Category Archives: Jihad on Drugs™

Black Sabbath, Catholicism, Gospel music, Jihad on Drugs™, Keep it Metal!

Would you like to see the Pope? A thousand things.

5 Comments

pope_francis_environment_green

I’m liking the new Pope Francis. Formerly Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, he chose his papal name in honour of San Francesco d’Assisi). He’s no liberal (none of that gay marriage nonsense) and Pope Francis lays out vision of ‘poor church’ working for the people.

St. Francis of Assisi, the pope said, was “the man of the poor. The man of peace. The man who loved and cared for creation and in this moment we don’t have such a great relationship with the creator. The man who gives us this spirit of peace, the poor man who wanted a poor church.”

But his views on recreational drug use are anachronistic to say the least.

Cardinal Bergoglio bashes bill to legalize drugs for personal consumption

Archbishop of Buenos Aires Jorge Mario Bergoglio criticized yesterday the bill that aims to legalize drugs for personal consumption, which is sponsored by the ruling Victory Front and backed by the Radical Civic Union and the Broad Progressive Front. Bergoglio, who headed the traditional mass and procession of Corpus Christi in Plaza de Mayo, warned young people about the intentions of those who sell illegal drugs.

“Don’t trust the merchants of death,” said the archbishop as he delivered a speech to the people who took part in the youth march that anticipates the Corpus Christi celebration.

“Some people dedicate their life to corrupt others, don’t let them trick you, no matter if they promise you a thousand things,” insisted Bergoglio.

The cardinal also condemned the lawmakers’ who agreed to debate the initiative.

Currently a draft bill is being debated by the Committee for the Prevention of Drug Addiction and the Criminal Law Committee. Last week Supreme Court Justice Eugenio Raúl Zaffaroni backed the initiative when he was invited to give a talk.

Let’s not look to the Vatican for startling new drug law reform initiatives.

Would you like to see the Pope on the end of a rope,do you think he’s a fool?

Jihad on Drugs™, Luke, New Testament, NORML

Second Coming (the Return of Chrisf)

2 Comments

At the NORML New Zealand conference at Tokaanu last Saturday, Chris Fowlie was elected unopposed to the position of President. As it is written

And then shall they see the Son of Mr. and Mrs. Fowlie coming in a cloud of smoke with power and great glory. (RSG)

conf-Large

That’s Chris third from the right (at the back) standing behind me on the far right (LOL!) and Phil Saxby second from the right. From NORML’s post-conference press release

Regulate cannabis like alcohol, says reform group

New Zealand should regulate cannabis like alcohol and save at least $300 million per year, says the National Organisation for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, New Zealand Inc (NORML).

At its weekend conference at Tokaanu, delegates elected Chris Fowlie of Auckland as President, and Phil Saxby of Wellington as Secretary.

Chris Fowlie was previously President of NORML from 1997-2008 during which time NZ came tantalisingly close to cannabis law reform, has owned and managed The Hempstore for 16 years, and regularly appears in court as an independent cannabis expert witness.

NORML is optimistic New Zealand is entering a period where cannabis law reform will finally happen here, and so am I, particularly now that we have competent, committed, convivial people with proven track records of activism such as Chris (and Phil, Billy, Gary, Dakta, …) running the National Organisation for the Reform of Marijuana Laws. It really is high time.

Heroism, Jihad on Drugs™, NORML

Blowing smoke at Parliament

1 Comment

SCCZEN_C_NZH0553615035_460x230

Veteran cannabis law reform campaigner Dakta Green’s Armistice Tour culminated in a hikoi on Parliament on Armistice Day, 11 November 2010.

Mr Green said it was called the Armistice Tour because he wanted to stop fighting with the Government over cannabis legislation.

“When two warring parties choose to stop fighting without either side conceeding defeat that’s what an armistice is,” he said.

“We are waving a white flag … we want peace.”

The white flag is the “flag of temporary truce in order to parley.” Inspired by the Armistice Tour, the Wellington branch of NORML started a tradition of White Flag meetings on the first Tuesday of the month when Parliament sits. We convene at the Cenotaph at 12:45 pm, then at 1:00 pm fly the white flag of negotiation to the Richard Sedden statue outside Parliament Buildings. Once there, we pause for a One Minute Silence for the victims of the global War on Drugs. Following that, a few words spoken regarding our actions, and our intentions for these meetings, with a reading of a letter to an MP, and then a photo or two …

At the first white flag meeting on Armistice Day 2010, many of those protesting the War on Drugs™ also celebrated New Zealand’s cannabis culture by smoking cannabis on Parliament grounds. Cannabis campaigners light up at Parliament, reported TV3. But no one was arrested.

