Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Dude, what just happened?

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  • greenlove33,

    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

  • jo kerr,

    The statistics say it all, 13.4% of all New Zealanders have used cannabis in the last year http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Annual_cannabis_use_by_country
    thats conservatively 585,000 people.
    6500 prosecutions for 4200 convictions is just token (heh) ism.
    So is this operation. Just a photo op for Crusher Collins and Rob Pope and some tabloid fodder.

    Since Apr 2010 • 24 posts Report Reply

  • Whoops,

    rofl... national radio has just had an interview with a hydroponic lettuce grower... he commented that in some prisons around NZ, hydroponic gardening is taught to the prisoners.

    Life skills.

    here • Since Apr 2007 • 105 posts Report Reply

  • Jock Hopeful,

    Am I the only one who is sick and tired of hearing all the justifications from cannibas users about why it should be legal and why it is really not that harmful.

    Like we need another legal way for ordinary NZ'ers to trash their bodies and minds and become a constant drain on the taxpayer system...

    Central Auckland • Since Jan 2010 • 14 posts Report Reply

  • Stephen Judd,

    Cannibas: like cannabis, but much worse.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 3122 posts Report Reply

  • greenlove33,

    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

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    Nick,hear hear, quick, let's try get that rushed through Parliament under urgency. :)

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report Reply

  • JoJo,

    They just said - flippantly, I thought - on 3News that anyone shopping at SOG has to show photo id, which will be logged, and that database must be made available to police at any time they wish. Unbelievable.

    Wellington • Since Jul 2008 • 95 posts Report Reply

  • andin,

    Like we need another legal way for ordinary NZ'ers to trash their bodies and minds and become a constant drain on the taxpayer system...

    Gee..... measured by that yardstick Work could be made illegal.
    woohoo!

    raglan • Since Mar 2007 • 1891 posts Report Reply

  • giovanni tiso,

    andin that was inspired.

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    Unbelievable.

    Actually totally believable.The polie already grab computers in raids. Face book and other sites are often targeted by cops for info. For drugs, the police have always relied on informants which, is an old information highway. Also informants remained active because of their supply of info and the police would bargain a deal to get that info. I know because I know what it feels like.and how it is when you don't cooperate. Interesting too what cops are prepared to allow in order to get particular people.Now I guess people wont be required so much. Big Blue Brother is watching you!Whose gonna watch the watchers?

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report Reply

  • 3410,

    I don't know. Coast Guard?

    Auckland • Since Jan 2007 • 2618 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Campbell,

    Of course we could all just let our paranoia hang out - I wonder how the police would react to 1000 vaguely incoherent emails along the lines of "I was only laughing at the salad spinner, honest ...."

    Dunedin • Since Nov 2006 • 2623 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson,

    I laugh at spinners every day. It's habit forming.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes,

    Where do I start?
    First. The fact that cannabis is illegal is the major cause of harm.
    Why is it illegal. Well as far as I can remember the first legislation passed, by the British Government, was to stop those damned Indians smoking the stuff and start buying Scotch Whiskey, they already had the taxation in place for that and were buggered if they were going to go through all that tax law again.
    What are we supposed to do. Are we to just get up in the morning and go off to work, work all day and then return home to sleep?. Are we not allowed to have any thought or activity that is outside those proscribed by those that have clawed their way to the top of the pile? Those that profess to know better than the common man?
    How long before they proscribe then prescribe which drug we should take to make us more pliable to their needs?
    If smiling people piss you off then you have a problem.

    It just makes me so angry but I know I am not alone.
    The reason SOG were in breach of the law was because the law had been changed on 17 October 2009. Ignorance of the law may be no defence but did the powers that be inform the owners of SOG that their terms of trade had been changed?. The fact that the Police were pursuing Operation Lime before this date is telling.
    It just makes me so damned angry. If you are going to enforce a law for the good of the people I, for one, would like to know who those people are.

    So where, as a society, do we now stand? Alcohol or nothing? Reality TV and Boy Bands.
    Slashing my wrists seems like a positive and entertaining move right now.

    GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!

    But wait, there's more.
    Compare how cannabis is viewed in other countries

    The Legal history of cannabis in the United States is an eye opener.

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    I am not paranoid at all. I just don't like the laws that are badly drafted laws with no consideration to the facts/stats. If the Government of the day would act honestly, with consideration of the facts, I am sure the country would operate in a sensible manner and the Police (who truthfully know the odd smoke is less harmful than other drugs) could earn the respect they should hold because they are dealing with serious issues.
    Instead tonight we see the hypocrisy of condoning more laws that don't show facts. Then the news exposes the hypocrisy of Scotland yard when at least one of their staff beat and killed a protester, Blair Peach, but announces not enough evidence.

