War on drugs = war on people

Dakta Green was sentenced to 8 months jail for cannabis offences relating to The "Daktory". The only political reaction I've seen is from the stoners themselves. The Daktory is a large industrial building in New Lynn operating as a club to smoke dope - that's pretty much it. I call it the Daktorium - the smoker's version of thunderdome. But it was the selling aspect - "the dispensary" as I understand it - which accounts for why Dakta now finds himself behind bars for the next few months. I've met Dakta here and there and also at the Daktory, so I was saddened by the news of his imprisonment.

Having said that I am amazed that a stonking great barn devoted to the purpose of cannabis was able to run for so many years unmolested when it is:
a) known by all, with a facebook page,
b) is visible from Great North Rd with letters three metres high saying 'DAKTORY', and -
c) the big Avondale Police station is just a few minutes drive down the road.
It took the cops how many years to twig something was up?

It is a testament to Dakta's principles, even temperament, manner and professionalism that the Daktory was not closed down a long time ago. And for all the criticisms made of the police they are ultimately the ones that allowed it to exist, preferring to tolerate it while putting pressure on Dakta and the others knowing eventually they would have enough to prosecute without having to do anything dramatic. This was a very sober attitude by the police when one considers what another commander may have seen as a huge provocation in view of the Avondale police station's turret.

For all of his weathered looks and his inevitable entourage of smelly stoners, wigged out wiggas and rastafarian raggamuffins, Dakta managed to keep the place - and old Mary Jane the Canna-bus - as an appealing social scene for the wider marijuana user. Smoking clove cigarettes discussing Indonesian history with a university lecturer on one couch, hits from a giant pink bong and talking shit with some students on the other. It's that sort of place.

Dakta will continue the good fight against prohibition as soon as he's out - maybe in time to contest at the general election if he gets his automatic half.

- Dakta Green's last discussion before sentencing (on the Vinny Eastwood Show. Warning: 1hr 25m!)

The ironies in this case bubble away like a free-flowing water bong. The choicest being the only place you're allowed to smoke inside nowadays turns out to be a marijuana club, and secondly the punishment for running a marijuana club is to spend time in a prison - the only institution that has more bud than the Daktory!

It is pointless to lock up people who don't need to be locked up - he is one of those many, many drug cases where the only victim is him and the person victimising him is the state. "Live like it's legal" is the Daktory's motto.