Cannabis Law Reform In Australia?

[Mr. Nesta]

Hi, My name is Louis and Im an American that moved out here to Sydney a couple of years ago. Compared to back home, I feel like Australia (even Sydney and NSW where I live) have pretty reasonable cannabis law. Let me scratch that, the law is still pretty invasive, but it seems that enforcement for the average citizen is pretty lax. I mean, you can barely walk around without the sweet smell of a joint hitting your noise as it leaks from someone's house. However, it is still necessary that we look to make real progress with this issue. Ive wondered for years how the hell there hasnt been any progress on the medicinal front here even though there was a "commission" assigned to look at the viability of cannabis. It seems to me like there isnt a serious, unified push being made by intelligent, committed members of the community to bring the truth forward. Although there is tolerance to a certain degree in Australia, people continue to go to jail and patients continue to suffer for lack of medication. I mean, I see people sitting at all of our fine cafes here for hours at a time, self-medicating themselves with caffeine and cigarettes, all the while harbouring ignorant perspectives on freedom and more importantly on drug laws. Back in the US, I believe that we will have serious discussion for legalization within the next 5 years. The harmful effects of prohibition are far outweighing any perceived gains in the "war on drugs." As those invasive and racists policies fail, there will be opportunities all around the world to re-define not just which are illegal or legal drugs, but to re-define what freedom is, to one day be represented by OPEN government; to be able to know that justice does exists and that the hidden agendas of politicians and businessmen do not dictate the way of the world.

 

I'm not trying to say progress hasn't been made, but now is as good of a time as ever to set a serious foot forward. No matter where it is the movement for cannabis law reform should not only look to "free the weed," but to expose the lies, the propaganda and those responsible for literally taking away the lives of the imprisoned, the sick, the suffering and people of color that have seen entire communities destroyed not by drugs, but by ignorant drug policy, poor education and a system that treats health care issues with handcuffs and chains. For me, cannabis law reform is less about being able to head down to the Chemist and buy, and more about taking a major step to educate the public and politicians alike that drugs are not the problem here. It is ignorance, poor parenting, and a system that looks to blame and fight wars against concepts and inanimate objects such as "terror" and "drugs" and "poverty" that limits us. We need to realize that the real wars are fought within as we encounter all the realm of human experience. When we have a wealth of information to rely on we can make decisions that for better of for worse we will at least learn from. When our whole world is filled with mis-information and propaganda and lies, well its easy to see what we get; a failed financial system, overcrowded prisons and wars financed by the drugs, prostitution and "terror" that we so nobly spend billions to fight. What we do need here in Australia is a professional, focused lobby group for cannabis law reform. It seems that there are many willing to do their part, but we need to get together and approach the issue as citizens and taxpayers first, and cannabis users second. I am advocating the start of a national organization to fight for this cause. Say what you will about the Marijuana Policy Project or NORML, but they have gotten alot of airtime in the media and eventually, they will bring full legalization to the US. The question then will be, what were the costs of 70+ years of prohibition? Will those responsible for the lives destroyed feel remorse? What of the 7000 drug-related murders last year alone in Mexico? What of the guns, prostitution and even slavery necessary to the black market distribution of drugs? Will it have been worth it? We need lawyers, doctors, artists, accountants, web designers, architects, hospo workers and everyone else to step up and put an end to this. Not only so people can consume cannabis, but because true freedom will exist one day on this Earth and so those responsible for holding back human development for the advancement of political agenda will answer for all the injustice and harm that failed drug policy bring about.

 

I would really like to get going on developing a lobby group. If anyone is interested I intend to contact the MPP for any info our sources and work using a similar model to them. This means the focus will be on getting scientific information in the media to combat the propoganda, getting non-profit status, and having a well-informed community that understands the line that must be respected if we are to make any progress on this issue. I want to approach it in a very professional manner as I believe it is the only way to be heard with such a seemingly taboo issue in the political arena.

 

If anyone is interested or has any ideas, input or experience please reply.

 

-Louis

Edited April 22, 2009 by Mr. Nesta

[freddie]

I agree with pretty much everything you've said. Especially this:

 

What we do need here in Australia is a professional, focused lobby group for cannabis law reform.

