Defended Hearing: Police vs Jary, Nelson district court, 25 Aug 2010: charge - possession of cannabis for supply or sale.

I was called as an expert witness to prepare a brief and be cross-examined on reasons why a non-dealer may have larger than the presumed 'dealer threshold' of 28g quantites of marijuana on hand, and also about wet vs dry yeilds of cannabis. Despite defence efforts to demonstrate there was plenty of possibility that the defendent was merely a heavy consumer, he was found NOT have sufficiently proven his innocence against the charge of selling.

The reverse onus 'presumption of being a dealer because its more than 28g' applied, and the judge (Zorab) said that despite all the evidence, some of which could be relevant, the defendent had not convinced him beyond reasonable doubt that some proportion of the pound or so of cannabis in his possession was not intended for sale. Reading between the lines however the judge seemed to accept that the defendent was a heavy user organising his hobby/medication with different sources of cannabis, and most of the pot was most likely intended for his own use.

   
Click Image for Larger Version

BRITAIN: Justin Gover does not look like a drug dealer. But he is, albeit a legal one. Neither does he look much like a hero. But he could well become one to the 100,000 people who suffer from multiple sclerosis in Britain after producing a medicine that has been shown to relieve the pain associated with the disease.

The discovery may also put an end to MS sufferers' widespread dependence on cannabis which many have used for decades to alleviate symptoms of the disorder. In June, GW Pharmaceuticals, at which Gover is managing director, launched Sativex in the UK. It was a world first - the only cannabis-based treatment to get a green light from medical authorities for use as a prescription drug.

For more than a decade, the company has tried to persuade authorities in the UK, Europe and the United States that not only did cannabis help relieve the pain caused by MS, but it could also produce a licensed treatment that could fit the requirements.

I know he would deny it, but I suspect our Prime Minister rolls himself a big doobie over breakfast.  How else to explain his ability to glide through the rest of his day waving and relaxed, with a Mona Lisa smile, while those around him sneer and yell abuse? Were I in his position and dead cold straight, I would be punching Press Gallery journalists in the head and kneeing Trevor Mallard in the groin on a daily basis.

Cannabis law reform magazine Norml News, which both Police and Internal Affairs recently tried to ban, has just released its Winter/Spring 2010 issue, including revelations about how and why the magazine nearly got permanently suppressed.

“Immediately prior to the Operation Lime raids in April, police went to the Dept of Internal Affairs and discussed the magazine,” Editor Chris Fowlie said today. “Soon after, Internal Affairs requested a ban on Norml News, but that request was refused and we’re still here.”