NORML presents the 25th Annual J Day – Sat 7 May 2016 – everywhere
Posted inEvents Press releases

NORML presents the 25th Annual J Day – Sat 7 May 2016 – everywhere

J Day is an international celebration of cannabis culture and protest against pot prohibition. It's the original "protestival", now in our 25th year! This year, 2016, also marks 40 years of enforcing the Misuse of Drugs Act (took effect 1976), 25 years of J-Day (we began in 1992), and 20 years of the ALCP (founded 1996)! Given the unprecedented coverage of cannabis law reform lately, now is the time…
Posted inLaw Reform Medicinal Use of Cannabis Press releases

Patients can bring legally prescribed medicinal cannabis products into New Zealand

For over 20 years NORML has been advising patients who could afford it to get medicinal cannabis prescribed overseas and bring it back legally. The Misuse of Drugs Act allows any patient traveling to bring with them a personal supply of ANY prescribed drug. All countries have similar clauses, so that, for example, someone from NZ can travel with their painkillers or cancer meds. It also means anyone can…
NORML Offers Qualified Support for Binding Referendum on Medicinal Cannabis – But Would Prefer Government Acts Now

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Posted inChris Fowlie's Blog Law Reform Medicinal Use of Cannabis

NORML Offers Qualified Support for Binding Referendum on Medicinal Cannabis – But Would Prefer Government Acts Now

New Zealand's oldest cannabis law reform group has offered qualified support for Helen Kelly's proposal for a binding referendum on medicinal cannabis. Cannabis is useful for treating a wide variety of conditions including pain, nausea, inflammation, cancer, epilepsy and diabetes, and according to Government statistics may be used medically by as many as two hundred thousand New Zealanders. In a candid post on The Standard, former Union boss Helen Kelly…

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Posted inAbout cannabis Chris Fowlie's Blog Events

Grow pot? Please do this anonymous survey

Courts, police, prosecutors, the media and the general public often have highly unrealistic views of cannabis growers, their motives, how much they produce, and how it is sold. This often means cannabis growers are charged (and convicted) for excessive amounts and inflated values. Now you can help. If you have ever grown cannabis in New Zealand, do this anonymous survey.  http://worldwideweed.nl/ The World Wide Weed research team (a.k.a. the…
Posted inAbout NORML Press releases

AGM – Sat 12 Dec 2015

Notice of Annual General Meeting of NORML New Zealand Inc. Venue: NORML office, at The Hempstore, 253 Karangahape Road Date: Saturday 12 December, 2015 Time: 11am-1pm Agenda: approving previous minutes, treasurer's report, election of executive officers, matters arising, further discussion as time permits. Open to all members. If you wish to contribute but cannot attend in person please contact us to arrange online viewing, or let us know your…

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Posted inChris Fowlie's Blog Press releases Research

Chris Fowlie on The Daily Blog – Even one cannabis arrest is one too many

Originally published on The Daily Blog, 23 July 2015 I’m either stupid or in denial, because apparently the police have already decriminalised weed.  That’s according to an article in the latest issue of Salient, which says “Fowlie focusses on the noise and misses the signal” in a recent post I made here on The Daily Blog. Maybe I was too busy helping victims of cannabis prohibition to have noticed that police…

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Posted inChris Fowlie's Blog Press releases

Chris Fowlie on The Daily Blog: Healthy hemp foods kept off shelf by Oz cop roadblock

Originally published on The Daily Blog 8 July 2015 Australian police have convinced politicians to extend the ban on one of most nutritious food sources known, because of concerns about the validity of their roadside drug tests, which they are pushing for New Zealand to adopt.  Hemp seed is one of the best protein sources known, comparable to soy and meat but composed of more beneficial globulin edistin protein, as well…

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Posted inChris Fowlie's Blog Press releases

Chris Fowlie on The Daily Blog: One of many punished and not supported

Originally published on The Daily Blog, 25 June 2015 This Friday 26 June is global “Support, don’t punish” day, which aims to focus attention on the harmful aspects of criminal drug laws while calling for more support for those drug users who need it.  In the Auckland District Court this week I saw a cannabis activist persecuted by an out of control police force.   Dakta Green was sadly just one of…

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Posted inChris Fowlie's Blog Medicinal Use of Cannabis Press releases

Chris Fowlie on The Daily Blog: Compassionate approach plants seed for medical cannabis

Originally published on The Daily Blog, 11 June 2015 Medical cannabis hit the news big time this week, with the Prime Minister John Key hoping to shut down any prospect of a parliamentary debate, called for by Labour leader Andrew Little, Green Co-Leader Metiria Turei and CTU leader (and cancer patient) Helen Kelly among others. Yet the number of people using cannabis medicinally continues to grow – medical use is now forty per cent of…
Posted inFor Media & Students Law Reform Medicinal Use of Cannabis

NORML, Peter Dunne and Family First all agree patients should have more access to effective medicinal cannabis. The question is How?

