Cannabis smoking at Canterbury University set to continue

Cannabis smoking at Canterbury University set to continue

MEDIA RELEASE

University of Canterbury security guards have clashed with a student club promoting the legalisation of cannabis.

But the University of Canterbury student society, "BudSoc" vows to continue smoking cannabis on the University campus as an act of protest against New Zealand's cannabis prohibition laws.

BudSoc spokeswoman Philippa Orphan said the group held weekly "420" protests against cannabis prohibition every Friday at the Ilam Gardens, but on last Friday, August 9th their right to protest was breached by security guards who came and attempted to shut the protest down.

"We will continue to protest and we will not be intimidated by the actions of the security guards. It only makes us more determined to raise awareness of the failure of cannabis prohibition and the need for a regulated market," she said.

"Civil disobedience is an effective form of protest and the University is legally obligated to recognise that it has a role to play as the critic and conscience of society."

A delegation from Otago University NORML will be travelling to Christchurch to give a talk about their own experiences with security guards, at 2pm on Wednesday August 14 at the Undercroft 101 seminar room, University of Canterbury Central Library. It will be a fitting prelude to the expected confrontation at the 420 protest this coming Friday.

ENDS

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