 

and this:

Say what you will about the Marijuana Policy Project or NORML, but they have gotten alot of airtime in the media and eventually, they will bring full legalization to the US.

The main problem is that I've seen many threads like this come and go and amount to nothing. Unfortunately NORML threads get deleted here (see the site support section for reasons).

[Mr. Nesta]

Well I think that there is a place for an organization like this in Australia that is looking to attack the problem front on, instead of sitting back and waiting for politicians to start using common sense. I mean, the problem is, the media and people speaking from some backwards ass 'moral perspective' would like to keep the argument as strictly a drug issue. The problem with this is that the current drug policy destabilizes all the other systems that we participate in every day. I mean, billions of dollars spent keeping cannabis as an illicit drug when its certainly an industry operating in the hundreds of billions is a gross injustice. I believe that if we continue to misallocate resources like this we will continue to live in a world where the real problems aren't even addressed! I mean, politicians wont even touch certain issues because they're not politically beneficial and nobody will hold them accountable. If we used the billions of dollar enforcing prohibition around the world, and then combined that with the trillions used for military spending every year and put that money into education and health care we would probably be having this fucking conversation in space or something.

 

I think that seriously looking at not only the drug 'problem' but all that it touches and stands for is the way to bring this issue to the forefront. I'm not happy to continue to let our politicians make the choices based off of their own twisted moral platform. I'm ready and willing to take this on full-time because like i said, its not about drugs, its about freedom, education, and putting an end to policy based on the agendas of the few. One of the major side effects of organizing people into cities and towns is that they start to believe that other people are responsible for their lives; people forget how to protest, how to mobilize, how to stand up to these career politicians. If you're reading this then you obviously care about this issue, so lets do something about it. Contribute whatever you can, ideas, money, your labor, your presence whatever. But lets actually get something together to make a difference. Guys like Rob Kampia, Bruce Mirken and Aaron Houston have all made the going easier for us. They've testified in front of congress, they've been on CNN, they're in the newspaper and they're not seen as raving hippies trying to legalize dope. I believe that we can use that momentum to make a serious push first for an actual Medicinal Cannabis trial and eventually, we can show the public that cannabis is a useful commodity that we can use to subsidize education, health care and other public works, instead of padding the pockets of black market dealers.

 

I'm planning on getting out and joining a couple other popular forums out here and I'm trying to get some way to get up to Mardi Grass next weekend because we've got the numbers, know we just need to mobilize them. I think many more people are partaking of cannabis than any government statistics will admit. Its just about getting people to realize that this is a serious issue and it is worth fighting for. Not so we can all get high, but so we can maximize proper use of our commodities and direct the scarce resources we have to the places they belong, to providing education and health care first to the next generation of people whom already have so much work ahead of them to fix this planet. As I said, first we would probably push for the medicinal trial as that little '5 year review' scam is gonna expire soon, then decriminalization in order to free up the resources and following that, full legalization to take advantage of such a useful, resilient plant.

 

-Lou

Edited April 23, 2009 by Mr. Nesta

[luciddreaming]

It's good to see another person who actually wants to do something. I'm an artist so I can contribute to that part. So now We need lawyers, doctors, accountants, web designers, architects, hospo workers and everyone else

 

Unfortunately I'm broke as fuck though. So what do you have in mind?

Edited April 23, 2009 by luciddreaming

[Frazz]

i may be a little off the mark here but as i see it we here in Australia (unlike America) have almost zero wealthy citizens who would put big money into cannabis reform .. 'cause it will take serious money to get any kind of serious change in laws and attitudes ..

millions have been poured into Normal U.S. so yea there has been some progress there

 

are there not well established companies who would view recreational/medical cannabis as a competitor to their own businesses, like peddlers of alcohol and pharmacutical companys and private prisons who have vast resources to devote to rebuffing the piss-ant attempts of cannabis activists

 

whilst America might achieve legalization of Medical cannabis in some kind of form, well it has in some states, but i do note the DEA still raids, closes and prosecutes legitimate dispensaries in these states regardless of local laws .. admittedly that is still better than what we have i guess ..

 

given that approx. 40% of Americans appear to support legalization of cannabis and the obvious glaring fact that legal cannabis would be a large income stream for the Govt. in such poor economic times, that is still not enuf to make liberal-minded Pres. Obama consider decriminalization ...