Protesters marched to Parliament to demand a law change decriminalising cannabis; it’s a law they have no respect for and one they were quick to break, and all under the watchful eye of police.

“Our role is to make sure this protest is peaceful and everyone gets away on time and in good humour,” said senior sergeant Scott Miller.

Bucket bongs, joints and a pipe lit with a magnifying glass were used to smoke up; there was even a hash cake although the decorator may have eaten some first.

But no matter how much was puffed there was still no movement from police – does this signal a change in stance by police?

“Well that’s not a comment I can make in relation to an overall stance by the police,” Mr Miller said.

Police say it was the Speaker Lockwood Smith’s office who issued the directive to only arrest protesters if they climbed over the barrier or became violent. Those two problems never threatened to fire up.

At today’s White Flag meeting, cannabis campaigners again lit up at Parliament. And no one was arrested. Presumably, the Speaker’s directive is still in force. Anyway, that’s the premise behind regular 4:20 meetings at 4:20 pm every Friday on Parliament lawns. See you there. 🙂

Jihad on Drugs™, Peter Dunne, Prohibition, Tyranny

You have not done those things you ought to have, Dunne

2 Comments

sniffing glue

Since August 2011, Peter Dunne has banned 30 synthetic cannabinoids by issuing Temporary Class Drug Notices. These are published in the New Zealand Gazette, “the official newspaper of the Government of New Zealand.” Here’s an example.

Pursuant to section 4C of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1975, I give notice that the following substances are classified as temporary class drugs:
CB-13
1-naphthalen-1-yl-(4-pentyloxynaphthalen-1-yl)methanone
MAM-2201
(1-(5-fluoropentyl)-1H-indol-3-yl)(4-methyl-1-naphthalenyl)-methanone
AKB48
N-(1-adamantyl)-1-pentyl-1H-indazole-3-carboxamide
XLR11
(1-(5-fluoropentyl)-1H-indol-3-yl)(2,2,3,3-tetramethylcyclopropyl)methanone
This notice will take effect on 13 July 2012 and will expire on 13 July 2013, unless cancelled or renewed as specified in section 4E of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1975.
Dated at Wellington this 2nd day of July 2012.
HON PETER DUNNE, Associate Minister of Health.

The legislation enabling the issuance of Temporary Class Drug Notices was the Misuse of Drugs Amendment Act (No 2) 2011, which became law on 9 August 2011. Let’s take a closer look at what it says.

4C Temporary class drug notice
(1) The Minister may, by notice in the Gazette, specify any substance, preparation, mixture, or article as a temporary class drug.
(2) The Minister must not give notice under subsection (1) if the substance, preparation, mixture, or article is a Class A controlled drug, a Class B controlled drug, a Class C controlled drug, a precursor substance, or a restricted substance (as defined in section 31 of the Misuse of Drugs Amendment Act 2005).
(3) The Minister must not give notice under subsection (1) unless he or she is satisfied that the substance, preparation, mixture, or article that is to be specified in the notice poses, or may pose, a risk of harm to individuals, or to society.
(4) A notice under subsection (1) may describe the substance, preparation, mixture, or article by any 1 or more of the following:
(a) its chemical name, or 1 of its chemical names:
(b) its product name:
(c) a description of the substance, preparation, mixture, or article, in the form that the Minister considers appropriate for the purposes of the notice.
(5) A notice under subsection (1) must state the date on which the notice comes into force.
(6) The date specified under subsection (5) must not be earlier than 7 days after the date of the publication of the notice in the Gazette.

lloyd_bridges_airplane_looks_like_i_picked_the_wrong_week_to_quit_sniffing_glue_mccroskey

