Cannabis prohibition
is neo-colonial oppression resulting in the disproportionate
imprisonment of Maori, the Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party
says.
Maori are three times more likely to be arrested and
four times more likely to be convicted for cannabis than
non-Maori.
ALCP Maori Affairs spokeswoman Emma-Jane
Mihaere Kingi said the racist implementation of cannabis
laws was in breach of Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
"Maori have
grown medical cannabis ever since 1885, when it was
introduced at Jerusalem by Mother Mary Aubert and integrated
with traditional Maori medicine."
"To target Maori for
arrest because of their cannabis use is interfering with
their customary rights."
Ms Kingi said many plots of Maori
owned land would be ideal for growing legal hemp or medical
cannabis.
Many pacific islands including the Marianas and
Norfolk Islands were also interested in legalising and
regulating the cannabis
trade.
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