It was October 4th when Detective Inspector Harry Quinn came to visit me in my Wellington office. He had received a complaint from 'some little twit in New Zealand First' (OK he didn't say that). I had publicly admitted using cannabis, and Craig McNair thought the police should make an example of me.

I'm still waiting for them to decide whether to charge me or not.
I feel sorry for the police. The complaint is a total waste of their time and they know it. Craig is just using them, and me, to try to make a name for himself. He thinks he is some kind of modern day Pat Garrett and I am his road to fame. Bad news Craig - I am not Billy the Kid and you are not up to the job.

On the one hand the police don't want to get involved in this sort of thing. On the other hand, even if they do, they must have two things to prosecute a case: enough evidence, and it must be in the public interest to do so.

Realistically they probably don't have enough evidence. Saying that I like a chalice now and then is not specific enough. Saying that I had smoked a joint at such and such a time and at such and such a place would be a different story.

Secondly, in terms of the public interest, some would say that it is in the public interest NOT to prosecute. We must allow people to speak freely about cannabis, because we are in the middle of a public debate about whether we should change the laws on cannabis.

Bring it on I say. If I get taken to court it will be a hell of a case, with international interest already strong and with a number of courts around the world already having recognised the rights of Rastafarian people to use ganja as a holy sacrament.

They would also have to deal with a wave of cannabis cases, as NORML activists have promised to turn themselves in en masse if I am charged (thanks to Mike Harding and Jonathan Rennie for that).

But if the police decide not to prosecute me, then they should stop prosecuting all personal cannabis offences. Declare a general amnesty on personal use of cannabis while parliament debates what the law should be. I don't want special treatment - no one should be prosecuted just for personal use.

If you already have a record for herbs, the good news is that my 'Clean Slate' bill is slowly making its way through parliament. It says that people who have not re-offended for seven years or more will have their minor convictions wiped. Some of the details will change as it goes through the system, but I hope to see it become law before the next election. This will affect over half a million people.

Lastly, special mention to Ropata Taylor who I saw in Wellington recently. Ropata is a roaring lion from way back - big ups my man. Also RASpect to NORML prez Chris Fowlie. Good to have you home bro.

Norml News

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