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report Reply

  • jo kerr,

    LOL Now its getting bloody ridiculous, the police want to keep records on whoever buys a bucket and spade and some Neta tube.
    http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/3634270/Police-to-monitor-hydroponics-sales.
    I'm not a grower, I smoke about 4 joints a month, but this is making me bloody ANGRY !!!!!

    Since Apr 2010 • 24 posts Report Reply

  • Peter Ashby,

    @Steve Barnes

    After work you could, oh read a good book, write a good book, go for a run, cycle, aerobics class, enjoy a hobby, have fun with the family, chat to people online. Any number of things that are more life affirming than mind altering substances (alcohol included).

    The answer to the ennui of life is not soma.

    Dundee, Scotland • Since May 2007 • 425 posts Report Reply

  • Peter Ashby,

    I should add that I am not against cannabis use and have been known to drink a bit, and brew my own wine and beer. Which brings me onto another hypocrisy, NZ is about the only Western country where home distilling is legal. Brought in because Customs and Excise when asked to identify savings offered up its distillation equipment monitoring regime in expectation that it would be refused. The govt said: fine we'll cut that and found it had legalised distilling at home.

    I am not averse to the idea of home distillation, one of the attractions of moving back sometime would be the chance to try my hand at making whisky (if I can source some peat smoked malt), but the potential for harm is high unless you are careful.

    Sure it was a little silly when the man from Customs used to come to the lab once a year and check that the seals on the distilled water equipment were still intact but it is inconsistent.

    Dundee, Scotland • Since May 2007 • 425 posts Report Reply

  • Martin Lindberg,

    Any number of things that are more life affirming than mind altering substances (alcohol included)

    Luckily there's not one definition of life affirming.

    Stockholm • Since Jul 2009 • 802 posts Report Reply

  • Stephen McIntyre,

    As I see it the timing of these raids is really significant:

    As Russell points out, it's J-Day this Saturday, May 1st.

    But, as well this week we have the Law Commission releasing its final report on alcohol and making recommendations that aren't going to be too politically popular.

    In addition, Friday April 30th is the last day for public submissions to the Law Commission's report on the Drugs Act.

    Yesterday, Judith Collins made the point of issuing a press release gushingly congratulating Police on the raids.

    Oh, and what about Peter Dunne's behaviour last week on 60 minutes?

    Anything to give the papers something to talk about instead of the really important stuff.

    Auckland • Since Jan 2010 • 37 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson,

    I am not averse to the idea of home distillation, one of the attractions of moving back sometime would be the chance to try my hand at making whisky (if I can source some peat smoked malt), but the potential for harm is high unless you are careful.

    Sounds crazy dangerous and hard compared to growing your own weed. First there's the chance of the equipment exploding, and secondly the chance of poisoning yourself (I know one person who nearly died doing this). Then there's all the hassle involved brewing it, stilling it, bottling it, storing it. Lastly you have to drink the rotten stuff.

    Or you could just buy it. It's legal.

    The most I've heard going wrong with weed cultivation is it either dies, or someone nicks it, or you get busted, or the crop is disappointing. TBH all of those sound less serious than the dangers of running a home distillery, which involves 3 forms of death (dismemberment, fire, poisoning), lots of labour and materials, and all for something that will most likely be horrid.

    But at least it's life affirming :-)

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • Stephen McIntyre,

    I'm not a grower, I smoke about 4 joints a month, but this is making me bloody ANGRY !!!!!

    I don't usually attend J-Day (honest!!!) but this is one that I will be going to because I believe it's the only chance we'll get to publicly protest about what the Police and the Government have done.

    If you don't like the law and want to see it changed - smoker or not - please turn up and make some noise about it in your town or city this Saturday.

    Auckland • Since Jan 2010 • 37 posts Report Reply

  • giovanni tiso,

    After work you could, oh read a good book, write a good book, go for a run, cycle, aerobics class, enjoy a hobby, have fun with the family, chat to people online. Any number of things that are more life affirming than mind altering substances (alcohol included).

    You really are Satan, aren't you?

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report Reply

  • chris,

    The answer to the ennui of life is not soma.

    Were Whisky prohibited in Scotland I sense the shoe would be on the other foot. Suggestion, a holiday in Islamabad.

    More to the point, this is a cliché. Making the connection between a person's Soma and and their ennui, is little more than a projection of the connections between one's own personal disposition and predilections.

    Good luck in dealing with your ennui Peter; )

    For some reason I'm reminded of this

    Mawkland • Since Jan 2010 • 1302 posts Report Reply

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