4D Effect of temporary class drug notice
(1) Except as provided in this section, a temporary class drug is to be treated, while the temporary class drug notice remains in force, in the same way as if the drug were a controlled drug that is specified or described in Part 1 of Schedule 3.
(2) A temporary class drug specified or described in a temporary class drug notice is not to be added to any schedule of this Act while the notice is in force.
(3) Despite section 7(1), it is not an offence for a person, in relation to a temporary class drug, to do either or both of the following while the temporary class drug notice relating to that drug is in force:
(a) to possess for his or her own use less than 56 grams in total of any products (including cigarettes), or any drug forms (including flakes, tablets, or capsules), each containing some quantity of that temporary class drug:
(b) to use that temporary class drug.
(4) Possession by a person of 56 grams or more in total of any products (including cigarettes), or any drug forms (including flakes, tablets, or capsules), each containing some quantity of that temporary class drug is to be treated, for the purposes of this Act, as possession by that person of an amount, level, or quantity at and over which a controlled drug that is specified or described in Part 1 of Schedule 3 is presumed to be for supply.
(5) A substance that has a structure substantially similar to a temporary class drug is not to be treated as a controlled drug analogue by reason only of that similarity.
(6) While a temporary class drug notice is in force, the Minister must seek advice, as he or she considers appropriate, under section 5 or 5AA, or both, in relation to the temporary class drug and its appropriate classification, if any (including as a precursor substance, or as a restricted substance as defined in section 31 of the Misuse of Drugs Amendment Act 2005), under this Act.
(7) As soon as possible after the publication of a temporary class drug notice in the Gazette, and while a temporary class drug notice is in force, the Director-General of Health must ensure that the notice, and information about its effects, is available—
(a) on the Ministry of Health’s Internet site, in an electronic form that is publicly accessible; and
(b) in any other way that the Director-General considers appropriate in the circumstances.
(8) Despite the Regulations (Disallowance) Act 1989, a temporary class drug notice is not to be treated as a regulation for the purposes of the Acts and Regulations Publication Act 1989.

4E Duration of temporary class drug notice
(1) A temporary class drug notice expires at the earliest of—
(a) the close of the day that is 1 year after the date on which the notice came into force; or
(b) the date on which the substance, preparation, mixture, or article is—
(i) classified as a Class A controlled drug; or
(ii) classified as a Class B controlled drug; or
(iii) classified as a Class C controlled drug; or
(iv) added to Schedule 4 as a precursor substance; or
(v) classified as a restricted substance (as defined in section 31 of the Misuse of Drugs Amendment Act 2005); or
(c) its revocation by the Minister by notice in the Gazette.
(2) A temporary class drug notice may be renewed by the Minister—
(a) prior to the date of its expiry as calculated under subsection (1); and
(b) on 1 occasion only; and
(c) only for the purpose of allowing sufficient time for the Minister to obtain the advice that is to be sought under section 4D(6).

Did you pay special attention to the highlighted bits?

According to 4C(3), since August 2011 Peter Dunne has been satisfied 30 different times that a particular substance poses, or may pose, a risk of harm to individuals, or to society. Well, it’s nice to know that someone’s getting some satisfaction.

Now, according to 4D(6), “while a temporary class drug notice is in force, the Minister must seek advice, as he or she considers appropriate, under section 5 or 5AA, or both, in relation to the temporary class drug and its appropriate classification, if any (including as a precursor substance, or as a restricted substance as defined in section 31 of the Misuse of Drugs Amendment Act 2005), under this Act.” What advice did Peter Dunne consider it appropriate to seek, regarding the 30 substances he’s banned? He must have sought it. So what was it?

So far, Peter Dunne has renewed all his Temporary Class Drug Notices issued in 2011, prior to their expiry. Note that, according to 4E(2), this is only for the purpose of allowing sufficient time for the Minister to obtain the advice that is to be sought under section 4D(6). Peter Dunne must be seeking lots of advice. Otherwise, what’s taking him so long?

You know what I think? I don’t think Dunne’s been keeping his side of the deal at all. I’m going to ask him to find out.

6035709

Jihad on Drugs™, Labour Party, Sheeple

Shearer off to a ‘good start’

Leave a comment

Shearer-1

Yesterday, Shearer promises clear policy initiatives.

Shearer-2

Today, Shearer defends policy-free speech.

Shearer-3

Chris Trotter says Shearer is off to a ‘good start’. Why? Because

He was on just a few minutes ago and once again, he didn’t stumble, he didn’t stutter – this is a good start to the year.

