Protesters gathered outside police stations calling for the decriminalisation of cannabis use.
The Stop The Arrests rallies were held in 26 centres, including Nelson, Motueka and Takaka at 4.20pm on Saturday.
In Takaka, nearly 70 people turned up for the rally.
Protester Victoria Davis said those gathered marched from the petition table to the police station.
Medicinal cannabis advocate Rebecca Reider lit up an “historical joint” that was passed around, and local musicians played songs written especially for the rally, while a few others shared their stories on medicinal cannabis.
“One who had used cannabis to help her eat properly after stomach surgery that had left her with no appetite at all,” Davis said.
“A smoke of cannabis a day allows her to have a healthy appetite and has improved her diet.”
Another young mother had given it to her very ill daughter who was having seizures, and after the first cannabis treatment she had great results, Davis said.
“There were many stories from the group, but most people are too shy to speak out, or too frightened to publicly associate themselves with a drug that is currently illegal,” she said.
At the Christchurch protest some of those gathered held posters of Nelson teenager Alex Renton whose sister Jessie attended the event.
Alex died in July 2015 after being in Wellington Hospital for three months, sedated with a range of drugs to stop him having mysterious seizures.
His treatment included the groundbreaking use of medicinal cannabis oil, Elixinol, after a campaign by his mother, Rose Renton, and family after conventional treatments did not work.
The biggest turn-outs were expected in Wellington, Gisborne and Whangarei, where more than 90 people signalled on Facebook they would attend.
Others centres included Auckland, Hamilton, Palmerston North, Tauranga, Taupo, Rotorua, Napier, Blenheim, Nelson, Greymouth, Christchurch, Timaru, Oamaru, Queenstown, Southland and Gore.
Inspector Nick Brown said police would have appropriate resources to deal with any issues.
Asked if arrests would be made for cannabis use during the protests, Brown said in a statement: “Our staff will work to ensure an effective response is provided based on the circumstances.”
National protest organiser Brian Borland, on his Facebook page, asked for people to respect the police.
Borland asked that nothing illegal be done between 4pm and 4.18pm to allow police to “exercise their democratic right” to participate in the protest.
“At 4:18pm the police will be told that we are about to ‘light up’ and asked to go back inside so that they do not see or smell anything,” Borland said.
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker
Full Article: Legalise Cannabis Protests Outside NZ Police Stations
Author: Leah Flynn and Nina Hindmarsh
Contact: Stuff
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