The Case of Neville Yates.

A Case of Prohibition 'at its very worst.'

Today the Jury deliberated and found him guilty.

Judge Holderness who remanded Neville on bail was at pains to point out that his previous convictions, including jail for cannabis cultivation, all medicinal use, indicated a probable further jail term. Sentencing NOV 2.

Neville's in person, in court, and sworn medical evidence from his Doctors (x3) was considered irrelevant.

ALCP President and drug policy researcher Kevin O'Connell, who's evidence was accepted reluctantly by Holderness and heard by the jury, pointed out that there were about 80,000 NZ'ers growing there own stash.

Like sending Neville to jail was going to stop them...

The overriding concern of the court appeared to be Neville's "smoking" it, that this would NEVER be condoned or an approved use of medicinal cannabis and the law is there to save him (and society) from some illusionary greater harm of self medicating with what medical literature has described as the ASPRO of the 21st century.

No amount of evidence would be enough to convince a court that current intervention strategies for chronic pain were not working, that they were a danger to Nevilles' personal security, health and well being and that best practice medicine should be 'first do no harm'.

We have to ensure that there is as much public clamoring as possible to see to it that Neville is not 'getting the treatment' out at the H.M.S. Paparoa prison. We owe him for his courageous stand.

The Ministry of Police and Justice have spent tens of thousands of public money sending a stupid message that its OK to beat up disabled health consumers who take care of their own needs. The Ministry of Corrections is now all too ready to spend even more perpetuating this injustice while our our Police priority's and resourcing sends a discount taxi in response to a 111 emergency distress call from a near naked woman 'out of sorts' late at night.

The implications for common justice and equitable access to civil protection 'being seen to be done' in NZ are grave indeed. Today, the law, justice and corrections have been found in disrepute. As has the Minister of Health, Annette King, who pretends no one has applied for medicinal access.

There has never been anyone more deserving of compassion before a court in New Zealand history. There are twelve jurors who know it. They have sentenced him to all the pain he can bear behind closed doors and away from his whanau. "That is some health intervention Ms King", under whose warrant Neville Yates was 'narc'ed up' on in the first place.

While the police played the its not the worst case we have seen 'backdown', the egregious nature of the evidence presented in deliberations was that this was a sophisticated hydroponic grow with mature adult plants - and in all respects Neville Yates won the contest of who told lies in court. It is a shame the 'informer' hadn't been as honest as Neville and the police hadn't acted with more discretion in evaluating the informers 'facts'. The informer lied. The Police lied, and now society has to pretend this is Just!

Prohibition nil. Neville won. Go to jail anyway.

We should all be very very angry.

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