Press Releases

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  • J Day Sat 5th May 2012

    posted on the May 1st, 2012 by norml

    Saturday 5th May 2012 is the 20th Annual J Day! UPDATE 7 MAY: Thanks to everyone who came or who helped make it happen. Photos on Facebook! Come along and show your support. J Day is free, runs from High Noon to after 4:20, and is intended for adults only (R18). Bring a banner, your [...]

  • BSA Decision another victory for NORML

    posted on the April 5th, 2012 by Julian

      NORML Vice-president and Overgrown host Abe Gray has been cleared of any wrongdoing after he promoted cannabis use on air.   The Broadcasting Standards Authority has ruled in favour of NORML after an Australian doctor lodged a complaint aganst the organisation. The BSA ruled that encouraging and promoting cannabis use on a radio show [...]

  • Norml and Daktory separate organisations

    posted on the April 5th, 2012 by Julian

      The National Organisation for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) says it has not broken the law by endorsing adults-only cannabis clubs like the Daktory. Despite claims made by Fairfax Media (Steve Hopkins – March 22), NORML did not control or operate the Daktory at any point. NORML and the Daktory are two seperate [...]

  • Norml delegation to meet MPs

    posted on the March 14th, 2012 by Julian

    Replies are starting to flood in after the Norml President wrote to all MPs with a 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 [...]

  • Norml president surveys MPs

    posted on the March 6th, 2012 by Julian

    The National Organisation for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (Norml) is conducting a survey of all members of Parliament. Norml president Julian Crawford sent the following survey to MPs along with stamped self addressed envelopes. “It is important for our membership to know where each and every MP stands on cannabis and hemp related issues,” [...]

  • Medical cannabis laws associated with fewer suicides

    posted on the February 25th, 2012 by Chris

    “Policymakers weighing the pros and cons of legalization should consider… that (these) laws may lead to fewer suicides among young adult males” New Zealand has one of the highest rates of suicide in the world – especially for young males. We also have the highest rate of cannabis arrests in the world, with police spending [...]

  • NORML’s Annual Conference – new Board elected

    posted on the January 23rd, 2012 by norml

    This year’s theme was “It’s a health issue, not a crime”, and featured a presentation from drug counselor Roger Brooking (watch it on vimeo here). AGM of NORML New Zealand Inc. Held at Tapu Te Ranga marae, Island Bay, Wellington, on Sat 11 Feb 2012, 4pm – 6pm. President’s report from Phil Saxby accepted. Treasurer’s [...]

  • NZ’s 540,000 marijuana users “too many to arrest”

    posted on the January 18th, 2012 by norml

    A new Horizon Poll has found New Zealand has 540,000 marijuana users including over 70,000 who use it every day. NORML says this is more evidence in support of it’s campaign theme of “too many smokers to arrest”. “New Zealand has one of the highest rates of cannabis use in the world, and despite decades [...]

  • Problems with cannabis potency claims

    posted on the January 18th, 2012 by Chris

    New Zealand Police are complaining that domestic cannabis has apparently “quadrupled in strength“. Aside from the obvious point that if cannabis is stronger consumers don’t need to smoke as much, there are several problems with this claim. We thought the NZ Drug Foundation covered it well: http://www.drugfoundation.org.nz/mythbusters/cannabis-potency Cannabis potency Thursday, November 25, 2010 “New Zealand [...]

  • Canada’s Liberal Party votes to legalise

    posted on the January 18th, 2012 by norml

    Canada’s Liberal Party, the country’s oldest registered political party, has overwhelmingly adopted a policy of supporting the regulation and taxation of cannabis commerce, something New Zealand’s conservative government should also consider. The Liberals have often been the governing party in Canada, and have previously attempted several times to introduce legislation to legalise, regulate and tax [...]

  • Drug driving campaign may backfire

    posted on the January 13th, 2012 by norml

    NORML supports efforts to reduce impairment on the roads, and our own “Principles of Responsible Cannabis Use” invoke a no-driving clause. However, like with alcohol it is important to distinguish between use and impairment. Furthermore, efforts to reduce the use of drugs may actually backfire by encouraging more use of alcohol, a far more dangerous [...]

