http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/education/4062109/Judge-on-drug-crusade
 
Departing Taranaki judge Rob Murfitt is a man on a mission.
He's seen the sad, steady stream of offenders through his courts and the human toll of waste and misery in Taranaki Base Hospital's mental health unit and he has made a connection – cannabis.
Now he is doing something about it before he leaves to take up a new role in Christchurch in October.
The region's Youth Court judge has brought together sponsors, youth workers and Kiwi music stars to produce a film documenting the dangers of the drug.
And his vision will be realised when the 47-minute film premieres next week.

Three Palmerston North arrests in police, customs operation
Home » News » National
Thu, 29 Jul 2010
News: National

Three Palmerston North men were arrested this morning and face a variety of charges after a four-month police and customs operation targeting the production and distribution of illegal drugs.
Police searched four houses in Palmerston North and arrested the men, aged 26, 20 and 19, at three of the addresses.

High times in Gore get up local noses

 
By SONIA GERKEN - The Southland Times

A recently released Whanganui prisoner has been foiled in an alleged attempt to throw two cannabis-filled tennis balls into the prison unit he was released from in May.
After receiving a tipoff, police were waiting outside Whanganui Prison last Thursday when the former prisoner was dropped off by a car about 9.30am.
Police stopped the car's driver and recovered two tennis balls containing about 65 grams of cannabis with a value of more than $3000.
Both men were arrested and charged with possession of cannabis with intent to supply.
They would appear in court next week

Next time it's jail, cannabis grower warned
 
By LYN HUMPHREYS - Taranaki Daily News

 
 
Last updated 05:00 10/07/2010

A judge was left unimpressed with a "green card" which stated Franz Riordan had an exemption to grow cannabis because of his severe arthritis.
Riordan, 33, pleaded guilty to cultivation and possession of cannabis when he appeared in the New Plymouth District Court yesterday.
Police found Riordan's housebus set up with lights, fans and equipment to grow cannabis. In total, 262 grams of cannabis was found in various conditions and sizes.

Man sentenced for selling cannabis gear

 
The Southland Times

 
 
The sole Invercargill offender netted during the nationwide undercover police sting targeting the commercial sale of equipment for growing cannabis was sentenced to home detention yesterday.

Peter James Stewart, 50, appeared before Judge Kevin Phillips in the Invercargill District Court for sentence on five charges of supplying material or equipment capable of being used in the cultivation of cannabis from his store Europa Hydroponics.

Doctors' group favours medical use of cannabis

 
By REBECCA TODD - Health reporter - The Press

Cannabis should be decriminalised or made available for medicinal use, some health experts say.
Doctors want to be able to prescribe cannabis-based drugs to patients, and addiction specialists say decriminalisation would put greater focus on the health issues associated with smoking marijuana.
A paper on controlling and regulating drugs was released by the Law Commission in February. It asked for comment on whether medicinal cannabis should be available and whether users should be licensed to cultivate small amounts.

Released prisoner caught buying drugs on way home
Home » News » National

Wed, 14 Jul 2010
News: National

An inmate released from Tongariro/Rangipo Prison last month was back in the hands of the law hours later when he was caught buying cannabis on the way home.
Corrections Department investigations discovered the prisoner was setting up the drug deal while in jail.
 
"This information was passed on to police and the ex-prisoner and his dealer were arrested during a cannabis transaction and charged with drug related offences," Corrections regional intelligence manager Dave Alty said.
"Obviously the prisoner was very keen for a high after being inside but you would think he would have at least waited to make contact with his dealer once he got out.
"In addition, I am pretty sure the dealer isn't going to be too happy."
The department said the prisoner had reappeared in court over the incident and had received a non-custodial sentence.
 
 
 

US police find pot stash in railroad tanker
 

News: World

A late-night police pursuit ended with a drug bust and the discovery of thousands of pounds of marijuana concealed in a railroad tank car that entered the US from Mexico this month.
Police Detective Gus Villanueva said numerous bundles of pot were removed from the gooey inside of the petroleum rail tanker by late morning and many more packages were still inside.

Police bust Taupo drug operation
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/3895346/Police-bust-Taupo-drug-ope...
 
Police have found what they describe as an extensive and sophisticated cannabis growing operation in a Taupo home.
Police were executing a search warrant at a central Taupo residential address shortly before 9am yesterday when they came across the indoor growing operation in the offender's garage.
Police have not released a specific number, but said the operation involved several dozen mature, top quality cannabis plants.
A 40-year-old Taupo man was charged with cultivating cannabis, possession of cannabis for supply and theft of electricity.
He entered no plea when he appeared in Taupo District Court today, and was remanded to reappear on July 28.
Detective Allan Humphries, of Taupo police, described the operation as "sophisticated".