If she actually inhaled, soon to be ex-Prime Minister Shipley might have gained valuable insight into Kiwi culture, and why she has lost the election campaign, said a Christchurch anti-prohibition campaigner today. Mrs Shipley is expected to suffer serious "electorate shock treatment" in three days time.

"The election issue is about freedom of the spirit, and of conscience", said Cannabis Party number 3 candidate, Kevin O'Connell. "Adults deserve the right to decide. Our National Drug Policy should not be determined on the prejudiced basis of whether Mrs Shipley did or did not inhale."

Jenny Shipley denied ever trying cannabis during a leaders' debate on Holmes (TV1), last evening. Opposition leader Helen Clark notably had a less repressive attitude.

The Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party stands on principle, and is not "for marijauna" per se, but "against prohibition" of cannabis, according to party leader, Michael Appleby, a prominent Wellington lawyer.

Our philosophy is respect for nature and other people's rights, openness and "harm reduction" said Mr O'Connell. "That means we acknowledge that a massive level of use is occuring and realistically seek to minimise harms in that context. The outgoing government has been in perpetual denial", he said.

Ironically, "harm reduction" is one of the principles that underpin Mrs Shipley's National Drug Policy, along with "upholding of individual rights where these do not unreasonably impinge on others". Other priciples paid lip-service to by National are cost-efficiency and equity.

The hypocritical and inequitable right of Jenny Shipley to squander tax-payers' money imposing life long criminal records for a "non-offence", will be taken away in the New Parliament, said Mr O'Connell.

The Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party believe in "restorative justice", and will put it into practice where it is needed most. "We will be deleting simple cannabis convictions, and seeking a heart-felt apology from Jenny Shipley for the misery she has perpetrated by misappropriating evidence against thousands of innocent victims."

"Criminal convictions spoil peoples lives, and while the Ministry of Health recognised tens of thousands were adversely affected in November 1995, a handful of Cabinet Ministers deleted acknowledgement of this harm production, from the National Drug Policy. The public of New Zealand had largely endorsed the draft "harm minimisation" Policy, announced 4 years ago today (Radio NZ, Morning report, 24/11/95), but never implemented, despite being released, mid 1998."

The bottom line is that prohibition does not acheive its objectives, and at an unacceptable cost to the community, while desecrating nature, said Mr O'Connell, who is a "catholic" campaigner for restoring humanity's use of the "seed bearing herb". Cannabis-hemp has thousands of industrial uses, currently denied, such as medicine, food, fuel, paper, clothing and biodegradable plastics.

It can be argued that those who haven't challenged the moral authority of prohibition by trying marijuana, have denied themselves a fully human experience.

Marijuana is popular because it has psycho-active properties which are known to expand consciousness, said the candidate, "enhancing one's appreciation of art and music, nature and other people". Many people draw inspiration from occasional, moderate use of the herb. Problems stem from excessive use, & trouble with the law.

No amount of Police enforcement can prevent conscientious objection to the small minded attitudes of marijuana "virgins", such as Jenny Shipley claims to be. Under the cannabis party policy, marijuana use will NOT be made compulsary, and free thinking people will be restored the God-given right to choose where that choice does not harm other people, or our planet.

The Legalise Cannbis party say "less is more" - use less, enjoy it more. Conversely if cannabis is used "more", it is enjoyed less, and can become a trap for people. "This is a health issue, not a criminal issue", says party leader, Michael Appleby. "It is time to adopt a more judicious and mature approach, and STOP THE ARRESTS".

To the average cannabis user, the current laws are unnatural, inhumane & discriminatory. Introducing quality control of the product, will mean people consume less, for a satisfactory "high", free of paranoia and fear of persecution.

Prohibition does not protect people, it hurts them and has created an evil worldwide gravy train at the expense of truth, justice, fiscal responsibility, human nature, and community safety. The ALCP insist on an age of consent consistent with alcohol and tobacco, and will implement honest drug education, free of sanctimoniousness, coercion, and the threat of state promoted "house intrusion".

We want friendly police, teachers, not prison wardens, and hemp fields not land fills, said Mr O'Connell. "And jobs instead of crime!"

The ALCP will turn a black market, into a green market, for everyone's benefit.

That's why cannabis deserves to be the winning issue, in the big marijuana referendum on Saturday. Cannabis campaigners trust that the people will take the opportunity for a "conscience vote" in the secrecy of the ballot booth- with a view to LIBERATION AT LAST, and overdue honesty in the governance of Aotearoa.

ends

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Gordon Campbell: On the Sony cyber attack

Given the layers of meta-irony involved, the saga of the Sony cyber attack seemed at the outset more like a snarky European art film than a popcorn entry at the multiplex.

Yet now with (a) President Barack Obama weighing in on the side of artistic freedom and calling for the US to make a ‘proportionate response’quickly followed by (b) North Korea’s entire Internet service going down, and with both these events being followed by (c) Sony deciding to backtrack and release The Interview film that had made it a target for the dastardly North Koreans in the first place, then ay caramba…the whole world will now be watching how this affair pans out. More>>