Coffee and Cigarettes
Coffee and Cigarettes is an in-depth study of the human condition by Jim Jarmusch.
Social issues
drugs
Gangs rejoice as Pseudoephedrine is back
For a Government that hates gangs you would think that they would be more circumspect with policies that may enrich gangs and increase illicit drug use. But this is exactly what the current Government is planning.
Rare misstep
Simeon Brown in his attack on the Government for allegedly funding the Mongrel Mob has shown a disturbing ability to understand how Government works and an even more disturbing inability to perform basic maths.
How low will Bridges go?
Simon Bridges has spent the last week casting aspersions on people who have tragically died at Music Festivals in an attempt to score culture war inspired political points and undermine the Government’s new pill testing law.
The challenge to the reeferendum result
A group of more than 350 people have applied to the High Court to try and void the reeferendum result.
National’s gonna National
On two issues, pill testing at music festivals and tax changes to address the housing crisis, National yesterday indicated that it will do what conservative parties do and oppose any meaningful change.
The reeferendum fails
The referendum seeking to decriminalise cannabis appears to have failed narrowly although special votes are still to be counted.
Legalise it! The Socialist case for Cannabis reform
Maria Hoyle of Socialist Aotearoa argues that from a socialist perspective the legalisation of the possession of cannabis should occur.
NZ Medical Association drops its opposition to the legalisation of cannabis
“So after staunchly opposing the legalisation of cannabis all year NZ Medical Association chair Kate Baddock has issued a statement and apology, in the middle of voting, saying actually the NZMA has “no position regarding the cannabis referendum”” – TVNZ political journalist Benedict Collins
Ngaro goes negative
National list MP Alfred Ngaro has shown that National’s message discipline has broken down completely by going negative and making some outlandish claims against Labour’s Phil Twyford.
Vote No to Cannabis Reform
Ten reasons to vote against cannabis law reform this election.
NZ First Youth drags party screaming and kicking into 20th century
At New Zealand First’s weekend conference the party’s youth wing has forced the party to rethink its ultra conservative view on pill testing services being offered at festivals.
National’s extreme gang rhetoric
National has engaged in some extreme rhetoric concerning gangs which is not reality based.
Labour and welfare
Many of us wanted to believe that the Ardern-led compassion would apply to all New Zealanders, but Labour’s defence of highly punitive benefit sanctions tell us it doesn’t.
Dunne reckons next election will be close
Peter Dunne has come up with some 2020 election reckons that ignores current polling as well as National’s leadership problems.
Cannabis, teens, and fecal matter
I’ve been musing on the subject of minor drugs that are currently illegal and their supply chain. It is early days so far, but almost all of the news coming through from where the recreational use of cannabis has been decriminalised hasn’t indicated dire consequences. There are some pretty obvious benefits – especially in the quality of supply.
Beware of Truth Sayers
We don’t all have to know all the facts and admitting ignorance is no shame but a virtue.
Swarbrick 2 Bennett 0
Paula Bennett has declined to engage in a debate with Chloe Swarbrick on National TV.
Swarbrick 1 Bennett 0
Chloe Swarbrick has responded Paula Bennett’s derisory comments about the proposed cannabis drug reform with a very elegant burn.
Reeferendum madness
The Government parties have all decided to support draft drug reform legislation should the referendum to be held at the next election succeed. But National is refusing to say what it will do.
Taxpayers Union receives funding from British American Tobacco
Sam Sachdeva at Newsroom has connfirmed that the Taxpayer’s Union (*not a real union) has received funding from British American Tobacco.
Legalize it!
A new poll shows solid support for legalising cannabis. Is the 2020 referendum a done deal?
Drug testing at music festivals
Police Minister Stuart Nash has said publicly that he wants to see all New Zealand music festivals to have drug testing kits by next summer.
For a Better New Zealand?
A new political party has emerged with what could be loosely described as a stunning website.
National forgets it apologised for Housing Corp meth hysteria
Three months ago National apoligised for getting dud advice and evicting hundreds of state house tenants where miniscule amounts of methamphetamine were discovered. This week National backed off from that very proper apology.
National is jamming cannabis law reform
So National be getting pretty liberal with the Marijuana stuff.
Dud advice
The methamphetamine debacle continues with questions raised about if the Auckland District Health Board provided confidential information to Housing New Zealand about its tenants. And Simon Bridges directly contradicts Bill English by claiming that the last Government had no idea the guidelines were not fit for purpose.
Gluckman: Methamphetamine policy was a crock
The Prime Minister’s chief science adviser Peter Gluckman has described the previous Government’s policy on methamphetamine in Housing Corp houses as hysterical and concluded that there has never been a documented case of someone getting sick from third-hand exposure to methamphetamine.
Tell the Health Committee: Make our cannabis law fair for those in pain
“The Health Select Committee is about to consider the government’s changes to medicinal cannabis law. This is your chance to tell politicians they have not gone far enough.”
The Greens have a handy online submission form that you can send as is or add your own thoughts. Submissions close on Wednesday.
Up in Smoke.
US reverses Federal marijuana stance.
The Medicinal Marijuana Bill
Will the Medical Marijuana Bill just introduced into Parliament be as effective as proponents wish?
Twyford reverses National’s flawed methamphetamine housing policy
Phil Twyford has shown this new Government has a brain as well as a heart by halting National’s ridiculous state house methamphetamine policy where the presence of minuscule traces would result in eviction even though there was no proof the tenant was responsible and he has apologised to Robert Erueti for the harm caused.
National enters panic mode and goes tough on beneficiaries
National has tried to divert attention from the budget hole fiasco by promising to get even tougher on beneficiaries.
National plays the lauranorda card
National is panicking and Paula Bennett has gone full dog whistle in claiming that gang members should have less rights than others.
Let’s get rid of these clowns
The Government’s failure to do anything about the housing crisis or about zombie cannabis is evidence they should be removed from office.
Synthetic cannabis deaths
We should consider decriminalising real cannabis to provide a safer alternative.