
Waste Your Time With Medical Marijuana Arrests
A Department of Justice memo formalises what marijuana advocates had
been pushing Obama to do for some time. By Allen St. Pierre, US NORML.
More coverage:
* On Youtube, Bruce Mirken of the Marijuana Policy Project
(www.mpp.org) discusses the Obama administration's memo intended to
stop federal resources from being used to prosecute medical marijuana
users and caregivers operating within state laws.
* NORML Founder Keith Stroup on CNN's Blogger Bunch discussing Obama
DOJ memo on medical marijuana
* Pete Guither argues the memo has gotten so much favourable press that
it's likely to help apply pressure on the feds to actually make good on
their pledge to prioritise.
* Meanwhile, Jacob Sullum
of Reason.com writes the Obama administration's new policy may not
make much difference in practice.
Yet despite this, LA County is to prosecute all medical marijuana
dispensaries!
Los Angeles County District Attorney Steven Cooley has announced that
he will prosecute the proprietors of any southern California medical
marijuana dispensary that engages in over-the-counter sales of
cannabis. "The vast, vast, vast majority -- about 100 percent -- of
dispensaries in Los Angeles County and the city are operating
illegally," Cooley told the Los Angeles Times. "The time is right to
deal with this problem."
Gallup Poll: Majority Of West Coast Voters Back Marijuana Legalisation
A majority of west coast voters, and 44 percent of the nation, are "in
favour of making marijuana legal," according to a national poll of 1,013 likely voters published
this week by Gallup.
California: Lawmakers Hold Historic Hearing On Marijuana Legalisation
Hearings were recently held on California Assembly Bill 390, an act to
tax and regulate marijuana in California. This is an exclusive look at
the historic testimony prepared for the special
hearing on legalising marijuana, by NORML's
Paul Armentano.
More here and here
Pot Is More Mainstream Than Ever, So Why Is Legalisation Still Taboo?
Obama's drug czar has said "legalisation" isn't in his vocabulary. Here's why it should be. By Steve Wishnia.
Sign the petition calling on the drug czar to start explaining 'non-starter" statement!
The Office of National Drug Control Policy Director Gil Kerlikowske
(aka the Drug Czar) recently issued a statement declaring the issue of
marijuana legalisation a "non-starter" not even worthy of discussion in
the Obama Administration. In response to the Drug Czar's statement,
SAFER has launched an on- line petition calling on the drug czar to
either start basing our nation's drug policies on reason and evidence
instead of mythology and ideology, or start explaining why he'd prefer
adults use alcohol instead of a far safer substance -- marijuana.
UK Drug Advisor Fired After Marijuana Comments
Professor David Nutt, chairman of Great Britain's advisory council on
the misuse of drugs, was forced to resign after he criticised the
British government's decision to toughen penalties for marijuana
possession. By Mike Meno
New PBS TV show: The Botany of Desire
"In every culture and in every age of history, an enormous amount of
human energy has gone into the production, distribution and consumption
of psychoactive plants." - Dr. Andrew Weil in The Botany of Desire. More here.
Pot Compounds Effective For Treatment Of Neuropathic Pain, Study Says
Cannabinoids provide significant pain relief to patients suffering from
neuropathy, according to a review published in the October issue of the
journal Neurotherapeutics.
Detection Of THC In Blood Not Necessarily Indicative Of Recent Pot Use, Study Says
Trace levels of delta-9-THC, the primary psychoactive ingredient in
marijuana, may be identifiable in the blood of heavy cannabis users for
up to seven days after their drug use has ceased, according to clinical
trial data to be published in the journal Addiction.
Got Pot? It's Legal To Take It On The Plane In Oakland
Oakland International Airport may be the world's only airport with a
specific policy letting users of medical marijuana travel with the
drug. By Josh Richman, Oakland Tribune
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IN THE LOCAL MEDIA
Police ready for tests on suspected stoned drivers
(includes comments from NORML News Editor Chris Fowlie)
* See "Detection Of THC In Blood Not Necessarily Indicative Of Recent Pot Use", above!
Police have more power to take DNA
Police unit to target crime profit
Commission defends search and surveillance changes
UK Drug Advisor Fired After Marijuana Comments. More here
US newspaper looking for marijuana reviewer
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COMING UP...
NORML New Zealand's 2009 annual conference will be in Turangi on 14-15 November
The Law Commission's Misuse of Drugs Act review issues paper is now
expected to be released for public comment in January, not November as
previously advertised. The public discussion period is expected to take
2-3 months, perhaps ending in May 2010.
Law Commission Terms of Reference for Misuse of Drugs Act Review
NORML SHOW LIVE: Marijuana Nation
NORML SHOW LIVE: Marijuana Nation is the talk radio home of the
National Organisation for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, providing a
voice for responsible adult cannabis consumers since 1970. You'll hear
from celebrities, artists, activists, musicians, doctors, scientists,
NORML's staff and board of directors, and most importantly, YOU!
Whether you are a fellow "traveller of the road" or you just believe
government should let adults be adults and stop trying to legislate
morality, this is the show by, for, and about YOU!
NORML SHOW LIVE: Marijuana Nation plays live at 2pm Sundays, New
Zealand time.
Listen or download previous potcasts from:
blogtalkradio.com/norml
Overgrown on Radio One, Dunedin
Otago NORML presents Overgrown, New Zealand's only cannabis law reform
radio show, every Friday night 9pm - 11pm on Radio One, Dunedin.
You
can listen to the live stream at r1.co.nz or download potcasts from
otagonorml.com
NORML'S 2010 CALENDAR hits the stores from this week! Also, NORML News Spring 2009 is in
stores now, with the Summer 2010 issue expected to be in stores in
December.
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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
HELP SPREAD THE WORD!
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
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