Posts by greenlove33
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Hard News: Why did Stephen die?, in reply to Russell Brown,
I was really upset to learn that Stephen McIntyre had passed on. The guy was a light of being kind and sensible in the somewhat chaotic world of cannabis law reformers.
I was unaware Stephen was operating a medical marijuana clinic. If it was looked at as a second 'Daktory' by Police then you could definitely expect a hard time.
I am wondering what the content of the Police chat was with Stephen. You just cant expect them to follow the Law. It would have been useful if as an activist he recorded the conversation.
I am inclined to think they may have threatened him with a lot of time away from his family/destroying his family unit by a massive prison sentence. That would touch a nerve with a family man.
I would have thought as an activist he was prepared for idle police threats etc.
Maybe an overwhelming sense of despair got him in the end, I was active in NORML from 1992-1997 at Auckland Uni, I never thought at 40 years old I would still be looking over my shoulder for police while enjoying my mellow rec drug of choice. I am so not a threat to anybody.
Meanwhile if I visit one of the 8 liquor stores in my 1km radius(lol) and buy a bottle of whiskey and drink it in an hour, all perfectly above board and legal, watch the carnage ensue haha. Then a 3 day hangover, not cool.
There definitely seems to be more sides to this story, but no doubt the Police leaning on him in a threatening and illegal manner contributed to his death.
The NZ Police need to pick up their behaviour and the Bazley report needs to be properly implemented, the study was done for a reason and the changes have yet to be applied.
Very sad news to hear.
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Hard News: Music: It's Choice, in reply to Russell Brown,
Haha. Great video from Die Antwoord. Gets away from the getting played out ‘gangster’ 90s hip hop styles…
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Nice analysis. Cheers!!
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@Peter Come on man, this is actually what I mentioned upthread about cannabis legalising campaigners tending to SCREAM the points across. I've sat through many conferences and been told very firmly what my views should be on legalising weed, generally by a raging(and wasted) old guy(s) with a beard!!
I'm always an advocate for removing the anger and having a conversation..or nowadays I'd prefer not to have the conversation(ie be yelled at by an angry hippy).
I think you may have your etiquette confused. Pretty sure the deal is if you want to abuse someone who is posting under their real name(as I am on drug law reform issues so no excuses!!)like Tom, you also have to be posting under your real name.
Anyhoo, I generally read more than post, and have seen plenty of Toms comments that were on to it as, having a dissenting opinion doesn't make someone an asshole!! It could be the opening for a worthwhile debate. Or one agrees to disagree. Something like that. Bit of politeness.
You do the cause no good in following the path of anger(cue The Force quote).
@Sophie..Laudanum with a touch of absinthe..good taste!! Very Victorian. The days when you could pop into the pharmacist and pick up a touch of cocaine for the sniffles!! Ah the good old days..
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@Islander I like your language re life and conciousness enhancers.
If you were living back in the day, a good brew would be to take your fungi, dry it, then put it in your jar of honey. Your fungi reconstitutes in the honey, it will last forever, and you have a jar of honey that will knock your head off. Now if you take that honey and put a few teaspoons in a litre of orange juice, you have a totally natural and reasonable tasting shamanic psychedelic.
Mushrooms, honey. orange juice. You can call it illegal until the cows come home but it won't stop fungi growing or bees buzzing etc.
Not of course that I advocate illegal drug use, but for an old fashioned formula thats a win.
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@Tom I was more inferring that there are a lot of functioning professionals on all type of drugs out there that are not obvious to the naked eye. A high functioning alcoholic will no more stick out in the work place than a high functioning pothead. It is just the health effects that are worse. I suppose the key is that drug use is hidden. Which is never a good health outcome!!
I hope that I am included in your definition there of
"articulate middle class supporters of legalisation". Wooo..moved up a class? But I can assure you I have looked at the gritty side of health effects re drug taking, and while things are illegal there will be not much room for improvement in proper education and harm minimisation.
@Sacha yes that is the phrase that could change the whole argument, acknowledging alcohol is the drug causing most harm in New Zealand society.
