LEGALISE CANNABIS PROTESTERS END IN SMOKE AT POLICE STATION

A pro-cannabis protest ended outside Wellington Police Station today
with protestors smoking joints on the steps and pushing a smoking
shopping trolley inside.

The protest, part of the Armistice Tour - a nationwide promotion of
cannabis law reform - began this morning with more than 100 people
gathered on Parliament's front lawn to promote what they say are the
benefits of cannabis over its legal counterparts, alcohol and tobacco.

About 6pm the protestors gathered outside Wellington police station,
where the "smoke bomb" was pushed into the foyer, Aotearoa Legalise
Cannabis Party candidate Julian Crawford said.

The "smoke bomb" was a shopping trolley full of plastic cannabis
leaves with real cannabis burning underneath, he said.

Police confiscated the trolley and escorted the protestors outside of
the foyer, Mr Crawford, who is running in the Mana by election, told
NZPA.

The protest started to wind down shortly after.

It had been a "vocal" but peaceful protest, Mr Crawford
said.

Senior Sergeant Shannon Clifford of Wellington police said no one had
been arrested after the protest moved to the police station, but
police would be reviewing CCTV footage to determine whether anyone
would face charges.

They had also seized the "item" pushed into the station as an exhibit
and were investigating the contents of that, he told NZPA,

Despite the presence of police and parliamentary security guards this
morning at parliament many of those present were openly smoking
cannabis cigarettes.

Spokesman Dakta Green told NZPA cannabis was a more natural, healthier
option than other drugs and did not fuel crime.

"You smoke ... a joint right now, you're not going to all of a sudden
going to be overcome with the urge to go out and rob a bank or belt
somebody over the head.

"There's nothing within cannabis that turns you into a
criminal."

The illegality of cannabis was what attracted criminals to use and
trade it, he said.

While some people used cannabis for medicinal purposes, Mr Green said
he wanted to see full legalisation.

"You cannot overdose on cannabis. There are many people that have died
from drinking too much alcohol, one night of heavy drinking and you
can die, tobacco will almost certainly kill you.... cannabis has never
killed anybody."

More than 400,000 people were part of the cannabis culture including
lawyers, judges and teachers, Mr Green said.

That meant they were regular consumers of cannabis and enjoyed using
it.

"You cannot keep locking us up when the science says cannabis is safer
than alcohol or tobacco to the individual and to the community."

Those gathered today were asking MPs to make peace with members of the
cannabis culture.

Senior Sergeant Scott Miller said today's protest was well organised
and there was no trouble.

"Police maintained a monitoring role (during the protest).

"Police, the council and parliamentary security staff had liaised with
protest leaders prior to the march."

He said the protesters obeyed all instructions from police and
security officers.

A spokeswoman for Speaker Lockwood Smith said the police were
responsible for maintaining the law.

Police Minister Judith Collins said she did not notice anyone smoking
cannabis outside Parliament but said it was not her place to tell the
police how to do their job.

The police would likely have been criticised if they had started
arresting the protestors this morning, Ms Collins said.

Justice Minister Simon Power also said he did not know people were
smoking up on the lawn.

"I would have thought that given the current legal status of cannabis
that that matter may have been dealt with."

He would not be heeding the protesters demands for a cannabis amnesty
during the rugby World Cup next year.