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Supporters of a Timaru man facing jail over cannabis charges have staged a peaceful protest for him outside the Timaru Courthouse.
Peter John Frances Davy, 51, is threatening to go on a hunger strike if he is jailed for possession of cannabis, cultivating cannabis, importing cannabis seed and unlicensed possession of a rifle.
Dakta Green, who founded The Daktory, which promotes the medical use of cannabis, said NORML (National Organisation for the Reform of Marijuana Law) supporters left Auckland last Friday and arrived in Timaru to stage a peaceful overnight protest outside the Timaru Courthouse.
Supporters had come from as far afield as Auckland, Waihi, Wellington and Dunedin.
"When we heard of Pete's plight, it wasn't too hard to say `let's go down and support him'," Mr Green said.
"We find it obnoxious and obscene for a medical user of cannabis to be treated as a criminal."
Davy admitted the charges in February and was due to be sentenced yesterday in Timaru District Court but the case was adjourned to April 20 so that his newly appointed counsel could receive disclosure.
Davy, who has cancer, said the cannabis was for medicinal purposes. He also said he was the 24-hour carer for his partner who had advanced multiple sclerosis.
"She is dying and will die without me."
In a protest against "the persecution of New Zealand's medical cannabis users", Davy told The Herald he would go on a hunger strike and would not take his cancer medicines.
Mr Green said the group hoped a judge would see reason and not incarcerate Davy.
About 15 people camped outside the courthouse on Tuesday night. The group, which grew during the day yesterday, held up placards, blew bubbles and trumpets, and elicited toots from motorists until about 2pm.
Pro-cannabis activists staged a protest outside Timaru Courthouse to support a cancer sufferer facing jail time for cannabis charges.
Peter John Frances Davy, 51, is threatening to go on a hunger strike if he is jailed for possession of cannabis, cultivating cannabis, importing cannabis seed and unlicensed possession of a rifle.
Dakta Green, who founded The Daktory, which promotes the medical use of cannabis, said NORML (National Organisation for the Reform of Marijuana Law) supporters left Auckland last Friday and arrived in Timaru to stage a peaceful protest on Tuesday night, The Timaru Herald reported.
Davy admitted the charges in February and was due to be sentenced yesterday in Timaru District Court but the case was adjourned to April 20 so that new counsel could receive disclosure.
Davy, who has cancer, said the cannabis was for medicinal purposes. He also said he was the 24-hour carer for his partner who had advanced multiple sclerosis.
"She is dying and will die without me."
Mr Green said the group hoped a judge would see reason and not incarcerate Davy.
Timaru Police said the protest had passed without incident.
National Organisation for the Reform of Marijuana Laws) members staged a peaceful protest outside the Timaru District Court today in support of a man facing cannabis and firearms charges today.
A protest group has gathered outside the Timaru District Court in support of a Timaru man threatening to go on a hunger strike if he is jailed on cannabis and firearms charges today.
When he pleaded guilty to charges of possession of cannabis, cultivating cannabis, importing cannabis seed and unlicensed possession of a rifle on February 15, Peter Davy, 51, was warned he could expect a prison sentence.
However, Mr Davy, who has cancer, claimed the cannabis was for medical purposes. Mr Davy said his partner had advanced multiple sclerosis and he was her 24-hour caregiver.
"She is dying and will die without me."
In a protest against "the persecution of New Zealand's medical cannabis users", Mr Davy told the Timaru Herald he would go on a hunger strike and would not take his cancer medicines.
NORML (National Organisation for the Reform of Marijuana Laws) members staged a peaceful protest outside the courthouse last night and are awaiting Mr Davy's hearing, scheduled this afternoon.
The Dutch city of Utrecht wants cannabis smokers to grow their own marijuana in a cooperative, a move which would go against the Netherlands' drive to discourage soft drug use.
It also would be illegal, the government said.
The Netherlands has one of the most liberal soft drugs policies in Europe and the use of marijuana is legal but the mass cultivation of cannabis plants is illegal and controlled by criminal groups.
"We want to tackle this in the experiment. If you have some users grow the cannabis you remove it from the criminal and illegal scene," Utrecht's alderman Victor Everhardt told Dutch public broadcaster NOS on Thursday.
Utrecht is the Netherlands' fourth-largest city, about 50 km (30 miles) southwest of Amsterdam.
By controlled cultivation, the quality also would be guaranteed and reduce health hazards, Everhardt said.
A Dutch citizen can grow a maximum of five cannabis plants at home for personal use, and the city wants weed users to unite in a cooperative.
WOW what a wonderful day, the P.A. was cranking. sweet tunes Mr DJ. massive turnout on the lawn and plenty of great responses form people walking past. interesting to note the amount of new jugglers that showed up. 40 people turned up and most were new to the club, this is a strength of the 420s just show up and hang out.
Coconut oil is fat and this is what you need to extract the most thc from your material.
What You Need: Weed
A pot suitable for the amount of weed youre using
Coconut Oil
A wooden spoon
Water
Stove
Our thoughts are with those in Christchurch at the moment, I have seen photos of some of our members who have rushed to help out. There have been much loss across the city. A shake of national significance. Here is some destruction that has not been reported that I thought needed to be.
Eleven people have been charged with drug-related offences following a massive sting operation in the Wellington region.
Over 700 cannabis plants were seized in the Wellington region in the midst of the cannabis growing season.
Two women and nine men were arrested after police raided properties in Masterton, South Wairarapa, Upper Hutt and Wellington City, mostly last Tuesday.
The plants were worth over $300,000. Police accessed some of the plantations via helicopter.
Those arrested were aged between 18 and 59 and face charges including cultivation of cannabis, possession of cannabis and possession for supply of cannabis.
Lead officer Detective Sergeant Rob Rackliff of Wairarapa CIB said over 50 police staff were involved in the recovery.
"Police will continue to crack down on organised crime, including the cultivation of cannabis and those involved in this anti-social behaviour can expect to be caught. We remain committed to reducing the harm caused by cannabis in our communities," he said in a statement.
A TIMARU cancer patient facing a jail term for growing cannabis he uses to alleviate pain says he will go on a hunger strike if he gets locked up.
Peter Davy, 51, has pleaded guilty to cultivating cannabis and to other related drug charges, but says he uses the drug only for medicinal purposes for himself and his partner, who suffers from multiple sclerosis.
It is not the first time he has been before the courts on drug charges and the judge indicated that when Davy is sentenced on March 16 he can expect to receive a jail term.
But Davy is refusing to go quietly.
"I will be going on a hunger strike the moment I am given a prison sentence and I absolutely do not want to be force-fed under any circumstances. I will also be refusing all cancer medication.
"I am 100% committed to continuing with a hunger strike until I am dead," said Davy. "I hate confrontation and I hate publicity, but I have nothing to lose and somebody has to make a stand... or nothing ever changes."
Paris Hilton's boyfriend, Cy Waits, has an August 22 court date to fight criminal charges stemming from a Las Vegas Strip traffic stop with the celebrity socialite.
The 35-year-old Waits didn't appear Thursday in Las Vegas Justice Court.
His attorney, Richard Schonfeld, told a judge that he intends to challenge the constitutionality of Waits' felony charge of being under the influence of marijuana.
The former nightclub mogul also faces misdemeanor charges of marijuana possession and driving under the influence following his Aug. 27 arrest.
Hilton pleaded guilty in September to misdemeanor cocaine possession and obstruction charges. She's serving a year of probation.
Police stopped the couple in a black Cadillac Escalade after an officer reported a "vapor trail" of marijuana smoke wafting from the vehicle.
