Dutch coffee shop fined 10m euros for breaking drug law
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8587576.stm

A Dutch court has fined the owner of the Netherlands' biggest cannabis-selling coffee shop 10m euros (£9m, $13.3m) for breaking drugs laws.

Owner Meddie Willemsen, who was tried along with 15 staff of the Checkpoint coffee shop in Terneuzen, was also sentenced to a 16-week prison term.

He was convicted for keeping more than the maximum tolerated amount of 500g (18oz) of drugs at the cafe.

Checkpoint served up to 3,000 people a day before being closed last year.

On a couple of occasions, police found 200kg (440lb) of cannabis when they raided the coffee house.

Willemsen was sentenced to 16 weeks in prison, but was released as he had already spent the time in jail ahead of the trial.

He and his staff were convicted of breaking drugs laws, exporting drugs and membership of a criminal organisation.

Alcohol Causes Violence conference (next Tuesday) on the internet

Details about the Alcohol Causes Violence Conference at Te Papa, Tuesday 23rd March can be found at http://www.alcoholaction.co.nz
Registrations are now closed because it is fully subscribed, but you can access the conference electronically in two ways.

We have organised it so that people outside Wellington can view the conference live at one of 12 public meetings where the speakers and discussion will be screened live on a big screen, along with tea, coffee, biscuits and excellent company. The venues are as follows:

Northland
North Shore (Auckland)
Central Auckland
Otara
Tauranga
Motueka
Nelson
Blenheim
Christchurch
West Coast (delayed coverage - week after)
Timaru
Dunedin

with other venues TBC.

Contact Fergus Wheeler for details and contacts - coordinator@alcoholaction.co.nz

Home » News » Regions
Fri, 12 Mar 2010
The Regions: Central Otago | Court | Drugs
http://www.odt.co.nz/the-regions/central-otago/97234/039earlier-injustic...

A young Alexandra man's wrongful conviction on a driving charge four years ago was a major reason for a High Court judge's decision not to send him to prison yesterday for drug dealing.

Shane Te Ihorangi Cribb (22), plasterer, was instead sentenced to seven months' home detention on two charges of selling cannabis.

Justice John Fogarty said he had not imposed community service as well as home detention to recognise the "earlier injustice" Cribb had suffered at the hands of the court.

"I am conscious that, when that happens because court proceedings go awry, a person can be bitter for the rest of his life," the judge said.

By FEILIDH O'DWYER - NZPA
Last updated 11:18 18/03/2010SharePrint Text Size
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/3470444/Anonymous-tips-lead-to-pol...

Tip offs from the new Crimestoppers phone line helped police make major busts on three South Auckland properties yesterday.

Counties-Manukau Detective Senior Sergeant Alexander says the anonymous tips from the public had assisted police in getting a search warrant.

"Recovering stolen property valued at approximately $15,000 and taking drugs and firearms off the streets points to the success that Crimestoppers is having," Mr Alexander said.

Twenty CIB staff, uniformed police from Papakura and the Auckland Armed Offenders Squad raided the properties in Takanini and Papakura.

Two middle-aged women from the area are facing drug charges.

Police said the properties had links to an organised crime group

Two arrests after police seize drugs, firearms

http://www.odt.co.nz/news/national/98075/two-arrests-after-police-seize-...
Home » News » National
Thu, 18 Mar 2010
News: National | Police

Two women were arrested and drugs, firearms and stolen property valued at $15,000 seized in an armed police raid in south Auckland yesterday.

CIB and uniformed staff from Papakura and the Auckland armed offenders squad (AOS), raided three properties in Takanini and Papakura linked to an organised crime group.

Cannabis and chemicals used in the manufacture of methamphetamine were found.

A large amount of stolen goods, along with a loaded .22 pistol and a small quantity of ammunition were found at one property. Cash was seized from two addresses.

Police said two middle-aged women from Papakura would face drug charges. Counties Manukau Detective Senior Sergeant Albie Alexander said the searches followed information from the public.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/league/3401969/League-stalwart-banned-10-ye...

A New Zealand Residents rugby league international banned for 10 years for a third anti-doping code breach has said he was unable to stop smoking cannabis despite two previous penalties.

Canterbury Bulls prop Vince Whare, 32, escaped a potential lifetime ban after testing positive to cannabis after a national provincial premiership match against Taranaki last September.

Whare – a 101-game veteran who was voted Canterbury's players' player of the year – was unavailable for comment last night.

But the Sports Tribunal, which imposed the penalty this week, stated in its decision he had told them he had been "unable to curb an addiction to cannabis despite my trying on many occasions without success".

He said he was "deeply remorseful" that his rugby league achievements over the past 20 years had been "undermined by my off-field antics over the past five years".

February 17, 2010 - 6:00pm

The Law Commission has released a report into the misuse of drugs act, recommending the 30 year old law be reviewed.

Today the 9 Local News Word on the Street team went to find out if you believe the Government should relax laws relating to recreational drug use

http://www.ch9.co.nz/content/do-you-believe-government-should-relax-laws...

Close Up staff investigated over marijuana claims
By David Fisher and Alice Neville
Sunday Feb 14, 2010

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10626017&r...

TVNZ staff under investigation for marijuana use tried to get photos taken during a smoking session deleted, according to people at the gathering.

But others who were present say the few images taken don't show anything incriminating - and TVNZ does not have copies.

Three staff at TVNZ's flagship current affairs show Close Up have been accused of smoking marijuana after filming a segment called "Reefer Madness", which screened last Tuesday. A fourth TVNZ staff member was also present.

The story showed supporters of the movement travelling to Waitangi and featured interviews with campaigner Dakta Green, previously known as Kenneth Morgan.

TVNZ probes claim staff used cannabis
Feb 13, 2010

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10625910&r...

Television New Zealand is investigating an allegation that staff smoked cannabis while in Waitangi during a visit by drug law reform campaigners.

A report on a journey to the Waitangi Day celebrations by activist Dakta Green and others in the "Cannabus" bus featured on Close Up last Tuesday.

Mr Green is a leading member of the National Organisation for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (Norml).

The report featured scenes of drug-taking.

The Herald understands a complaint about the item included an allegation that four TVNZ staff took drugs with the Norml contingent in the bus after filming had finished for the day.

The complainant said the group had photos of the staff smoking the cannabis.

Potbus hits the road

click the link below to watch the video
http://tvnz.co.nz/close-up/morgan-s-potbus-hits-road-3352616/video

Dakta Green is the face of the legalise marijuana movement and openly flouts the law almost everyday.

He's gone to prison more than one once and has lost his relationship with his own family because of his obsessive stance.

But even that hasn't deterred him as he has now named himself and is planning on visiting towns around New Zealand in his 'cannabus' to sell the message.

Although as Matt Chisholm discovered his bus and his views are not necessarily warmly received.