Cannabis vending machine opens in New Zealand

They usually dispense chocolate bars and soft drinks, but one vending machine in New Zealand dishes out ready-to-smoke cannabis.


The vending machine in New Zealand dishes out ready-to-smoke cannabis

By Paul Chapman, Wellington

7:36AM GMT 22 Mar 2012

Drug law reform campaigners who hired a standard commercial vending machine for their Auckland clubrooms have replaced the cans with one-gram bags of cannabis leaf.

A bag-full drops into the tray below when NZ$20 (£10) in banknotes is inserted in the machine's slot.

Cannabis use is illegal in New Zealand and can attract penalties of fines and imprisonment, with harsher sentences being imposed for dealing than for possession.

By using the machine as a dispenser, members of NORML -- the National Organisation for Reform of Marijuana Laws -- maintain no one at their headquarters is "dealing".

Julian Crawford, president of the organisation, said the vending machine has been a huge hit, with several hundred sales on the busiest nights at the clubroom, which is known as The Daktory.

"It has been very popular, quite a few people come here," he said.

While Mr Crawford admitted that some people turn up simply to buy cannabis, he told Fairfax Newspapers' stuff.co.nz website: "We want to grow the number of activists we've got."

He claimed the vending machine was "an example of how things could be" if cannabis was legalised.

Mr Crawford said police had warned him that officers would soon set-up a checkpoint outside the clubrooms and speak to people entering or leaving the premises.

A police spokesman said the club was being monitored as part of "normal routine policing".

"Like everything, we keep a close eye on things."

New Zealand has one of the highest rates of cannabis use in the world, with more than 13 per cent of adults estimated to smoke it regularly.

The plants are grown in illegal plantations far away from prying eyes in rural backblocks, being well suited to the North Island's warm and wet climate.

Source: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worl...w-Zealand.html

[AfroSheep]

Good ole kiwi's makes me proud,

I never got the chance to go to the daktory while i was back home,
But i reckon ill have to pop in some time on a trip back,

God bless aotaeroa ,

Once again a splendid post from you Moose, love your work.

Crazy! How has that thing not been stolen or knocked by the cops?

[watchuthnknbout]

Originally Posted by MrSterling

Crazy! How has that thing not been stolen or knocked by the cops?

just what i was thinking

[FirstTracks]

By using the machine as a dispenser, members of NORML -- the National Organisation for Reform of Marijuana Laws -- maintain no one at their headquarters is "dealing".

so who empties the money from the machine and refills it with herb?

[Kronikal_kiwi]

Unfortunately the Daktory was raided the day after this news report came out, the pigs found (off the top of my head) 500 grams of bud and $27,000 in cash. The machine was seized and 4 people were arrested for charges ranging from "allowing premises to be used" through to "supply of cannabis"

What an absolute shame.

Free Dakta Green!

That is a shame. It's a huge shame that New Zealand isn't more forward leaning on cannabis. Those big beautiful islands, all sorts of climates to grow in. Man oh man.

[b00m]

Originally Posted by Kronikal_kiwi

Unfortunately the Daktory was raided the day after this news report came out, the pigs found (off the top of my head) 500 grams of bud and $27,000 in cash. The machine was seized and 4 people were arrested for charges ranging from "allowing premises to be used" through to "supply of cannabis"

What an absolute shame.

Free Dakta Green!

That's a damn shame to say the least, but having $27 000 in cash on the same premises as the machine was not a very smart move, being that marijuana is still illegal in NZ, the operators of the Daktory must of known they would be getting a visit from the police once the news had gotten out, they should of had a clean shop waiting for the police to raid if they wanted to say no members on the premises was dealing. Now the police have 500grams, a marijuana vending machine and $27 000 cash, you can bet they will be laying charges of supplying and dealing with that sort of evidence.
I feel for my New Zealand brothers and sisters caught up in this draconian bullshit

[AfroSheep]

Sucks big time for the kiwi battlers :(,

NZ has some of the harshest cannabis penalties in our western world, its crazy, the pigs need to stop with this bullshit and target all the Meth rings that are round these days, that shit is off the hook back home,

Its that dam John Key and his draconian bullshit, his head is so far up the global power elites ass, its not even funny,
Investment bankers should never be aloud to run countries ever!.

Peace. And goodluck to the Dakta crew and DG himself with what ever charges apply.

[Kiwi Grows]

Always up to their shenanigans...