Pubdate: Fri, 4 Dec 2009
Source: Western Leader (New Zealand)
Copyright: 2009 Fairfax New Zealand Limited
Contact:  http://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/local-news/western-leader/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2237
Author: Luke Parker, Western Leader
Photo: Cannabis Connoisseur: Dakta Green has smoked marijuana for 20 
years and wants it legalised. [Luke Parker] 
http://www.mapinc.org/images/DaktaGreen.jpg
Cited: The Daktory http://thedaktory.org.nz/
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?251 (Cannabis - New Zealand)

DAKTA IN THE HOUSE

He calls himself Dakta Green.

The 59-year-old has been jailed in California and New Zealand for 
cultivating cannabis but has no plans to change his ways.

Dakta is a strong activist for law reform surrounding the drug and 
has been pushing for its legalisation since 1999.

He's even set up a cannabis club in a New Lynn warehouse known as the Daktory.

Dakta says marijuana use is widespread and causes less harm in the 
community than alcohol.

"You have no idea how many people from all walks of life smoke 
cannabis in this country," he says. "The youngest I've smoked with 
was 14 because his parents were present and the oldest was over 80 years old.

"We cannot call all these people criminals. It's part of popular 
culture. The fact that everybody is doing it is a damn good reason to 
stop locking a few of us up."

Dakta Green was born in Wellington in 1950 and attended high school 
in Taumarunui.

He went on to become a businessman and entrepreneur in Auckland and 
ran a casino on a boat in 1986.

He says the operation took place offshore - outside of police jurisdiction.

The New Lynn resident was not always pro-marijuana and didn't try it 
until he was 39.

"I was a prohibitionist when I grew up. I didn't know why. I thought 
cannabis was evil and was highly opposed to it.

"I always thought it was against the law and would cause brain damage.

"I finally tried it to find out why young people found it so attractive."

Dakta's first smoke completely changed his life.

"I woke up the following morning without a hangover and was no longer 
a prohibitionist.

"From that point on I slowly became immersed in the culture."

The grandfather-of-seven uses the drug daily.

"It is of benefit for my general health and well-being and also for 
socialising," he says. "I am a cannabis consumer and am not ashamed 
of it. I don't believe I should be treated as a second-class citizen 
by society."

Dakta travelled to Australia and on to the United States to expand 
his knowledge of the drug.

"I moved to California to learn how to grow medical-grade cannabis of 
the highest and healthiest quality.

"I got busted and spent a year in Chester County Prison in 1999. I 
was then required to leave the States."

He continued to perfect his growing techniques until he was caught in 
Auckland with around 150 cannabis plants.

The father-of-three was locked up in November 2002 and spent the next 
two years and eight months in 11 prisons around the North Island.

"I planned the Daktory in prison with a desire to make a change in 
our laws around marijuana.

"I decided to travel the country and discuss cannabis with New 
Zealanders. I believe if they know the truth about it they won't 
support the continued incarceration of people."

Dakta and his supporters use a bus to spread their message.

"We started a tour of the country in March last year and did 42 towns 
in 42 days and had 42 public smoking sessions at 4.20pm. We took our 
protest on tour.

"In Wellington we did it in Parliament grounds and 60 people turned up."

Dakta also ran as a candidate for Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis in the 
Mt Albert byelection and came sixth out of 15 contenders.

The Daktory opened on November 19, 2008.

"This is a cannabis connoisseurs' club. We are doing it here in 
private but we're not going to stop making noise.

"This is a place were people bring their own and enjoy our facilities.

"If the police want to come bursting in here, bring it on."

Dakta says he's been arrested a number of times over the last year.

He will appear in the Waitakere District Court this month on multiple 
cannabis charges.

Sergeant Grant Watson says police policy on marijuana is quite clear 
- - it's illegal.

"It doesn't matter where you are, in a private dwelling or anywhere, 
smoking and possessing cannabis is an offence against the misuse of 
drugs act and carries a fine and or a term of imprisonment," he says.

Mr Watson says police will investigate alleged offences if they have 
sufficient cause.

He urges people to come forward if they have evidence of an offence 
being committed.

"We can search without a warrant under section 18 of the misuse of 
drugs act and prosecute," he says.

Membership at the Daktory is confidential but each smoker pays $20 a 
month and must sign up for at least a year.

"We started with 20 in November last year and by the end of January 
there were more than 1500," Dakta says.

"Our members support the ongoing costs and bills, including renting 
the premises.

"This is not a private business. I run it but only hold the company 
shares in trust while a community trust is being formed. This is a 
model for places to come.

"Within two years there will be daktories all over the country that 
will cater for people in our culture and the profits will go back to 
the community because they will be owned and operated by community trusts.

"If you want a drink you have to go to licensed premises. If you want 
a joint, you go to unlicensed premises and we call them tinny houses. 
We think that's wrong."

There are clear rules within the club.

"We require people to conduct themselves in a particular way, exactly 
the same as if we were a legally licensed premises. We set standards."

He says the Daktory started selling up to 20 different strains of 
marijuana from its premises but stopped in April when demand skyrocketed.

"We were getting traffic jams outside and people were queuing at our 
dispensary and wanting to join. We didn't have the management systems 
in place."

He says the dispensary will reopen to the public in January and will 
be restricted to those 18 years and older.

Dakta Green believes cannabis will be legal and available from 
daktories throughout the country by the end of next year.

"I expect to prove that cannabis in the hands of a responsible adult 
is a relatively benign plant and is certainly less harmful than 
alcohol," he says.

"It's time that our Members of Parliament stood up and said we don't 
care about the science. What we care about is keeping cannabis out 
and it's a political decision we're making."
- ---
MAP posted-by: Richard Lake