Mild Greens 30 April 2004

"Drug of Prevalence" focus for J-day rally

Mild Greens join with Norml and the Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party (and the Green Party?) in support of J-Day 2004.

MayDay Jayday is an international protest against the unjust criminalisation of cannabis users, repression of the hemp resource and medicine, and general misguided "War on Drugs" mentality.

Although MildGreens oppose the criminalisation of ALL drug users as grossly inequitable, unhealthy, counterproductive and crime creating, it is cannabis which is the NZ focus.

This is because with one in 6 surveyed adults admitting to being "users", marijuana is the highlighted "Drug of Prevalence" lurking behind NZ’s acknowledged alcohol and tobacco culture.

Marijuana prohibition is a farce and exists in name only say the Mild Greens

If the primary concern is to limit access to children, then an R18 "harm reduction" approach is logical.

Importantly, regulating would hugely eliminate the problem of "double standards" which undermines the credibility, and therefore effectiveness of current social controls - notably including those currently attempted for alcohol and tobacco.

Mild Greens say any problems ‘associated’ with cannabis use (eg criminality, mental health and amotivational syndrome) need to be viewed in context of Prohibition.

The taboo, coercion, discrimination and bullying used to suppress the popular mood elevating psychoactive herb alienates people and "is a recipe for disaster".

Legalising cannabis would remove the "criminality gateway" putting NZ youth at extreme risk - and limit access to harder drugs such as methamphetamine by seperating markets (as successfully applied in Netherlands).

Chiefs of Police in the UK have been using the radical policy of "non intervention" in respect of marijuana, making the jobs of politicians easier.

The Netherlands and Britain have therefore set precedents for Civil Society in NZ - if our Police are truely concerned about crime prevention and "safer communities together".

J-Day protests, typically attracting minimal police attention in NZ, demonstrate the hollowness and pervesity of the current "criminal" defination of cannabis.

Mild greens will attend the HIGH NOON rally in Christchurch's Cathedral Square tomorrow, May 1 2004, flying the flag for truth, freedom, social ecology and harm minimisation.

ENDS

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