Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party

In 1993 the New Zealand Drug Foundation held our first Cannabis and Health conference. Over the past 20 years a lot has changed and a lot has stayed the same.

Questions around cannabis constantly cause confusion. It’s easy to get lost in the maze of issues around the world’s most widely used illicit drug. That’s why we’re putting on an international Symposium around cannabis and health to address the real health, policy and research issues around cannabis.

The two men at the top of the Switched on Gardener chain are appealing their convictions and sentences. Owner Michael Quinlan was sentenced to four years and three months in jail last month.

He had been convicted of possessing and supplying equipment to grow cannabis following a trial at the Auckland District Court.

General manager Peter Bennett was convicted of similar charges and got a sentence of three years and nine months. A Court of Appeal spokeswoman has confirmed appeals have been lodged on behalf of the two men.

- Newstalk ZB

The Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party (ALCP) announced today that it will be standing a candidate in the Ikaroa Rawhiti by-election.

"The candidate selection process is under-way and we will be announcing the successful nominee on May 28," party secretary Irinka Britnell said.

"The vast majority of New Zealanders support relaxing cannabis laws, as shown on TV3's The Vote, but Minister Dunne has ignored the will of the public and The Law Commission on this issue."

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LEGAL HIGHS INDUSTRY ADMITS SYNTHETIC CANNABIS MORE DANGEROUS THAN THE REAL THING LOBBY GROUP SAYS BEST WAY TO GET RID OF SYNTHETIC CANNABIS IS DECRIMINALISE MARAJUANA

The ‘legal highs’ industry has admitted to TV3’s The Vote that their products are more dangerous than ordinary cannabis – and advised: “If you want to get rid of synthetic cannabis, the best way is to decriminalise natural cannabis.”

An adult card game which lets players pretend to be cannabis-dealing kingpins is being sold at Toyworld Nelson.

In Grass, players use cards to mimic dealing cannabis, stealing from one another and protecting their "stash" to amass drug money. Individual cards include "Steal your neighbour's pot", "Catch a buzz" and "Lust conquers all".

"Like the real thing, it's easy to learn," say the tongue-in-cheek instructions. "We suggest that you begin gradually with Grass, till you get used to it."

The 2012 Summit of the Americas in Cartagena, Colombia, gave the OAS (Organization of American States) a mandate to study the impact of current drug policies and explore possible alternatives. The results of the $2.2 million study were presented on Friday, May 17, by OAS secretary general José Miguel Insulza to Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos at the Casa de Nariño (the Colombian White House).

The World Anti-Doping Agency has increased the threshold required for an athlete to test positive for cannabis use.

During a May 11 meeting, WADA’s executive committee decided to increase the threshold level for cannabis from 15 ng/L to 150 ng/L, significantly reducing the chances of an athlete testing positive for out-of-competition use.