Pro-drugs campaigner Meyerhoff dies

A well-known campaigner for the rights of illicit drug users in the Northern Territory, Gary Meyerhoff, has died aged 31.

Gary Meyerhoff led the Network Against Prohibition, which was set up in 2002 in response to the Territory Government's "drug house" laws.

The group advocated the decriminalisation of marijuana and staged numerous public "smoke-ins" in the city.

Mr Meyerhoff was also part of a group of activists who invaded the main chamber of the Parliament in 2002 in support of the campaign.

The group was arrested and the stunt led to a review of security at Parliament House.

Stuart Highway, who is a member of the Network Against Prohibition, says Mr Meyerhoff will be remembered as a visionary.

"He knew he had [AIDS], he'd been diagnosed a long time ago and that gave him the impetus to just sweep away the usual sort of diplomatic niceties and the crap and just get straight to the point," he said.

A funeral will be held in Perth tomorrow.

Newshawk: http://www.napnt.org
Pubdate: Tues, 10 Oct 2006
Source: Australian Broadcasting Corporation (Australia -Web)
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