Pubdate: Tue, 03 Sep 2013
Source: Southland Times (New Zealand)
Copyright: 2013 Southland Times Company Ltd.
Contact:  http://www.southlandtimes.co.nz/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1041
Author: Wilma McCorkindale

HOPES HIGH FOR DUNEDIN 'CANNABIS CAPITAL' PLAN

Two organisations behind a joint venture Cannabis Museum in Dunedin 
want to see the city become Dunsterdam, the cannabis capital of the 
South Pacific.

Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party and Otago Cannabis lobby group Otago 
Norml want to achieve the status for Dunedin by opening New Zealand's 
first Cannabis Museum and launch a charitable trust in Dunedin this month.

The function of the museum would remain within the law, says Julian 
Crawford, who is setting up the facility with well-known Dunedin 
cannabis lobbyist Abe Gray.

It would comprise displays and information designed to educate on 
aspects of cannabis use and to lobby for cannabis to be legalised. 
Some merchandise, such as T shirts, would be sold to raise funds for 
the campaign.

"We've had this concept of Dunsterdam, the Amsterdam of the South 
Pacific," Mr Crawford said, adding that the Dutch capital, which has 
legalised the sale of cannabis to adults, was doing very well out of 
the resulting trade.

"We've been following what is happening in Amsterdam for a while. The 
model there has reduced use [of cannabis] by teenagers by having an 
age restriction and regulating the market.

"It actually gets quite a few tourists buying cannabis and 
contributing to the local economy."

Mr Crawford said the two groups involved also had a strong presence 
on the campus of Otago University and wanted to move into offices to 
increase the profile of the campaign to legalise cannabis.

If the political lobby was successful in achieving legalisation of 
cannabis in New Zealand, it was hoped the Government would follow the 
Dutch model.

Mr Crawford said the Dunedin venture was also aware of a new leniency 
towards the sale of cannabis in some areas of the United States, 
where authorities have given it the green light by basically turning 
a blind eye.

He said his group was in the process of forming a charitable trust to 
enhance its ability to raise funds. It was hoped that would be 
achieved within weeks.

Fairfax NZ
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom