Posts by greenlove33

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  • Hard News: Dude, what just happened?,

    Come on now Jock my man, legalising cannabis would provide room for an open debate on harm reduction methods, now lacking as too many doctors/academics/professionals are gagged by the threat of losing careers and reputations(entire livelihood) if they debate in favour of the "killer weed", cannabis.

    Harm reduction is the name of the game, there are many responsible cannabis users just as there are many responsible alcohol drinkers. I think you will find most cannabis users in their middle age(creeeeakkk) just want to be able to smoke a relaxing spliff in the same mature way adults have a glass of wine after work, without the threat of arrest.

    The NZDF has a major focus on harm reduction/minimisation and I think they have a good model to follow in regards to that. Its not about justifying drug use of any kind, its about coming up with the best way to ensure people have a good time while being fully informed of the risks of their drug of choice. For some, fine red wine, for others, kind bud, and for some, both!!

    In moderation is the key I would say. Caning anything is going to hurt eventually..

    Centered • Since Aug 2009 • 34 posts Report Reply

  • Hard News: Dude, what just happened?,

    Yep but if you've got nothing to hide you've got nothing to worry about mate..isn't that the police/government standard line??

    Might pay to use a proxy on the SOG site nowadays though, although to be fair I think the majority of posters from here laughing at the salad trimmer probly don't have a major hydro operation in the attic or the garden!!

    So they probly don't have anything to worry about but any invasion of privacy for a half assed reason is always annoying, refer my first sentence.

    Centered • Since Aug 2009 • 34 posts Report Reply

  • Cracker: Hands in the Middle....,

    Afghanistan would have a reasonably high rate of hash smoking compared to the good ole NZ alcohol binge..(don't get me wrong, I like a social drink such as a nice wine or cold beer on a hot day..)

    If we do manage to get the French over here, can I put in a request for a much, much higher female ratio. Over the summer I had plenty of french guys talking bollix around the South Island, yelling and yahooing. Climbing over the top of you at full pace.

    We could do with an intake of sophisticated French women. I'm not against the idea. Wine ambassadors perhaps.

    If they introduce 4am closing, theres a decent subsection of partiers who don't go out until 2amish. Now, my day may have passed but I would still like the opportunity to go out clubbing all night once or twice a month.

    Thats the point of a decent city centre(Aucks, Wells and ChCh with Dunedin all count). I might not want to be out till 7am 6 days a week anymore, but I'd like the option!! Who knows, I may get a second wind..(be a fifth wind by now but not to worry lol)..

    Centered • Since Aug 2009 • 34 posts Report Reply

  • Hard News: Dude, what just happened?,

    Back from a long day and missed a bit of debate there. Just to explain my statement, and my wayward hippy tendencies to want to legalise the weed lol...

    Yep Ben I understand that it is much easier and now more profitable for the police to go after a business such as Switched on Gardener, it is an easy bust compared to dealing with a backlog of child abuse cases ie;

    Wairarapa abuse 'tip of iceberg'

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10590733

    My point was in terms of cost and resources for the police, morally and ethically I would prefer they spend their time and money on clearing backlogs of child abuse cases, rather than running an expensive 2 year undercover operation to bust a chain of shops selling legal products available elsewhere in the country very easily and online.

    So I agree it is easier to go for the exciting and profitable drug raids, but in view in their role protecting society from harm, I'd rather they concentrate on the physical abuse cases of any kind rather than recreational drug arrests.

    Can I just say.."Who will think of the children???".

    As far as cannabis being a victimless crime, any crime caused by cannabis is largely because of its legal status as a prohibited drug. So legalise, regulate and tax the stuff. Hell, decriminalise it, I'm not bothered!!

    I didn't intend "victimless crime" to be a sweeping statement there, should I have said a drug that causes much less harm than its legal alternative alcohol? Or that causes less health carnage than tobacco? A largely benign drug? Something like that..

    Anyhoo, I have browsed at SOG a few times, and the staff seem helpful etc. I must look straight as(compared to my dreadlock hippy days) because I've never been offered a clone, seedling or anything but a friendly chat in SOG. And the lady I was talking with was very cautious about underlining the "growing veges" angle. She was giving me the suspo eye.

    Its a shame she wasn't in all the shops!! I suppose caution is the name of the game working in any "grow shop". Hope SOG have good lawyers!! They must have the cash by now..

