POTENT MIXTURE COULD BREW UP A LOT OF TROUBLE

The emergence of a marijuana wine has prompted police to issue a
warning that anyone found making it could face 14 years in prison.

A recipe for the potent home-brew was published this month in Norml
News, the 20,000-circulation free magazine put out by Norml, the
National Organisation for the Reform of Marijuana Laws.

The recipe - an explosive concoction of 4oz of marijuana leaf,
sultanas, white wine yeast, sugar and lemons fermented for three
months - promises 25 litres of passion fruit-flavoured wine.

"Taste it when you first put it down and keep tasting over the next
few weeks," says the recipe. "This helps you appreciate the taste a
lot more when it is ready. Wine is ready when it is a clear, light
orange colour. Happy drinking!"

But because the wine is a byproduct of marijuana, police say it could
fall into the category of a class-B drug - like ecstasy and speed.

The maximum penalty for manufacturing a class-B drug is 14 years in
jail.

Auckland drug squad detective Graeme Porter said police had no
knowledge of people brewing the wine, but intended to watch the matter.

"We know people make cakes, muffins and so on, but we have not heard
of wine. We have enough problems with wine and students let alone
putting cannabis in it."

He said that "on the face of things" the wine would appear to be a
class-B drug.

Marijuana leaf is class C, but if the oil or resin is extracted it
becomes class B.

Detective Porter said police were interested in sending a sample to
scientists at the Institute of Environmental Science and Research for
analysis.

The editor of Norml News, Chris Fowlie, said the recipe had been sent
to the magazine by a "keen reader."

Fowlie warned potential imbibers that the brew combines the narcotic
property in cannabis and alcohol.

"It is obviously illegal, so we would not advise anyone to do anything
illegal.

"But for those who try it, caution is advised. You should always go
easy when combining alcohol and cannabis and moderation is the key."

Fowlie said marijuana and alcohol had been combined in many cultures
for centuries.

In India, for example, bhang drinks or sweetmeats were used by many
Hindu families, and their spiritual use was common among holy men.