Mild Greens Media Release - 8th May 2003

J Day Shows No Respect For Perverse Law

The Mild Greens say that massive “law-flouting” J-day protests around NZ on Saturday showed that the criminalising government has no moral authority over the many true freedom-lovers of NZ.

“If cannabis use really is criminally offensive, and the Labour party really believes in the discriminatory ‘family values’ of its coalition ally United Future, why were there no arrests for the massive level of ‘crime’ witnessed in NZ centres on Saturday?”

"so much for the smokefree environments act"

Even Minister of Science Pete Hodgeson and PM Helen Clark recognise cannabis possession is at worst a “misdemeanor” (with “punishment grossly in excess”) – However keeping cannabis falsely as a crime has brought their authority into disrepute.

If drugs are a conscience issue in Parliament – as MPs keep telling us - where the hell was the Parliamentary conscience vote when Labour drew up its despicable “no moves to alter the legal status agreement” with United Future last August?

“And where is the health select committee’s review of the appropriateness of existing policy on cannabis and its use?”

(and why hasn’t the select committee slammed the coalition agreement’s interference in its evidence-based due process?)

The Mild Greens say the 3 year delay in delivering “cannabis related health promotion” is highly suspicious, and follows a parliamentary track record

of stalling and obfuscating evidence to fit the self-interested prohibition status-quo.

A 1998 Health Committee inquiry found existing law is ineffective and the double standards surrounding cannabis are a barrier to effective anti-drug

education, but stopped short of directly recommending a law change – leaving this to some future inquiry…

Subsequent “closed process” of the Health Select Committee should be a worry to all who value true NZ democracy.

Meanwhile government (out of touch as ever with the alienated/rebellious youth of NZ) has just increased alcohol taxes to combat the youth drinking problem.

Mild Greens say this is a hollow and insincere gesture while blatant double-standards and inconsistencies continue to define the legal framework of “harm minimisation” drug policy in NZ.

In the spirit of J-Day, a victory in NZ as elsewhere, The Mild Greens encourage and applaud “good-natured” defiance (and lawful manifestation of ethical belief) against unjust, contemptible governance.

The unenforced/unenforcable j-day protests have shown that cannabis use in NZ is in effect a conscientious and lawful activity.

"It’s the law which is the real criminal", say Mild Greens – and the United Future agreement stands as a perversion in the course of justice for which Peter Dunne and Helen Clark are being held to account.

cc: Health Select Committee

Kevin O'Connell, policy analyst,

ph. 03 319 6446

Mild Green Initiatives, for your_ liberty, pleasure, health and safety.

phone ++64 3 389-4065__ 025 2657219

http://mildgreens.com

© Scoop Media