Hard News by Russell Brown

Genters Bill - yes indeed! We really want Greens back in parliament - they're a conscientious lot and often lead the way on issues that months/years later become mainstream enough for wisely circumspect Labour to adopt. Party vote Greens way. They're on 5% - yikes.

It seems like a good policy "win" that Labour can give to Greens in coalition talks. Greens supporters will be happy, Labour don't have to spend too long on creating their own policy, and most of the public will probably be happy.

However it’s worked out, this needs to be taken seriously. It’s time.

Total relief to hear Ardern's unequivocal "yes". And if she gets in - I'll be right in there ensuring it happens sooner rather than later. Glad to hear from you that Kelvin's on board as well.

I see such a more positive future for Maori youth in this legislative reform alongside the Labour intention to pay for both learners and restricted licence qualifications as part of secondary learning. How many young people's first spat with the law has to do with unpaid fines as a result of non-compliance with the driver's licence regime? Fines they can't pay and default on.

I should have mentioned that the New Zealand Drug Foundation’s model drug law is also there as a resource for the next Parliament.

Just want to recommend Disjointed on Netflix. Kathy Bates so good as cannabis activist/dispensary owner Chuck Lorre show

Just want to recommend Disjointed on Netflix. Kathy Bates so good as cannabis activist/dispensary owner Chuck Lorre show

Ooh. Thanks for the tip.

you got to get serious about ratcheting back that liberalisation of the marketing of alcohol.

Yep, as part of that liberalisation, this is of interest;

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/2767426/Being-drunk-in-public-should-be-an-offence-again-Sir-Geoffrey

I've seen middle class people drink themselves into the gutter.

Sounds like the kind of thing that early intervention might have circumvented.

I noticed something during the TV debate. It reminded me of Fox and Friends and their perspectively diminished female with the blokes to the fore and dominant. There was not one left to right camera during the whole debate other than some from behind Goon’s left shoulder. The long shots had Alpha Billy always in front of the perspectively lower Ms J. Well played TV Won.

I certainly agree with the proposition that medicinal cannabis and its derivatives should be decriminalised as soon as possible. Unfortunately, there's also the question of competitor monitoring. Family First (yes, them) has a Say Nope to Dope website that elides support for decriminalisation of medipot with recreational decriminalisation.

Perhaps someone on the decriminalisation side could rig up a Say "Knob" to Bob website to fact check and counter FF's claims?

http://saynopetodope.org.nz/

nominate non-pharma-grade products that could be prescribed

“You know what they call alternative medicine that's been proved to work? - Medicine.”

Is it really acceptable for doctors to prescribe (e.g. advise someone to take a medicine on a basis of their authority and standing) something that hasn't been properly monitored for quality and efficacy?

Wouldn't it be much better just to legalise weed in some form (non-commercial sale, no advertising, whatever) and let doctors advise a patient of the possible risks and benefits of using it to help their condition, but not hand them official endorsement in the form of a script?

...just blundering in and winding up suffering from high anxiety stoned end of life experience, just becouse the blogosphere said it was a cure all.

Double that if they got their info from a Canadian.