Instead of wasting time and money on years of pharmaceutical-level testing, NORML says we should follow the Australian approach, treat it as a herbal remedy, and immediately allow compassionate access. A TVNZ poll last weekend showed an increase in support for medicinal cannabis, and Associate Minister of Health Peter Dunne said if medicinal cannabis is effective, he will back it: "If those products are shown as a result of the normal testing…
Posted inFor Media & Students Law Reform Medicinal Use of Cannabis

NORML and Family First agree NZ’s medicinal cannabis policies need to change

NORML is pleased to note that the conservative group Family First is calling for reforms to our outdated policies around medicinal cannabis. In their recent press release, Family First says they are now calling for: the expansion of research into the components of the marijuana plant for delivery via non-smoked forms. (Supported by NZMA) the establishment of an emergency or research program that allows seriously ill patients to obtain non-smoked…

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Posted inChris Fowlie's Blog Press releases

Chris Fowlie on The Daily Blog: Sentencing against Cannabis

  Originally published on The Daily Blog, 22 April 2015 Today the Daktory Three will be sentenced in the Auckland District Court over charges relating to New Zealand’s first cannabis social club. The Daktory, located in the West Auckland suburb of New Lynn from 2008 to 2012, was a place where consenting adults could relax and meet like-minded people over a joint or three. Founded by Dakta Green –…

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Posted inChris Fowlie's Blog Medicinal Use of Cannabis Press releases

Chris Fowlie on The Daily Blog: Let’s have an honest discussion on medicinal cannabis

Originally published on The Daily Blog, 16 April 2015 Safer than aspirin[1], or a sneaky ruse to legalise the devil’s weed? Patients and health professionals say cannabis may be a “wonder drug[2]” that relieves conditions from back pain and nausea to fibromyalgia, cancer[3] and epilepsy. But not according to our Ministry of Health. The only form of medicinal cannabis they permit is Sativex[4], an extract made in the UK…
Posted inLaw Reform Press releases

Petition to reduce Synthetic Highs by legalising natural cannabis

NORML has launched a petition to the NZ Parliament saying what everyone knows - the only way to reduce the use of more risky synthetic cannabis is by allowing natural cannabis. Even though synthetic cannabis products have now been banned in New Zealand, they will just be pushed underground and into the control of criminals. Prohibition did not work for alcohol, is not working for cannabis, and will not…
Posted inEvents Press releases

2014 Law Reform Conference and NORML AGM – Sat 14 June in Wellington

NORML NZ Conference and AGM Saturday 14 June 2014, 9:30am to 5pm Hotel Mercure, 345 The Terrace, Wellington. Join us for our annual cannabis law reform conference - with cannabis reforms in Colorado, Washington and Uruguay, as well as review of the UN drug treaties, and NZ's ongoing debate about regulating synthetic cannabis substitutes (and why not the real thing?), we are now closer than ever before. Don't stand…
Posted inLaw Reform Press releases

Synthetics ban won’t work if cannabis remains illegal, says drug law reform group

The Government's intention to ban the remaining synthetic substitutes won't work if cannabis remains illegal. "The more risky synthetic substances are only demanded because consumers can't legally use natural cannabis," says Chris Fowlie, spokesperson for NORML (National Organisation for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, New Zealand Inc). "The false demand for synthetic products will only be reduced when real, natural, cannabis is finally legalised in New Zealand like it…
Posted inLaw Reform Press releases

New pipe ban will increase harm to cannabis consumers, and encourages users of legal synthetics to smoke more

The Government will increase harm by further restricting the sale, supply and importation of drug harm reduction equipment. "This National-led Government seems to be encouraging use of the more harmful synthetics over safer natural cannabis. Now it is increasing harm even more, by forcing them to smoke larger amounts," said Chris Fowlie, spokesperson for the National Organisation for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, New Zealand Inc. The Misuse of…
Posted inAbout NORML For Media & Students Law Reform

NORML’s Position on ‘legal highs’ & the Psychoactive Substances Act

NORML supports the intention of the Psychoactive Substances Act It should be widened to cover all low-risk drugs including cannabis Legalising and regulating cannabis is the most effective way of closing down the market for synthetic cannabis The idea of legalising and regulating low risk drugs instead of trying to ban them is one that NORML supports.  We agree with Parliament that regulation is the best way to ensure…
Posted inEvents Law Reform Press releases

NORML presents J Day, nationwide protests on Sat 3 May, 2014

J Day is an international celebration of cannabis culture and protest against prohibition, with free events all over New Zealand. NORML first organised J Day in 1992, it is now held in over 200 cities around the world on the first Saturday in May every year. All events start at High Noon, so don't be late! Auckland - Albert Park Hamilton - Lake Domain Stage Whakatane - Historic Reserve…
Posted inMedicinal Use of Cannabis Press releases Research

The Media Should Stop Pretending Marijuana’s Risks Are a Mystery — The Science Is Clear

We now know as much about cannabis as we know about alcohol, tobacco and many prescription drugs. Speaking recently with the Los Angeles Times, UCLA professor and former Washington state "pot czar" Mark Kleiman implied that we as a society are largely ignorant when it comes to the subject of weed. Speaking with Times columnist Patt Morrison, Kleiman stated, “I keep saying we don't know nearly as much about cannabis as…