In spite of 31 years of the Misuse of Drugs Act, cannabis is NZ's third most popular recreational substance after alcohol and nicotine. According to the APHRU 2001 Drugs Survey (the latest stats available), 52 percent of Kiwis 15-45 years old have tried marijuana. 20 percent, or around 800,000 people, had some in the preceding 12 months. 70 percent of 19 year olds had a go. While Captain Sensible and Chairman Jim stick their fingers in their ears and go "lalalalala," tens of millions of dollars are thrown at 'supply control,' a campaign that even the cops admit is ultimately futile.
Today is International Cannabis Freedom Day, or J-Day in Kiwispeak. It's a day to remember that that laws should reflect societal norms, not try and twist the people to fit the law.
In related news, you can help foil the drug sniffers by wearing Cannabis Flower perfume (Tip Boing Boing). If you get searched without a warrant by the cops, you might then be able to counter-sue for wrongful search!
(Originally posted 5/6/06)
