Stroke risk caused by tobacco not cannabis

Prohibitionists are grasping at straws by claiming that cannabis is linked to strokes, Norml president Julian Crawford says. In the Auckland University study, all but one of the stroke patients who were cannabis users also used tobacco regularly. According to the US National Stroke Association, "Smoking tobacco doubles the risk for stroke when compared to a non-smoker. It reduces the amount of oxygen in the blood, causing the heart…

Cannabis legalisation in US shows opportunity for NZ tourism

Monday, 12 November 2012, 1:25 pm Press Release: NORML Norml New Zealand welcomes the legalisation of cannabis in the US states of Colorado and Washington and call for a similar law change here. Norml vice-president Abe Gray said many people choose to visit and immigrate to New Zealand especially because of the laid back kiwi attitude and relaxed atmosphere. "New Zealand has the highest rate of cannabis use in…

USA: Six States To Decide On Marijuana Measures On Election Day

Historic Propositions to Legalize Personal Use Amounts of Cannabis For All Adults Hold Double Digit Leads In Colorado and Washington Washington, DC: Millions of voters will decide on Election Day in favor of ballot measures to legalize and regulate the use of cannabis by adults. Voters in three states - Colorado, Oregon, and Washington - will decide on statewide ballot measures to legalize the possession and distribution of cannabis…

Study: Synthetic Cannabinoids Produce Anti-Cancer Effects In Human Liver Cancer Cells

As the debate continues in New Zealand about regulating the availability of products containing synthetic cannabinoids, a new study has shown two particular compounds exhibit anti-cancer effects in human liver cancer cells. This report is from US NORML's Paul Armentano. Thursday, 11 October 2012 Tehran, Iran: The administration of synthetic cannabinoid agonists reduce cell viability in human hepacarcinoma cells and may be a potential option for the treatment of…

Regulation will reduce teen cannabis use, says NORML

Current drug policy is resulting in widespread teenage cannabis use while a regulated market would make cannabis use adults-only in licensed premises. Despite strict cannabis laws, New Zealand has the highest rate of teen cannabis use in the world. Meanwhile, the Netherlands have the most relaxed cannabis laws for adults in the world but has the lowest rate of teen cannabis use. “New Zealand needs to take a leaf…

Scientific Review: “There Is Now Clear Evidence That Cannabinoids Are Useful For The Treatment Of Various Medical Conditions”

by Paul Armentano, NORML Deputy Director (USA) August 9, 2012 For the second time in recent months, a scientific paper published in a peer-reviewed journal has thoroughly rebutted the present Schedule Istatus of cannabis under US federal law, which states that the plant and its organic constituents possess a “high potential for abuse,” and that they lack “accepted medical use” and “accepted safety … under medical supervision.” According to…

Five Scientific Conclusions About Cannabis That The Mainstream Media Doesn’t Want You To Know

The government and mainstream media like to push studies touting the purported dangers of marijuana, while ignoring scientific evidence that demonstrates the opposite, writes Paul Armentano. While studies touting the purported dangers of cannabis are frequently pushed by the federal government and, therefore, all but assured mainstream media coverage, scientific conclusions rebutting pot propaganda or demonstrating potential positive aspects of the herb often tend to go unnoticed. Here are five…

NORML call on 2500 to take Court action

NORML New Zealand is calling on all 2500 people charged for cannabis in Operation National to enter Not Guilty or No Plea at every court appearance to clog the court system. NORML vice-president Abe Gray said that if the 2500 people refused to plead guilty, cannabis prohibition would become unworkable immediately. "By pleading Not Guilty they will have a greater chance of avoiding jail and challenging the validity of…

NORML to hotbox UK Parliament

Medicinal marijuana users from the Netherlands are planning to hold a smoking protest outside the Houses of Parliament as part of a new campaign to push for the decriminalisation of cannabis in the UK. The publicity stunt is the brainchild of Norml, a US-based campaign group which has opened its first British chapter. Founded more than three decades ago, the National Organisation for the Reform of Marijuana Laws has…

Dakta Green back in custody

Thursday, 28 June 2012, 9:17 am Press Release: NORML For immediate release: Dakta Green is back in custody in a move that smacks of police harassment NORML says. Failing to answer the door to police at 5.30 in the morning (June 27) resulted in Dakta Green being arrested for breach of bail. Green's partner is also stuck in prison after a judge failed to turn up to court to…

Councillor calls for cannabis reform

  Today (Tuesday May 22) at 4.20pm Jim Mora will host a discussion on RadioNZ between Sandy Mulqueen, Tim Watkins and Graham Bell from Police 10-7. A Waimate councillor is calling for cannabis decriminalisation for the good of her community. Sandy Mulqueen has formed a lobby group and has made a submission in the council's long term plan outlining a project to decriminalise marijuana for personal and medicinal use.…

Radio NZ Insight: Is it time to legalise cannabis?

  8:12 am Sunday 27 May: Insight: Is it time to legalise cannabis? Sometime during 2012, 385,000 New Zealander adults will smoke cannabis, eat it, inhale its vapours, drink it as a tea or use it as a compress.  United Nations figures show the country has among the highest rates of cannabis use in the world. Does that mean the law prohibiting its use is not working?  And if…

J Day Sat 5th May 2012

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 buddies, wear your favourite pot t shirt (or a power suit/dress!), paint yourself green,…

BSA Decision another victory for NORML

  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 was "in the spirit of protest" and did not breach standards of law and…

Norml and Daktory separate organisations

  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 organisations. Although NORML endorses civil disobedience as a means of protest, the national organisation…

Norml delegation to meet MPs

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 famous use of the word 'NO' by answering 'NO' to every question on the Norml…

Norml president surveys MPs

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," he said. The survey questions are: 1) Do you support removing penalties for personal…

Medical cannabis laws associated with fewer suicides

"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 330,000 hours per year chasing pot heads. New research has shown that in the…

Medical Cannabis Laws Have No Discernable Adverse Impact On Adolescents’ Pot Use

by Paul Armentano, US NORML Deputy Director The enactment of state laws allowing for the limited legal use of cannabis by qualified patients has little to no causal effect on broader marijuana use, according to data published online in the journal Annals of Epidemiology. Investigators at McGill University in Montreal obtained state-level estimates of marijuana use from the 2002 through 2009 US National Survey on Drug Use and Health.…

NORML’s Annual Conference – new Board elected

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 report from Chris Fowlie accepted. No special resolutions passed. Election of officers: The following…