  • JAMA: Long-Term Exposure To Cannabis Smoke Is Not Associated With Adverse Effects On Pulmonary Function

    posted on the January 11th, 2012 by norml

    by Paul Armentano, NORML Deputy Director Exposure to cannabis smoke, even over the long-term, is not associated with adverse effects on pulmonary function. That’s the conclusion of a major clinical trial published today in the prestigious Journal of the American Medical Association(JAMA). Investigators at the University of California, San Francisco analyzed the association between marijuana [...]

  • Medical Council wrong, says NORML

    posted on the December 29th, 2011 by Chris

    Contrary to what the Medical Council says, cannabis is not illegal if used with a license or prescription, says cannabis law reform group NORML. “This is the same as with opiates such as morphine which are commonly prescribed,” said spokesperson Chris Fowlie. “Section 14 of the Misuse of Drugs Act is for issuing licenses. One [...]

  • Ban on Low Risk Drugs should be Temporary, says NORML

    posted on the August 2nd, 2011 by Phil

    Drug law reform organisation NORML says the government’s temporary ban on synthetic cannabis provides time for proper consideration of the Law Commission’s report issued in May. “Low risk drugs like cannabis and party pills should be regulated, not banned”, says Acting President Phil Saxby. “The huge popularity of party pills before they were banned is [...]

  • Amputee’s arrest poor use of police time

    posted on the July 11th, 2011 by Phil

    GreenCross facilitator and medical cannabis user Billy McKee has been arrested and is facing four charges of supplying cannabis, and one charge of cultivation, despite a recent recommendation from the Law Commission that Police should not prosecute medical users. UPDATE! NZ Police are now trying to “close down” the Greencross website, claiming Billy McKee “used [...]

  • NORML raffle sends lucky winner to Cannabis Cup in Amsterdam!

    posted on the June 30th, 2011 by Chris

    Thanks to all who have supported NORML’s fundraising raffle. It was drawn on 17 June 2011 under Police supervision. Congratulations to the winners! 1st Prize – a trip to Amsterdam with judge’s pass to the Cannabis Cup and spending money to total value of $3500 – ticket 1769 2nd & 3rd Prizes – Vaporite Vaporiser [...]

  • J Day Saturday 7 May: thousands gather across NZ to support Law Rpt

    posted on the May 5th, 2011 by Chris

    On Saturday 7 May drug law reform organisation NORML presented J Day, the annual celebration of our cannabis culture and protest against pot prohibition. “Thousands of people gathered at J Day events all over New Zealand to show their support for the Law Commission’s modest proposals to reform our outdated drug laws,” says NORML’s acting [...]

  • Law Commission report: Driving Problems Underground is not the Answer

    posted on the May 4th, 2011 by Phil

    Drug law reform organisation NORML says the Law Commission’s report issued today is still within the prohibition mindset, even though it contains some good recommendations. Banning more substances, as proposed, will only drive problems underground, says Acting President Phil Saxby. “The Commission accepts that NZ should shift the focus towards health solutions and away from [...]

  • Law Commission report agrees: “Too Many Smokers to Arrest!”

    posted on the May 3rd, 2011 by Phil

    Drug Law Reform organisation NORML finds some recognition from the Law Commission of its current slogan, “Too many smokers to arrest!” “The Law Commission says 400,000 Kiwis use cannabis each year (14.7% of adults), which supports our campaign theme of “Too many smokers to arrest,” says NORML Acting President Phil Saxby. The Law Commission argues [...]

  • Protect Young People By Banning Alcohol Advertising

    posted on the February 21st, 2011 by norml

    The current system of voluntary self-regulation of alcohol advertising is not working to reduce the harms from excess drinking, especially amongst young people, which is why the glamorization of alcohol through public advertising and sponsorship should be banned. In its submission sent to the Justice and Electoral Committee on the Alcohol Reform Bill, NORML NZ [...]