Reformer blows into town

[grace]

A dope smoking session for "like-minded people" was to have been held in a Whangarei public reserve last night as cannabis law reformers finally hit the city on a national Armistice Tour they hope will spark a law change.

 

Legalise cannabis campaigner Dakta Green, who runs the "Daktory" in New Lynn, a smoking and recreational club, is leading a hikoi of vehicles that set off from Cape Reinga on Wednesday last week, heading to Parliament.

 

The hikoi was due to hit Whangarei last Friday but Mary Jane, the group's "cannabus", broke down.

 

Mary Jane and the crew hit town yesterday, visiting Whangarei MP and Cabinet Minister Phil Heatley's office and collecting signatures for a law reform petition in Cameron St Mall.

 

Mr Green said the group would host a Daktory on the Elliot Reserve, Ewing Rd, last night.

 

"The purpose is to show locals the sort of atmosphere we have at our Daktory in west Auckland - which is a really relaxed, laid back, pleasant place where we sit back and enjoy our favourite pastime, which is having a toke [of cannabis]," he said.

 

Police have said they won't condone law breaking but will only act against the Daktory if they receive a public complaint.

 

This was criticised by drug educator and former cop Mike Sabin who said the police should not have to wait.

 

But Mr Green didn't expect any police attention, saying cannabis didn't make people into violent, evil thugs, intent on destroying society.

 

"We are your neighbours, your friends, family members and loved ones.

 

"Police will tell you that domestic and other violence is caused by alcohol, not cannabis.

 

"People here seem pretty excited about the Daktory setting up tonight," he said while in Cameron St Mall.

 

Mr Green said the cannabus would visit Kerikeri and Ohaeawai today before another Daktory would be set up in a carpark near the Woolworths supermarket in Dargaville tonight.

 

Author: Mike Dinsdale

22nd August 2010

Source: The Northern Advocate

http://www.northernadvocate.co.nz/local/ne...o-town/3919934/