Public Address | Cafe | Hard News: Getting serious about the cannabis referendum

Neil

Mon, 03 Dec 2018 22:07:22 +1300

Having read Russell Brown’s article on psychedelic therapies I’m reminded of the Emily Dickinson poem I’ve never quite agreed with:

The Brain, within its Groove
Runs evenly—and true—
But let a Splinter swerve—
’Twere easier for You—

To put a Current back—
When Floods have slit the Hills—
And scooped…

Sacha

Thu, 29 Nov 2018 18:03:23 +1300

NZ cannabis producer welcomes shape of govt bill after second reading: https://hikurangi.com/2018/11/29/world-class-medical-cannabis-legislation-a-win-for-patients-and-industry/

BenWilson

Thu, 29 Nov 2018 15:57:49 +1300

The thing is, selecting cannabis solely on its THC potency is actually kinda dumb.

Also, how much evidence is there that the potency is a particularly important health issue, rather than, say, the volume consumed, and how often that is done? Since it's not toxic like alcohol, there isn't a…

mark taslov

Thu, 29 Nov 2018 13:58:41 +1300

The thing is, selecting cannabis solely on its THC potency is actually kinda dumb. Research on cannabis social clubs in Europe found that many people like the clubs because they provided access to weed that wasn’t rocket fuel.

Good article, on that note, as has been discussed here previously specifically…

Russell Brown

Thu, 29 Nov 2018 10:07:25 +1300

But this, from the Colorado state government reporting is the interesting thing. Average THC levels in legal cannabis flower are lower than they were immediately after legalisation.

Russell Brown

Thu, 29 Nov 2018 09:56:33 +1300

Russell. What’s your take on Bob McCoskrie’s story in the Herald today? If what he says is true, is there a worry with Big Marijuana and is the increased potency of marijuana a problem?

It's true, THC levels are getting higher – although that's been a trend in the black…

billtaylor

Thu, 29 Nov 2018 08:12:55 +1300

Russell. What's your take on Bob McCoskrie's story in the Herald today? If what he says is true, is there a worry with Big Marijuana and is the increased potency of marijuana a problem?

Sacha

Sun, 25 Nov 2018 12:05:28 +1300

Hopelessly misleading reporting continues to conflate synthetics and cannabis: https://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/108821210/Children-poisoned-by-parents-cannabis-and-synthetics-use

Craig Young

Sun, 25 Nov 2018 11:25:52 +1300

My question would be whether or not reform opponents will get together in their own antis group, as has happened in the context of the contemporary euthanasia debate. I suspect it may have crossed Family First's mind- although its website seems to be down at the moment, as is Bob…

Sacha

Mon, 19 Nov 2018 01:54:21 +1300

without animal testing

Pretty sure there are advanced enough software models for toxicity testing by now that require neither humans nor animals.

Russell Brown

Sat, 17 Nov 2018 20:20:18 +1300

Would that be the same Ministry of Health that will probably end up administering a regulatory regime for cannabis?

And the one taking a long, long time on regulations to accompany the medicinal cannabis bill, yes.

In between the Ministry and the inevitable problems that will arise if local Government…

Russell Brown

Sat, 17 Nov 2018 19:57:41 +1300

Just one thing to correct – the plastic bag campaign was not “my” campaign. That was a networked campaign where many many local passionate people (including me) campaigned to get a ban on plastic bags. We networked together to share information, ideas and support. And each group was autonomous, which…

mr pharmacist

Fri, 16 Nov 2018 19:58:41 +1300

O'Connor, a police sergeant before his 21-year tenure as president of the Police Association, said that in his experience, cannabis had never really been a big deal for police.

