Push to smoke dope in cafes

DARWIN's empty shops should be made into coffee shops where patrons can freely smoke marijuana, a Territory man says.

Pro-marijuana campaigner Gary Meyerhoff is hoping this willturn Darwin into Australia's Amsterdam.

Mr Meyerhoff, co-ordinator of the Network Against Prohibition, wants all illicit substances legalised and made clear his feelings during a community smoke-in at Darwin's Raintree Park yesterday.

He was joined by dozens of others fighting the Territory's drug laws with a "community joint" symbolising their efforts.

Mr Meyerhoff said the 1.2m-long joint would grow by 20cm every month during the term of the current government unless drugs were legalised.

"We're calling for marijuana to be legalised immediately," he said.

"There should be licensed dealers set up in the suburban areas and in the regional areas and in the city, there should be cannabis cafes established under some sort of government control and regulation."

Mr Meyerhoff said "Smoke-up for Human Rights" would be a monnthly event aimed at building the movement against the Government's drug house and asset confiscation legislation and the war on drugs in general.

A small police contingent turned out for the second smoke-in but no arrests were made. Mr Meyerhoff was one of five pro-marijuana activists arrested at April's smoke-in which saw protesters lie on the ground to stop the police paddy wagon taking away their leader.

Yesterday's smoke-in attracted more opposition from shop owners than police.

PalmPhotographics manager Len Menzies was upset by the noise emanating from Raintree Park and promised to send the Darwin City Council a letter expressing outrage.

"This is supposed to be a peaceful park," he said.

"My customers have told me they don't want to come here while this happens, it's over the top."

But Mr Meyerhoff said the smoke-in passed on benefits to shop owners.

"If you look at all the empty shops around Darwin, any event that brings people to Darwin is extremely important for local business," he said.

Newshawk: http://www.napnt.org
Pubdate: 9th June 2002
Source: Sunday Territorian
Author: Edwin Edlund
Website: http://www.ntnews.com.au
Email: ntnmail@ntn.newsltd.com.au
Copyright: 2002 Northern Territory News

Editors note: The name Meyerhoff was spelt Mayerhoff twice and I amended this to reflect the proper spelling.