    Centered • Since Aug 2009 • 34 posts Report Reply

  • Hard News: Dude, what just happened?,

    I would question the cost and massive allocation of Police resources to cannabis which is a victimless crime, while child abuse cases languish univestigated for up to 2 years or more in some parts of the country.(ie Lower Hutt)

    It seems the wrong way to spend that money and untold police hours chasing pot smokers. In Auckland, there is also up to a few days wait to get your house fingerprinted from a burglary. Be nice to get some fingerprinting done within the day as a goal..

    I'd like to see the NZ Police clear their child abuse backlog before cracking down on gardening shops if at all possible. Is that a crazy idea?

    Centered • Since Aug 2009 • 34 posts Report Reply

  • Hard News: The Death of Evidence,

    "The Prime Minister has made the war against P and drugs a key part of his leadership and as long as I'm the Minister of Justice, we will not be relaxing drug laws."

    Wait what?

    Pure political rhetoric. Amphetamine has been around as a recreational drug since the 1970s and bikies gangs, so its a bit late declaring a war on speed. Or a war on drugs.

    Wars over dude, modern society is built on a vast range of drugs, why not regulate them a bit on expert advice rather than leave a big messy free for all blackmarket model.

    Get rid of the RTDs, bring in medicinal cannabis and a grow your own model and expand the range of your local chemist so MDMA is available on prescription.

    Its bumming me out how NZs social drug is alcohol, alcohol, alcohol. I like a drink now and again, but variety is the spice of life. Free it up a bit for the people who might not have alcohol as their drug of choice..quite a few of us out there.

    Centered • Since Aug 2009 • 34 posts Report Reply

  • Speaker: Towards a realistic drug policy,

    All valid points. It would be nice if the argument was turned from a criminal issue into a health issue. Cannabis is not a perfect drug, but it is certainly the lesser of three evils in terms of cannabis, alcohol and tobacco.(Can we start calling alcohol a drug also, not "alcohol and drugs")

    It would be nice to go to the BDO or a summer concert in a main city and smoke a few joints without worrying about the police. In my job(most jobs I would say!!) you can't afford a conviction.

    I'm getting a bit too old to slug back half a bottle of whisky(and get messy)or pop some MDMA(and get messy). A few joints seem to make the day at the concert somehow rosier and more enjoyable. And mellow.

    Fill the BDO with alcohol rather than illegal drugs and watch the chaos ensue!!

    Even for the anti drugs crusaders I would feel a system of the government regulating, controlling and selling cannabis would at least enable some control over the issue, and, of course, a massive income from the taxation and sale of cannabis that can be put back in to the community in the form of health and drug education/treatment programes.

    At the moment cannabis is untaxed and uncontrolled, and is funding the gangs in New Zealand. Give the power back to the government and the taxes from cannabis sales back into the community.

    If we could make the laws work and change cannabis use from a criminal to a health issue, then regulate and tax it, it would save a lot of young people from drug convictions for just smoking weed. Its hardly a crime that is worth ruining a young persons career and travel opportunites in the pursuit of criminal justice!!

    DISCLOSURE: I have a 1999 conviction for possession of cannabis, busted in the Auckland Domain while reading a book after University by 8 police in the riot van. Nice. (Touch violent actually! Not on my part..more tearing the vehicle to pieces etc..)

    LESSON: Never defend yourself in court. Unless you want a conviction. Or are a lawyer. Dumbass that I am..

    Centered • Since Aug 2009 • 34 posts Report Reply

  • OnPoint: Gotcha?,

    Hey you never know..

    Centered • Since Aug 2009 • 34 posts Report Reply

  • OnPoint: Gotcha?,

    Hey Craig my apologies I should have worded that better!! I am in no way unsupportive of BDSM etc in fact it makes life more interesting.

    I am more offended by the American type of social conservative politician who puts across strong homophobic views as a truth but in reality is banging male prostitutes(or mistresses whathaveyou) while charging on P.

    I have nothing but respect for someone standing behind their sexual orientation, but get really annoyed by the hypocrisy of politicians preaching "family values" while banging everything in sight!!

    I just finished watching "Jesus Camp" and its scary as all hell. It is that type of politics that annoys me and I should have made that more clear in my initial post.

    Anyway, glad that is over.

    Peace.

    Centered • Since Aug 2009 • 34 posts Report Reply

  • OnPoint: Gotcha?,

    Nah all good man.

    Centered • Since Aug 2009 • 34 posts Report Reply

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