Perhaps the Cannabis Referendum Conference was the wrong forum to call out such blatantly disingenuous claptrap. I am having a hard…

Jason Kemp

Tue, 13 Nov 2018 15:25:23 +1300

In the US as I understand it the tax revenues and the lower costs of policing had been huge drivers for change. If the NZ number is in the order of $600m which I’d guess is a conservative estimate ( on the tax side) then that is quite persuasive. Surely…

cindy baxter

Tue, 13 Nov 2018 13:28:44 +1300

Rebecca Reider's interview on Newshub's AM show convinced Duncan Garner, who said if the campaign made its points as clearly as she'd just made them to him, it'd win, in his view. Here's the interview https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2018/11/cannabis-advocate-s-impressive-justification-for-legalisation.html

And here are the points that convinced Garner:
* we're spending $400m a year…

Dennis Frank

Tue, 13 Nov 2018 11:12:55 +1300

Ole fella interviewed here: https://www.thecannabist.co/2016/10/28/willie-nelson-reflects-on-cannabis/66254/ "a legalization activist, a social warrior and now a ganjapreneur via his own Willie’s Reserve pot brand, and he still gets high regularly at age 83."

Dennis Frank

Tue, 13 Nov 2018 11:03:49 +1300

The conference proposals for the two referendum questions seem suitable, well-phrased, easily understood, simple, direct, concise, well done all involved!

Sandra Murray

Tue, 13 Nov 2018 10:04:58 +1300

Great article, and thanks so much for being there and chairing the referendum session (under difficult circumstances!).
Just one thing to correct – the plastic bag campaign was not "my" campaign. That was a networked campaign where many many local passionate people (including me) campaigned to get a ban on…

Moz

Tue, 13 Nov 2018 09:35:38 +1300

how such a regime could work without animal testing.

Exploit the "people are not animals" delusion and allow volunteers to test stuff under medical supervision. It's a lot more ethical (people can give informed consent), although the lack of voluntary euthanasia laws could be problematic if they find something really…

Nick Russell

Mon, 12 Nov 2018 18:11:14 +1300

On the other hand, a big part of the problem was the Ministry of Health taking forever to come up with regulations, .

Would that be the same Ministry of Health that will probably end up administering a regulatory regime for cannabis? In between the Ministry and the inevitable problems…

Russell Brown

Mon, 12 Nov 2018 17:58:51 +1300

Assuming the referendum succeeds, I hope we can also learn some lessons from the failed experiment with the Psychoactive Substances Act. The moral panic and consequent scramble by local Government to find ways of prohibiting retailers could easily happen again.

On the other hand, a big part of the problem…

simon g

Mon, 12 Nov 2018 17:46:44 +1300

Thanks Russell & co, a good read.

I suspect any affection for a 2019 date is more to do with the fact that a cannabis question on the ballot would dominate the general election campaign.

I think that's the wrong way round. The election swamps all other issues in the media…

Nick Russell

Mon, 12 Nov 2018 17:26:51 +1300

Russell Brown

Mon, 12 Nov 2018 16:27:50 +1300

Thanks Eric, that’s really useful.

None of this is to say that the rules for alcohol are perfect for alcohol, or that they’d need no adjustment in application to cannabis. But it gives us a starting point.

Two things occurred to me. One is that I’d like to see a…

Shaun Lott

Mon, 12 Nov 2018 16:27:05 +1300

Re: price. From my limited experience – good beer is cheap in Colorado, but legal cannabis makes it look pricey. The dispensary was certainly better value than the bar.

Eric Crampton

Mon, 12 Nov 2018 15:56:35 +1300

I agree that it wouldn't be as simple as doing a global search-and-replace to swap out the word alcohol for cannabis. But it would give a decent starting point if the government has any hope of meeting the referendum deadline. Developing new institutions wholecloth would be a big job. Adapting…

Joe Boden

Mon, 12 Nov 2018 15:47:13 +1300

One major opponent will be the pharmaceutical industry. They are a major funder of anti-cannabis groups in the US.

Russell Brown

Mon, 12 Nov 2018 15:43:39 +1300

TVNZ’s report on the day is good value and has longer comments from speakers than I was able to scribble down.

Shane Le Brun

Mon, 12 Nov 2018 15:36:54 +1300

Photo of a trio all defended with success by Sue Grey.

Was great to catch up with everyone, I admit the process with the MC bill means I am starting to lose my cool…. its been almost a year since legislation was introduced. Its been delay and obfuscation at every…

Russell Brown

Mon, 12 Nov 2018 15:01:35 +1300

The final resolutions.

Public Address

Mon, 12 Nov 2018 15:01:35 +1300

Discussion from blog post.