He had a terrible first year, and he really needs to get this year rolling with an image that most people can at least not recoil from in horror and disbelief, so that’s a good start.

I don’t always follow the MSM, but when I do, I recoil in horror and disbelief.

At least one Labour MP is making the right noises about drug law reform. For that reason alone, I’d like to see a Labour-led government replace our National-led government in 2014. But I can’t see Shearer’s “good start” ending well. His flagship policy*—that of spending $30 billion of your money to build other people’s houses—was never a starter, let alone a good one. It’s in tatters.

I believe that we should be building houses – that’s not the Government building houses, it’s the private sector – obviously builders build houses. But what the Government can do is to make that happen. We can stand back and we can twiddle with the RMA, or blame councils as this government is doing, but it won’t get young Kiwis into their own home.

We have to step in and actually do something.

The government should do something. Yeah right. It’s all too awful to contemplate.

(* Labour’s KiwiBuild plan is to build 100,000 extra new houses over the next 10 years, for around $300,000 each. This, Mr Shearer says, will help young families buy their first home.)

Jihad on Drugs™, Justice

Your day in court

Leave a comment

Your rights

You have the right to see all evidence they have against you before your trial – ask for ‘full disclosure’ of ALL the evidence they have. Make them work for a conviction, don’t hand it to them. What you do in court depends on whether you are a Dumb Lamb, a Stubborn Mule, or a Roaring Lion!

funny-sheep-md

The Dumb Lamb meekly offers their throat to the butcher’s knife, mindlessly going where directed and doing like the police say and pleads “guilty” to get it over and done with. It’s you that’s getting done, while the police get a nice easy conviction.

11119

The Stubborn Mule resists every step of the way, making the police and court work for a conviction. First appearance: enter “no plea” and seek legal advice. Second Appearance: “No plea” again. Say you refuse to recognise the charge, because you don’t think you’ve committed a crime.

Third Appearance: this is your chance to tell the judge exactly why you think the law stinks, in the politest possible way. The penalty for the Mule is not going to be more than for the Lamb, and often will be less, but you cost the system heaps and kept your self-respect.

2528944-32598-angry-lion

The Roaring Lion is proud, and staunch with it. The Lion goes through the court process in the same way as the Mule, but takes non-cooperation that stage further. They tell the judge that they will not pay a fine, or do PD. If the court is determined to punish them, it will have to send them to jail, putting strain on an already full up prison system. The more we clog up their system, the less it will be able to cope.

Good luck, Michelle!

Jihad on Drugs™

Drug users fill New Zealand jails

2 Comments

This was on the front page of the Dominion Post today.

POLICY CRITICISED: The New Zealand Drug Foundation says court-focused treatment of minor offenders is not working.

Petty drug users fill New Zealand jails

Hundreds of people are locked up for petty drug offences every year – many for crimes our top legal body says should not exist.

Justice Ministry figures show a significant amount of court time is taken up by minor drug cases, with nearly as many people imprisoned for possessing a small quantity of cannabis as for dealing.

Among these offenders are hundreds imprisoned for possessing a pipe or a needle, an offence the Law Commission recommended legalising last year.

The figures also show fewer than one in three minor drug offenders is offered diversion, allowing them to avoid a criminal record.

The New Zealand Drug Foundation said the figures were alarming and showed the court-focused treatment of minor offenders was not working.

But Justice Minister Judith Collins said all drug offending – no matter how minor – should be dealt with through the criminal justice system.

In the past six years, possession of small amounts of cannabis or smoking utensils, such as a pipe, made up about half of all drug charges laid by police.

While most offenders received a fine or community work, more than 2800 were imprisoned on minor drug offences.

These included possession of needles, pipes, and small amounts of cannabis or methamphetamine.

Imprisonment for petty offences almost equals the number locked up for more serious crimes.

Drug Foundation executive director Ross Bell said locking up minor drug offenders was simply stupid policy.

“You send someone away for a minor drug conviction and they can come out a meth cook,” he said.

Rather than dealing with people through the criminal justice system, the Government could introduce a mandatory cautioning scheme, he said.

“For a drug like cannabis you could get three cautions before being diverted to a treatment programme. We are not talking about decriminalising or legalising, it’s about a more pragmatic way to get help for people that need it.”

However, Ms Collins said the justice system was the right place for all drug offenders.

