Daktory to increase efforts for law change.

The removal of a vending machine from the Daktory has not dampened
enthusiasm for cannabis law reform.

At 6.15pm on March 22 seven police officers came to the Daktory. The
officers were invited into the building but soon after invoked powers
of warrentless search under the Misuse of Drugs Act (1975). They
searched club members and four activists were arrested.

Three males and a female were placed in a police vehicle, for up to
two hours before being taken to Henderson police station. The four
accused were detained until 2.30am at which time they were bailed with
charges ranging from possession of cannabis, possession for supply,
permits premises to be used, and possession of drug related utensils.

The Daktory remains open for cannabis activists but is no longer
providing a vending machine service. The Daktory is still committed to
cannabis law reform and will be increasing pressure on MPs to change
the law.

Two select committee inquiries and a law commission report have all
recommended relaxing the cannabis laws. However, Parliament has failed
to implement these recommendations, leading the Daktory and other
activist to resort to civil disobedience.

"This raid was a huge waste of taxpayer's dollars. The Police should
have been using this time to deal with threats to the community," one
of the accused, Dakta Blaze said, "People from all over our community
come to The Daktory as a safe haven from the black-market, created by
prohibition. The Daktory simply makes our community a safer place."

The raid has only encouraged the Daktory to become more vocal in the
fight for legalisation. A protest is planned for March 28 at the
Waitakere District Court, 9 am, when the four will make their first
appearance.