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The Case for

The Case for. CANNABIS. Law Reform. What is Cannabis?. Cannabis is a Plant – Cannabis sativa (other spp.?) Has been cultivated for >12,000 years Formed the foundation of early global commerce Hemp ships Fabric Paper Grain storage Nutritious food Effective medicine

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The Case for

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  1. The Case for CANNABIS Law Reform

  2. What is Cannabis? • Cannabis is a Plant – Cannabis sativa (other spp.?) • Has been cultivated for >12,000 years • Formed the foundation of early global commerce • Hemp ships • Fabric • Paper • Grain storage • Nutritious food • Effective medicine • Has been prohibited for ~100yrs

  3. How harmful is it? • The chemicals contained in Cannabis have never killed anyone • 5000 NZ deaths/yr from tobacco (>17% of all deaths) • 1150 NZ deaths/yr from alcohol (4% of all deaths) • 92 NZ deaths/yr from opiate overdose (<0.33% of all deaths) • Cannabis is what is known in medical literature as ‘non-toxic’ • Other more greatly toxic plants are not prohibited (Datura, Nightshade) • Alcohol is obviously not prohibited

  4. Cannabis vs Alcohol • Alcohol is widely accepted in society despite the great harms • 81.2% of NZers aged 12-65 use alcohol every year • 80% of NZers aged 15-25 have used cannabis • 52% of all NZ has used cannabis • Remember alcohol prohibition? • Imagine everyone here getting raided by police to see if you had alcohol • Alcohol abusers cost city $millions • Our group picks up rubbish

  5. Why is it illegal? • Convenient excuse for racism (India, Southwest USA) • Yellow Journalism – Hearst Newspapers • Patent medicines – birth of pharmaceutical industry • Industrial revolution – competitiveness as an industrial feedstock • Nylon fibre • Wood paper pulp • Continues to be a useful excuse for prejudice

  6. Why law reform? • Hypocrisy – Justice? • Let us have nutrition • Let granny medicate • Remove onerous restrictions on farmers • Grow tourism • We excel at primary produce – export industry? • Keep kiwis out of prison and able to contribute to society

  7. Why law reform? • Global warming • Peak Oil • Food supply • Soil crisis • Water quality • Sustainability • Land management • Economic growth

  8. My Story • 15 years CONTINUOUS use • Master of Science candidate • Uni tutor and lecturer – most favourable student evaluations • Schools ambassador • Campus Tour Guide – highest hit rate and compliments • Active in the community – campaigns, community service • Why does Uni want to be rid of people like me? • Exception to the rule? So what? the police could come kick down my door at any moment!

  9. THE END

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