Now let me step down off my soapbox for the weekend and avoid restating the obvious to the already aware!!. My choice for a Friday vid, Dilated Peoples, advocates for pot smoking and lucky enough to be based in LA with medical marijuana clinics. Bring it on!! -
@Tom Jeez mate mildly insulted!! There are a lot of high functioning pot smokers out there who do not advertise their presence, just as with the great mass of highly functioning alcoholic professionals we have in New Zealand. A lot of successful creative people use the herb to wind down after a hard days work, or jam.
However, I do see your point about stoners who make every conversation into a "why weed should be legalised" rant. There is nothing worse, especially if you totally agree with every point being made. But they still get shouted at you. Brings me down I tell ya.
I've tended to move away from a "legalise cannabis" viewpoint to a "legalise, regulate and tax all currently illegal drugs", then spend the money on harm reduction and education. So I've moved to encompass a system change. Theres more to talk about with that model.
I have to admit the Vietnamese indoor grow ops were an eye opener for me. Evidence please? Are their even enough Vietnamese immigrants in say Auckland to run a big enterprise like this? I doubt it. I am pretty sure it is a bit of hype imported from the UK where they genuinely do have big criminal undergound grow ops running with Vietnamese illegal immigrants. Seems like a little bit of hype to me maybe. Reads well and scares well.
As far as SOG and Operation Lime, there genuinely are big criminal organisations in NZ that grow the evil weed and distribute it. But no, it wasn't the gardening store owner, I'd place a bet on a few of the larger gangs? Good work NZ Police, fail.
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I'm glad the young women get a chance to scream their lungs out and have a bit of fun. It looks like they are having a great time.
I just reserve the right to run once the screaming begins..
Haven't read Twilight but again, not in my age range really. Its good for kids to have a book they love, rather than sitting in front of the TV watching pap.
Go books!!
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@alobar(suspo name..alcohol and bar lol!!)
You missed my point a little bit man, human brain development is pretty much over at 18 in terms of biology, COMPARED to how it is cracking along between 0 and 16.(I'd have to see a few more studies before I believe human brain development after 18 is as vital as the development from 0-18) Between 0 and 16 is definitely where you want a clear head and good education.
Learned knowledge such as at Uni is a different type of brain development. It is harmful for any youth to take any psychoactive drugs no matter what their IQ.
A slow developer/learner is at the same risk of cannabis related psychosis as a fast learner, depending on if they fall in to the genetic risk category.
I would be much more concerned at the blatant marketing of alcohol such as RTDS to under 18 year olds being advertised everywhere, rather than blaming cannabis for the unruly youth. Its the unruly drunken youth you have to worry about, at least down my street!!
@kyle
Yep a sensible solution that allows an effective harm reduction and education program would be a boon. I'm not about wild drug orgies, just the right for ADULTS to choose their poison and take it in a responsible fashion. Could be a nice red wine, could be a sticky joint, could be some pure MDMA.
Out of those three choices, the legal one causes the most damage. Riddle me that Batman lol..
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Yes sensible drug policy from a health based rather than criminal justice perspective would be a blessing.
I haven't seen or heard anyone from NORML who organise the OU 4.20s come out and state cannabis will cure bipolar disorder. Rather the risk of taking ANY psychoactive substance while mentally unstable is of course a dangerous idea.
Cannabis is a psychedelic, so if you are feeling off it will just magnify those feelings. Its certainly not a cure for bipolar..but then neither are antipsychotics IMHO.
However, the majority of cannabis smokers in NZ would not suffer from biploar disorder. So I think its a bit unfair to deny your NZ pot smokers a joint once or twice a month(especially at 50 years old..come on!!) because there is a risk for a very small section of the population.
In saying that, it would be great to have open drug education that got the message out that there is an age related risk for cannabis related pychosis, so hold off till you are 18. And that smoking weed at 16 is not good at all considering the brain is still developing etc.
But until we see a major sea change, open and honest drug education may be a while away. At least, until I whip up a series of blogs on the subject!!
Hey my apologies for the simplistic analysis and posts I am making here some of you cats have a caning vocabulary..I'll try to keep up!!