Media

TRANSCRIPT: Michael Appleby on The John Banks Radio Show, Radio Pacific 0800 309 3099 Wednesday 15 June 2005 7.25am approx.

JB We have a political platform here. We believe at truth radio here, we believe in giving all the very minor political parties - those that you would never hear of, those that the communist media would not promote in any shape or form - we give them an opportunity to grandstand. We give them a platform from time to time, and this morning we're giving the Leader of the Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party an opportunity. Michael Appleby, Michael, good morning.

MA Good morning John, how are you?

JB This must be your 15th or 18th election…

MA (lol) Well I've stood for the local body in Wellington City Council, and I've been on the Tai Rawhiti Licencing Trust down here. Which is quite a delicious irony really, having the leader of the Legalise Cannabis Party deciding alcohol matters down here in Wellington. And I'm in fact the longest serving leader of a political party in NZ now.

JB But the problem is you're the leader of a party, you've got no one to lead.

MA Well I don't think that that's quite accurate John - because when you take into account the fact that 52% of New Zealanders have smoked cannabis by the time they're 50, and something like 70% of our young people have smoked cannabis by the time they're 20 - that really means that I represent the majority of NZers.

JB I mean, is this something we should be proud of, or is it dopey?

MA Its not something that we should be proud of, its not something that we're not proud of.
Its an (actual/natural) reality. What people call a War On Drugs has really turned out to become a war on our very own citizens.

JB We notice that this rooster that broke into the Whangarei Base Hospital and beat with his fists his 6 month old daughter, we notice he had a 'cannabis problem.' What would that be? Michael, what would that mean as Leader of the Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party. What do you think that that means?

MA I think that you'd probably find that he's also out on other drugs, you'd probably find that he's just a beast in himself. When you find that over half of NZers have smoked cannabis then you're going to find that there always going to be a small representative of people who've been on cannabis who are going to go out and perform beastly acts. Its not to say that theres actually going to be a cause and effect between the cannabis causing it because you generally find that people are far less violent when they're on cannabis.
The thing is that in the last election cannabis was the most important subject. It was the thing that has allowed the present Government to actually implement its policies because they basically were opportunistic and said to the United Future 'you back us on absolutely everything and we will not change the law on cannabis.'

JB I can't understand why this government hasn't legalised cannabis, I mean they've legalised sodomy, they've legalised sex changes…

MA They've legalised prostitution…

JB They've legalised prostitution, same sex marriages, why wouldn't they legalise cannabis?

MA Because they promised the UF that they wouldn't change the legal status of cannabis if the UF backed them on absolutely everything. Its just a normal opportunistic expedience thing that most political parties have…
JB Well Michael Appleby, at least you're honest enough to say listen, I'm a dopehead, I smoke cannabis, and I want it legalised.

MA Well I'm also a lawyer, I'm also a law lecturer, I'm a person whos out there trying to minimise the harm that the present cannabis laws impose on the average NZer.

JB Well you've got to give it to truth radio here on Radio Pacific network in the morning at 29 minutes past 7. We're prepared to give you this platform because we believe that you have every right to hold true to your values and to what you believe in.

MA Thank you very much John, for the opportunity. We do appreciate speaking to your listeners because as I mentioned before, more than half of your listeners have in fact smoked cannabis and statistically speaking John, if you don't smoke cannabis, the person next to you does.

JB Tell me, when did you have your last joint?

MA Oh goodness gracious me, I don't really, sort of, advise people of my own personal habits.

JB Tell Banksy, tell Banksy.

MA No, no, no, no, no that's not my role, to actually tell people what I do. I'm here to …

JB Well what have you got to be ashamed of?

MA I'm not ashamed of anything.

JB Tell us when you had your last joint.

MA I'm here to represent the majority of New Zealanders who are in fact harmed by the present policies of prohibition. I'm there as a lawyer to represent them in the courts. I try and be as anonymous as I can but I do present a reasonable profile to most NZers here, pointing out that you can be a lawyer, you can be a law lecturer, and you can smoke cannabis. Because I've never hidden the fact that I've smoked cannabis. Its just that its not relevant. When did you have your last drink?

JB Five minutes ago, it was strong tea with one sugar.

MA John when did you last beat your wife?

JB Oh yes, that's right, last week.

MA Classic response isn't it?

JB Yes it is the classic response. But just tell me this Michael, how do the police treat you as a prominent citizen, a lawyer, a law lecturer and a smoker of cannabis? A law breaker, a law lecturer and a law breaker? A law upholder and a law violator?

MA They treat me with respect John. Because the majority of the police themselves, if they represent the average NZer have probably had a puff or two in their lives as well.

JB Well I can honestly tell you that this ageing talkback host doesn't know where to go to get cannabis. Can you advise me the closest place from the fortress of arrogance?

MA I'll tell you what, would you like me to get some people to send you one or two anonymously through the post?

JB Michael Appleby, the leader of the Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party. Its 7.30 on Radio Pacific….