Moore's appeal rejected
Fri, 26 Sep 2008
By Allison Rudd

http://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/24064/moore039s-appeal-rejected

Disqualified 2009 OUSA president Jo Moore is considering her options after an attempt to have her disqualification declared "manifestly unjust" was soundly rejected at an OUSA student meeting yesterday.

That resolution defeated, meeting chairman Parbal Mishra ruled a subsequent motion - that the OUSA invalidate her disqualification and appoint a new arbitrator to rehear an appeal over whether she broke election rules during her campaign - should be withdrawn.

It was clear the 270 people at the meeting did not support her attempts to have her appeal reheard, Miss Moore said later.

"But I don't think the meeting was representative of the student body. I've still got people approaching me saying what happened to me was unfair."

OUSA general meeting promises controversy
Sat, 20 Sep 2008
By Allison Rudd

http://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/23171/ousa-general-meeting-promises-co...

An Otago University Students Association student general meeting next week could turn into a marathon - or descend into chaos.

Instead of the usual four or five items up for debate, there are 25.

They range from the serious - the organisation's 2009 budget and student levies - to the ridiculous - that cannabis law reform activist and student Abe Gray's status be upgraded "from irritating to annoying".

Mr Gray comes in for further attention, with another motion requesting the OUSA buy him an outsized novelty hat which he is required to wear at all times on campus.

The OUSA must hold at least two student general meetings each year but has scheduled a third for Thursday at 1pm after the second meeting was abruptly terminated.

Reposted from thcblog.com

This initiative will amend the Constitution of California to defend and safeguard the inalienable rights of the People against infringement by governments and corporations, providing for the lawful growth, sale, and possession of marijuana. Marijuana will be taxed through a system of stamps and licenses–a $5 stamp will be required for the sale of an eighth ounce of marijuana and a $50 annual license will be required for the growth of one marijuana plant. To protect participants and encourage participation in the system, such licenses and stamps will be available anonymously in stores where marijuana is sold.

Libertarianz Laments Another Drug War Casualty
September 13, 2008

"The death of police officer Sergeant Don Wilkinson, who paid the ultimate price yesterday while fighting the government's War on Drugs™, is a tragedy," said Libertarianz Drugs Spokesman, Dr. Richard Goode. "No doubt the gunman responsible for his death will be justly punished," says Goode, "but those in government who authorise and continually escalate the War on Drugs™, and those who voted them in, must also shoulder some measure of blame for Sergeant Wilkinson's death.

"The government does not send New Zealand troops to die in foreign pest-holes fighting other nations' misbegotten wars. Nor should the government send New Zealand's police officers to die fighting the misbegotten War on Drugs™," says Goode. "Prohibition does NOT prevent drug-related harms. It causes Prohibition-related harms, including police casualties."

Dead cop 'victim of prohibition'
Friday, 12 September 2008
Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party

The killing of Sergeant Don Wilkinson during a South Auckland police anti-drug operation is a tragedy for his family and colleagues, and they certainly have the sympathy of the ALCP.

However, it needs to be recognised that prohibition as a policy has not worked anywhere in the world. Our police and customs officers concede that what they can do is only the 'tip of the iceberg' and they will never substantially succeed.

A modest step in the direction of legal regulation is needed to get NZ out from the shadows of gangs, crime and violence. How many more people have to die because of the failure to protect, promote and improve the public health relating to intoxicant use?

Man faces charges of LSD, cannabis dealing
Friday, September 12, 2008
by Court Reporter

An unemployed Bluff man appeared in the Dunedin District Court yesterday on drug-dealing charges as the result of a recent police drug operation.

Troy Adam Janson (21) was one of nine people alleged to have been involved in dealing in LSD or cannabis in recent months.

Eight others were before the court last week. Most have since had their cases adjourned by a registrar until dates later this month or in October.

Janson faces charges of supplying and offering to supply the class A drug LSD to unknown persons between July 15 and September 9 and selling the class C drug cannabis to an unnamed adult between the same dates.

He was remanded on bail, with residence, curfew and non-association conditions, to October 2.

More arrests in drugs operation
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
By Debbie Porteous

Four more people were arrested yesterday as a police operation targeting an alleged LSD and cannabis dealing syndicate in Dunedin winds up.

Last Thursday, armed police stormed four properties across Dunedin and arrested eight people, mostly on cannabis dealing charges.

Yesterday, up to 10 officers seized evidence at two Mosgiel properties about 7:30am. Two teenagers, aged 17 and 19, were arrested and charged with dealing the Class C drug cannabis.

They were granted police bail to appear in the Dunedin District Court next week.

A third person at one of the houses was detained on six active warrants for his arrest. He appeared in the Dunedin District Court yesterday.

OUSA saga takes new twist
Fri, 12 Sep 2008
By Allison Rudd

http://www.odt.co.nz/on-campus/university-otago/22003/ousa-saga-takes-ne...

The tangled Otago University Students Association 2009 presidential election saga has taken another surprise twist, with disqualified president-elect Jo Moore yesterday accusing her successor of breaking one of the same campaign rules for which she was punished.

Miss Moore was disqualified for several breaches, including providing a laptop at a party at her house so guests could cast their online votes.

OUSA election rules say candidates cannot be within 20m of a polling booth, although there is still debate about whether every computer with Internet capabilities is automatically a polling booth.

She said yesterday she had been told Edwin Darlow took a laptop to Selwyn residential college and "got people to vote".

OUSA runner-up unsure about accepting presidency
Thu, 11 Sep 2008
By Allison Rudd

http://www.odt.co.nz/on-campus/university-otago/21811/ousa-runner-unsure...

Otago University Students Association 2009 presidential candidate Edwin Darlow has not yet decided whether to accept the position now his for the taking.

Mr Darlow, who was the second-highest polling candidate at last month's OUSA elections, has been named president-elect after independent election arbitrator Prof Paul Roth upheld an appeal and disqualified Jo Moore for breaches of the rules during her campaign.

Mr Darlow now has two choices - to accept the position and face the possibility of becoming embroiled in a legal stoush should Miss Moore continue to challenge Prof Roth's decision, or to turn it down and force a by-election.