Otago NORML
Encyclopedia
University of Otago
The University of Otago in Dunedin is New Zealand's oldest university with over 22,000 students enrolled during 2010.The university has New Zealand's highest average research quality and in New Zealand is second only to the University of Auckland in the number of A rated academic researchers it...
, affiliated to the Otago University Students Association. It is not officially related to the national New Zealand cannabis law reform organisation NORML New Zealand
NORML New Zealand
NORML New Zealand is a cannabis law reform organisation in New Zealand. It is a National Chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws...
or the international organisation NORML, based in the US, however the three organisations do interact at an unofficial level.
Most members are students or recent graduates of the University of Otago
University of Otago
The University of Otago in Dunedin is New Zealand's oldest university with over 22,000 students enrolled during 2010.The university has New Zealand's highest average research quality and in New Zealand is second only to the University of Auckland in the number of A rated academic researchers it...
in Dunedin
Dunedin
Dunedin is the second-largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the principal city of the Otago Region. It is considered to be one of the four main urban centres of New Zealand for historic, cultural, and geographic reasons. Dunedin was the largest city by territorial land area until...
, Otago
Otago
Otago is a region of New Zealand in the south of the South Island. The region covers an area of approximately making it the country's second largest region. The population of Otago is...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. The club operates out of the OUSA Clubs and Societies Centre and meets twice weekly on the Otago University Union Lawn (Walnut Tree).
1990s
Otago University Pharmacology Professor Fred Fastier investigates cannabis use and cannabis control in New Zealand2000s
In 2000 OUSA passed a motion at an SGM that the association would officially support cannabis law reform in New Zealand.In 2003 numerous members of Otago NORML marched to the Dunedin Central Police Station and hot-boxed the main foyer as part of the annual 'J-Day
Global Marijuana March
The Global Marijuana March is an annual rally held at different locations across the planet. It refers to cannabis-related events that occur on the first Saturday in May, or thereabouts, and may include marches, meetings, rallies, raves, concerts, festivals and information tables.The Global...
' protest. Around 50 people smoked cannabis inside the police station, resulting in no arrests. Cannabis plants were also planted in the front garden of the station]. When asked about their inaction in the Otago Daily Times
Otago Daily Times
The Otago Daily Times is a newspaper published by Allied Press Ltd in Dunedin, New Zealand.-History:Originally styled The Otago Daily Times, the ODT was first published on November 15, 1861. It is New Zealand's oldest surviving daily newspaper - Christchurch's The Press, six months older, was a...
, Inspector Dave Campbell of the Dunedin Police said they 'had better things to do'.
In 2004 the Dunedin Police Station was again hotboxed, this time by around 100 people, again resulting in no arrests. Weekly cannabis smoking sessions were initiated on the Otago University campus.
In 2006 more motions were passed through OUSA at a Students General Meeting '...that OUSA declares the University campus a 'Prohibition Free Zone' where prohibition of cannabis shall not apply', and 'that OUSA condones the public smoking of cannabis on University grounds as a protest against cannabis prohibition'.
In 2007 the University's Campus Watch security were called to remove the group. However, the protesters stood their ground.. In the same year, the OUSA passed a motion to 'recognise and publicise the knowledge that alcohol
Alcohol
In chemistry, an alcohol is an organic compound in which the hydroxy functional group is bound to a carbon atom. In particular, this carbon center should be saturated, having single bonds to three other atoms....
use is more harmful than cannabis
Cannabis
Cannabis is a genus of flowering plants that includes three putative species, Cannabis sativa, Cannabis indica, and Cannabis ruderalis. These three taxa are indigenous to Central Asia, and South Asia. Cannabis has long been used for fibre , for seed and seed oils, for medicinal purposes, and as a...
use'.
In 2008 the first annual Cannabis Awareness Week was held and the Otago NORML stated they had unofficially renamed Dunedin
Dunedin
Dunedin is the second-largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the principal city of the Otago Region. It is considered to be one of the four main urban centres of New Zealand for historic, cultural, and geographic reasons. Dunedin was the largest city by territorial land area until...
'Dunsterdam'. As a result the University invited undercover Police on to campus to surveil and attempt to disrupt Otago NORML's activities.
In September 2008 the group were the focus of campus wide attention over their initiative to instate a Cannabis Law Reform Representative on Otago University Students Association executive and to have the Association build an elevated 'smokers balcony' as part of the redevelopment of their Clubs and Societies Centre. There was considerable backlash against these initiatives and the final agenda for the Student General Meeting, held on September 25, saw numerous motions seeking to remove official OUSA support for the group. The meeting was over 2 hours long and over 270 Association members were in attendance, one of the largest turnouts for an SGM in the association's history. In the end no motions were passed and the status quo was maintained, except for that the motion to 'recognise and publicise the knowledge that alcohol
Alcohol
In chemistry, an alcohol is an organic compound in which the hydroxy functional group is bound to a carbon atom. In particular, this carbon center should be saturated, having single bonds to three other atoms....
use is more harmful than cannabis
Cannabis
Cannabis is a genus of flowering plants that includes three putative species, Cannabis sativa, Cannabis indica, and Cannabis ruderalis. These three taxa are indigenous to Central Asia, and South Asia. Cannabis has long been used for fibre , for seed and seed oils, for medicinal purposes, and as a...
use' was rescinded.
Cannabis protests
The group meets every Wednesday and Friday at 4:20pm to smoke cannabis as an act of protest against 'New Zealand's cannabis prohibition laws'. Over the last 5 years this practise has continued for, two people associated have been arrested at the event. The group was placed under surveillance by the Dunedin Police Tactical Response Group prior to May 2008 as part of the 2008 Otago NORML protests. The fifth anniversary of the '420' protests was held on September 11, 2009 and was briefly attended by Police, but no arrests were made.J-Day
J-DayGlobal Marijuana March
The Global Marijuana March is an annual rally held at different locations across the planet. It refers to cannabis-related events that occur on the first Saturday in May, or thereabouts, and may include marches, meetings, rallies, raves, concerts, festivals and information tables.The Global...
is held on the first Saturday in May of every year in the Octagon. The event is a protest/rally including guest speakers, music, games and more, usually running from 'High Noon' to '4:20'. A popular tradition is to smoke a cross-joint as well as the 24 ft bong contest.