 

nevertheless i tip my hat to your high ideals and enthusiastic spirit Mr. Nesta, its good to have you in our community

[Mr. Nesta]

One of my former uni professors once told me that a business should never not be started for lack of money. If you are providing a service for people and you have their best interest at hand you at least have a chance to be successful. Like I said, I really do believe that there are far more marijuana smokers in this country than anyone wants to admit. I mean, if we could get 1 dollar from everybody every time they went to their dealer, I'm sure we could get something done. Besides, those advocacy groups in the US started out in a much worse social environment for drug discussion than we have here. Like I said, after having a look at the current state of things I think that medicinal marijuana legislation is definitely attainable. That would be a big step in getting at the very least cannabis available to those that need it most. I just can't accept that fighting for this would be pointless for lack of funds. If everybody can just add a little bit of effort to the cause I believe we'll do just fine.

[luciddreaming]

whilst America might achieve legalization of Medical cannabis in some kind of form, well it has in some states, but i do note the DEA still raids, closes and prosecutes legitimate dispensaries in these states regardless of local laws .. admittedly that is still better than what we have i guess ..

 

They no longer do this. Because of the ACTIVISM they have over there. Obama said he will not allow states laws to be over ridden by federal law. The medical users in states where it's legal are fine.

 

I agree Nesta. We need some sort of website FIRST. Where people can donate there as little as $1.

 

Also I have no idea how we have got even this far with so little activism. Besides Mardi Grass which I NEVER even see on the news, there is maybe 5 people who have been fighting for it that I know of. One that I can name off hand.... Dr. Andrew Katelaris. And I have no idea what's happened to him.

Edited April 24, 2009 by luciddreaming

[Keltash]

The thing that i hate the most here on this issue, is that it gets pretty much no attention at all. There are no actual discussions or news stories or what have you on this issue. I would be more than willing to join or take part in anything like this, NORML is a great organisation but the thing is they won't help Aus, because it is an US organisation.Australia needs its own organization for any kind of progress to be made.

 

I doubt we will find much support in Australia however, because there is pretty much no discussion on this, here people just pretty much think "WEED IS BAD" "WILL SOMEBODY THINK OF THE CHILLDREN"etc from years and years of govt propaganda.

 

Right now if anybody brought up the topic of cannabis law reform in Australia i would assume they would either get simply laughed at or just plain ignored.

 

But yeah if anyone does want to get something started ill come in and try to at least do something on an issue close to me.

 

What i think we need before we setup starting some kind of organisation or movement or anything, is to get someone on board that knows a lot on the subject particularly Australian statistics on cannabis arrests, how much its costing the tax payer etc.This person would also have to be well spoken and able to really put forward the point and get people to start thinking about it.

 

If we can start to get people talking about it than that is progress.

[Indycar]

The thing is, the majority making the biggest noise in Australia. Are usually the one's that need hushed up because they're not of a sound mind and go off aimlessly doing the cause more harm than good. If that factor can be removed, I tend to believe half the battle would be won. I know i've been portrayed as an activist basher in the past, hopefully this explanation will explain why I do so.

 

Until something legit surfaces in Australia, I tend to think inaction is the way to go. As history shows with cannabis law reform in Australia, those with the biggest voice have done little more than encourage State Governments to come down with harsher penalties.

 

Here's hoping that an organization with proper structure and ideas will surface one day, within Australia. That is prepared to take it to them in a proper and acceptable manner.

 

[Mr. Nesta]

