Pubdate: Sat, 14 Jun 2014
Source: Witness, The (South Africa)
Contact:  2014 The Witness.
Website: http://www.witness.co.za/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2960
Author: Chris Ndaliso
Page: 4

ACTIVIST CALLS FOR DAGGA LAWS TO BE REVIEWED

PRO medical dagga activist Sheldon Cramer (aka Bobby Hashgreen) from 
Richards Bay is calling for a review of the laws prohibiting the use of dagga.

This comes after Cramer was arrested for smoking dagga in public 
during the Global Cannabis March in Durban last month.

He was charged with possession of dagga and appeared at the Durban 
Magistrate's Court last week.

During his arrest, Cramer commented that if it was not for people 
standing up for what they believe in, South Africa would still be in 
the apartheid era.

Cramer (48) is involved in legal compliance and maritime law, so he's 
not your average stoner.

"I went to the Durban Global Cannabis March on the third of May and I 
was violently arrested at the march for puffing a joint that was 
going around the crowd, and charged with possession of dagga," Cramer 
told Weekend Witness. "At this point, I decided to challenge the laws 
prohibiting marijuana, so I have now instituted a high court action 
against the state, calling for the laws on marijuana/dagga to be 
reviewed, given the evidence that dagga is actually a well documented 
potent medicine capable of curing cancer." Cramer's case heard last 
week was postponed to June 24. He said on that day he will serve the 
magistrate with a notice of intent to summons the state and to set 
aside his dagga case, pending the outcome of the high court case.

"I am tired of being treated like a criminal for doing what is 
morally correct," said Cramer. "The legalisation of dagga poses a 
huge financial threat to the pharmaceutical industry, as confirmed 
recently by the Health Department, replacing 60% of their product 
lines. This in itself will ensure that I have a fight ahead of me."

Cramer said he used dagga for herbal remedies that he distributes to 
terminally ill people.

Health spokesperson Joe Maile would not comment on the matter. He 
said the issue on the legalisation of dagga is in the hands of the 
justice system.

Lawrence Ngobeni, spokesperson for the Department of Justice and 
Constitutional Development, said proposals for any laws are 
channelled to the South African Law Reform Commission for consideration.

In February, Inkatha Freedom Party MP Mario Oriani- Ambrosini 
appealed to President Jacob Zuma to legalise medicinal marijuana as 
an alternative treatment for cancer patients. Oriani- Ambrosini was 
diagnosed with stage four lung cancer.

In his statement in Parliament, he said he was supposed to have died 
already, but he is positive the marijuana remedy has saved his life.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom