The time for change is now. At Otago NORML we're working hard to raise awareness of the issue of law reform on all levels. So check out our latest news items, articles, and press releases.
Our twice weekly "4:20" protests are held every Wednesday and Friday at 4:20 PM on the Union Lawn at the Otago University.
Feel free to register and contribute to the continued discussion surrounding cannabis law reform or suggest new ways to make our point on our forums.
Also check out Overgrown - The Otago NORML Radio Show - Fridays 21:00 NZST, 91FM Dunedin (Radio One)! - New Zealand's only Cannabis Law Reform radio show!
Been busted for cannabis? Visit our friends at Bush Lawyer
Dunedin Police Believe 4.20pm Pro Cannabis Law Reform Protests Infiltrated By 'Known Gang Associates'
Channel 9 Dunedin
June 6, 2008 - 8:00pm
http://www.ch9.co.nz/node/9148 (click link to watch video)
Dunedin Police believe the regular 4.20pm pro cannabis law reform protests at the University of Otago have been infiltrated by 'known gang associates'.
However Police failed to show at this afternoon's cannabis-smoking protest, where a large group of supporters gathered.
After saying they would issue trespass notices at the twice-weekly protest, police were conspicuous by their absence late this afternoon.
Instead, a group of up to 60 people, mostly students, smoked and talked quietly in front of the OUSA building.
To: Proctors, Campus Cop, Campus Watch, David Richardson and OUSA:
I have received a worrying e-mail from NORML: while it seems to be full of rhetoric and hyperbole, it claims that a student casually smoking marijuana on campus was arrested by the Campus Cop [CC], as alerted by Campus Watch [CW]. While I'm well aware that such things are illegal and I'm not a big advocate for marijuana liberalisation, I do agree that this is probably not the best use of CW time.
More importantly, it sounds very much like a breach of the trust that allowed a Campus Cop to be invited on campus in the first place.
Current staff may not be aware, on Ron Chamber's [the former Proctor] insistence, the Campus Cop position was only allowed on campus with the acceptance of OUSA.
Watchdog turns bulldog
6 June, 2008
by Gavin Bertram
http://www.scene.co.nz/content/dunedin/date/may08/060608/3401/watchdog-b...
STUDENT groups are questioning whether an Otago University private security force is overstepping the mark.
The Otago University Students Association and the National Organisation for the Reform of Marijuana Legislation (Norml) are both raising concerns about Campus Watch activities.
Campus Watch was introduced in February 2007. Members act as “walking information boothsâ€, the university’s website says.
It is run by the Proctor’s Office, which is responsible for student discipline and took over all campus security in August 2007.
OUSA president Simon Wilson says he’s held concerns about the approach and attitude of Campus Watch for some time.
Police plan cannabis protest crack down
Fri, 6 Jun 2008
By Sarah Harvey
http://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/8628/police-plan-cannabis-protest-crac...
Dunedin police are to clamp down on a University of Otago cannabis-smoking protest group, saying there is evidence gangs and convicted drug dealers are infiltrating it.
University student services director David Richardson said the university was aware gang affiliates and drug dealers had been attracted to the "4:20" protests, and it was "very concerned".
The concerns had been raised with police, who had been asked to respond.
However, the leader of the Otago branch of marijuana law reform group Norml, which has held protests on the campus for four years, said the majority of protesters were students, and non-students were asked to leave.
Editiorial from this week's Critic:
"Since the beginning of last year, Critic has seen Campus Watch staff pay a greater amount of attention to the 4.20 meetings, where students gather to smoke cannabis and protest the drug’s prohibition. We’ve heard claims from NORML Otago that Campus Watch members have harassed and intimidated them. We’ve heard characteristically restrained University responses to the issue, either refusing to comment or drip-feeding to the media rather vague responses about not tolerating illegal activities and meeting such activities with a police response.
Breaking News - June 4,2008
This just in! On Tuesday a scarfie flat was raided by the police at the behest of the Campus Cop. The flatmates say that Campus Watch has been continually harrassing their flat all year and has repeatedly spied on them by peeking through their window. According to one flatmate if you live around the student quarter you can kiss your privacy goodbye as Campus Watch regularly ignore such concerns in their 'pursuit of offenders'.
Editorial: Random school drug tests the wrong tactic in war on P
Sunday June 01, 2008