Great we've had some replies so at the very least I think many of you understand what I'd like to do here. Ranting and raving about personal freedom and human rights is definitely not the way to go I think. I've seen what politicians and the media tend to do to supporters of drug reform when they have that approach. Generally, they will attack your credibility by suggesting (in not so subtle terms) that you are some sort of hippie trying to legalize drugs so you and your hippie friends can get your fix or something along those lines. However, I do believe that the same tired arguments for prohibition have been exposed as nothing more than propaganda and lies by some very credible scientific research. One thing I do know is that the public does not like being knowingly manipulated so the best way to approach the issue would probably be to just bombard the media with as much information as we can. The good thing is, we already have some states here with liberal cannabis laws and as long as we can get out and uncover all the research on drug reform in the Netherlands, the progress (or lack thereof?) being made in the U.S. and also the decriminalization of drugs in Portugal and combine it with a professional common sense message we have an opportunity to make the changes. People are starting to realize that our politicians and the big business that give the campaign contributions to put these people in power usually do not have the communities best interest at heart. The failing global economy and diminishing resources mean that we have to be even more diligent and careful that we are making the right decisions for the common good of not only Australia, but people around the world. Regardless of how taboo the issue is, I think people still will listen to common sense as long as you have likable, well-spoken people delivering the message. I mean, the fact is when Obama was a candidate he wasn't really saying anything that different from what the ACLU and other civil advocacy groups have been saying for years; that we need to improve the infrastructure in the US to deal with some of the enormous social problems we have there. However, the mistakes of the Bush administration, accelerating climate change and one of the most effective PR campaigns in history all proved to be the perfect storm for him to become president. Now what that says to me is that in times of great destabilization, you can use the public record against the politicians much like they would use it against us in the past. The fact is, we have 70 years of horribly failed policy, overcrowded prisons, poverty and a growing number of addicts and still, the number of drug users is growing by anyones statistics with the exception of the U.S. DEA (and we all know they have been juking the numbers there since their existence).

 

So, that being said here is what I'd like to do. First off, its great Oz Stoners is here because we have access to some 30,000 or so people that at the very least are a part of the cannabis community. So we must have a wealth of knowledge about Australian cannabis culture and access to 30,000 people plus hopefully all their friends. I think that as far as research and statistics, we can probably count on what's available through other advocacy groups like the MPP etc. to give us a good start to formulate our arguments. Over the coming weeks, I plan on putting together a mission statement, business plan etc. as that will be integral to putting that first foot forward as a professional lobby group. First impressions will be everything so it will be important that we take cues from other successful lobby groups in our approach. I mean if you think about, alcohol and tobacco are multi-billion dollar industries with very powerful lobbies and the fact is, not many people are arguing that we need to prohibit alcohol again. Its commonly accepted that even though alcohol and tobacco carry with them an entire range of social problems, it is not practical or effective to prohibit them. Our argument should be centered around pushing this issue while constantly trying to associate with these other legal drugs, in order to push the relative harmlessness of cannabis. On the medicinal front, I believe that there is already enough information and functioning medicinal cannabis programs out there to make it happen here in Australia. Its just going to be a case of getting the legislation in place first for chronic conditions such as HIV, cancer, Crohn's disease, nerve conditions etc. first, and then pushing for other less serious but nevertheless deserving conditions like insomnia, anorexia, anxiety and the like.

 

Once we have a business plan (and hopefully name/logo/non-profit registration etc.) and a focused progression of ideas to be implemented, I would like to start a website so we can begin to get the message out and hopefully start with some fundraising. Again, I'd like to take cues from other lobby group sites as far as design goes. It will have to be clean, concise and very clear with the message. We'll be the front line for this battle and it will be critical that we look the part in the public. Credibility is everything and our opponents will certainly question ours. So basically anyone that is willing to do anything at all just drop me a PM with whatever skills you can provide (trust me there is enough work for everyone even if you don't think you have skills) and hopefully we can start to organize all this. In the short-term the most pressing needs will be for artist (logo-design, website), business people (writing the business plan, formulating a focus), web designers (for obvious reasons), and foot soldiers ready to spread the message through email, word of mouth, whatever. As we get closer to preparing to launch, I would like to have a launch event (dinner, speeches etc.) with the media present just to get that first good impression out there. I think that I have enough contacts here in Sydney in the hospo industry to secure a good venue, but thats a little bit down the line.

 

So lets get some momentum going this winter and hopefully we can mobilize the strength of the community we have. In my experience cannabis consumers are some of the most socially outspoken members of society. I mean, you normally don't see alcoholics having a spirited discussion of Descartes theory of corporeal substance do you? But VB would love for you to "raise a glass" on Anzac Day, as long as that glass is full of VB and gets emptied in your mouth over and over. Seriously, if the alcohol companies can utilize the celebration of our veterans commitment to sell beer, I don't think we've got such a large fight ahead of us after all.

 

So everyone enjoy your holiday, and I hope to hear from more of you in the next weeks. Don't hesitate, we're moving forward even if its just me there to do the work.