“The Government relies on enforcement agencies such as police to make appropriate decisions on how to charge someone for their offending, and the judiciary to make appropriate sentencing decisions based on the circumstances of individual cases.”

The Government had policies to ensure anyone requiring drug treatment received it, she said.

Last year a Law Commission’s review of New Zealand’s 35-year-old drug laws criticised the uneven and criminally focused approach to drug offending.

It also recommended a three-strike system for minor offending, and legalising pipes and needles.

Police opposed most recommendations – including legalising pipes and needles. The Government has followed up only on a handful, notably introducing drug courts. However, the figures show the police may have started to treat minor drug offenders less aggressively.

In the year to June 2012, there was a substantial drop in the number of people being charged, convicted and imprisoned for possession of utensils.

Police said that the drop could be attributed to the introduction of a pre-charge warning in September 2010.

The move gave police discretion to warn rather than charge people arrested on offences carrying a sentence of six months or less imprisonment.

The warnings are not available to people caught with methamphetamine.

Police say people charged with drug possession are likely to get diversion, particularly on a first offence, but ministry figures show minor drug charges usually result in a conviction.

PUNISHING DRUG USE

How New Zealand has treated minor drug offenders over the past six years:

CANNABIS POSSESSION

Charges: 17,931

Convicted: 13,131

Imprisoned: 890

Maximum penalty: 3 months in prison and/or a $500 fine

CANNABIS UTENSIL

(SUCH AS A PIPE)

Charges: 11,057

Convicted: 7,563

Imprisoned: 737

Maximum penalty: A year in prison and/or $500 fine

METHAMPHETAMINE POSSESSION

Charges: 2185

Convicted: 1523

Imprisoned: 341

Maximum penalty: 6 months in prison and/or $1000 fine

METHAMPHETAMINE UTENSIL

(SUCH AS A PIPE)

Charges: 3899

Convicted: 2765

Imprisoned: 548

Maximum penalty: A year in prison and/or a $500 fine

– © Fairfax NZ News

I didn’t know this happened in New Zealand. 🙁

Does it?! (Where did these figures come from? Can anyone vouch for them?)

Christian Libertarianism, Freedom, Jihad on Drugs™, Live Like It's Legal, Prohibition, Psychology, Slavery, Socialism, Uncategorized

Drugs during long term survival situations (Part II: Marijuana & other drugs)

7 Comments

“…I make myself unpopular here. Sorry, I just say what I experienced. Reality is not all clean and good or politically correct.

First I have to say we talk about long term survival scenario here. Few days of fearing for your life is problem, few weeks is crap, few months and more can easily take all will for survival from you and leave you empty.

It is hard to imagine and I never saw one of the “TV survival experts” do anything really long term…

…When the world breaks down around you, you want things to be normal. Even if you had bad life before in normal times it will feel like paradise to nightmare that happens outside or around you when you fight for your survival.

I do not do any drugs (besides coffee) and think drugs is for weak people… but if life slaps you around like it is hard to imagine, everyone becomes weak at some point.

So during the war marijuana was used to disconnect from horrors around you. When you find yourself with few friends in some safe building, basement, and if you have few cans of food, someone brings guitar and few bottles of alcohol and marijuana, you can start to feel an hour or two like nothing is wrong, people do not get shot outside, women do not scream in distance, peace is there again, at least for few hours, and for that small group of friends.

And when someone pass you small jar with hash „bubbles“ you can imagine almost that Jim Morrison came alive that night in that particular basement, in that small and unimportant city in Balkans, in the middle of civil war, and that he is gonna spend that night with you discussing about ridiculousness of life, and then play „The end“ song….”

Excerpt from: ‘Why drugs matter during long term survival’
********************************************************************************************************
It is a testimony to the vile Bigotry that underpins the persecution of drug users that the Author of the above piece thought it necessary to apologise in advance for what he was about to say… even though it was a Humanitarian piece.
I would argue that the benefits of such drugs as Pot are not restricted to such extreme scenarios, but hold good in general for times of struggle and stress… esp for the Poor whom are the most exposed to troubles and strife, and don’t have Yachts, Batches, or Hot Rods to get a buzz and relieve stress.
Thus (as usual) the Tyrannical war on drugs is primarily a War on the Poor.
Tim Wikiriwhi.
Christian Libertarian.