Drug charges affect Switched on Gardener sales

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Tue, 11 May 2010 5:52p.m.

A judge has overtuned a ruling which required customers to provide photo ID when shopping at Switched on Gardener

A judge has overtuned a ruling which required customers to provide photo ID when shopping at Switched on Gardener

A District Court judge has reversed a strict order given to Switched on Gardener stores, meaning customers are no longer forced to hand over their ID and contact details.

The bail conditions were initially given to the owner of the hydroponic supplies company, after he and 14 other staff were arrested on cannabis charges.

However the man’s lawyer said the rule wasn’t fair on legitimate customers and there has since been a significant downturn in sales.

The judge cancelled the conditions, saying it wrongly targets public re-offending rather than the company’s owner.

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Comments

31 May 2010 12:48p.m.

G. Kelly wrote:

Apologies Gary.
It was Dougs comment I was replying to.

31 May 2010 12:45p.m.

G. Kelly wrote:

Oh dear Gary - "drop kick weed heads"? If thats the best arguement you have then theres no debate to be had. There are all sorts of people using cannabis regularly, just like cigarettes, coffee and booze. (Incidently, the last three are proven to be physically addictive, unlike cannabis)
Drug laws should reflect the harm a user does to others, regardless of what substance they happen to be using at the time, not the "percieved" harm to the community. I have yet to see one convincing arguement that shows me how, for instance, Rob Pope and the NZ police have arrived at an annual damage figure of $430 million social harm? If we take enforcement and judicial costs out, I would think the figure left would be closer to zero.
The day everybody stops listening to mischievious individuals such as Gary, is the day progress starts towards a happier, healthier community.
I would presume that is what people like Gary want too.

20 May 2010 08:58a.m.

Stingray wrote:

I'm so sorry that I don't agree with your prohibitionist stance, but really? "Crims" sure is a nice way to perpetuate an image that is enforced through propaganda and unjust laws, why on earth would you want to be a part of that? And in response to the firearms and methamphetamine comment, I'm pretty darn sure those were found at customers' residencies? And if not those particular staff should have been punished according to the law, but not an entire business who's crime was only selling the means to an end ? I'm so sorry for all those who can't see the way police are struggling to keep their "no tolerance on cannabis" policy afloat, as it is becoming clearer and clearer through unbiased scientific, as well as social statistical information and many high profile names speaking up (such as Professor Knutt, a leading scientist in the UK, who's field was more than dabbling in the effects of narcotics and other substances on the brain; he was fired after reading a factual unbiased paper of his own expertise to expose the truth about the "harm" of cannabis, he said prohibition of such a substance is ridiculous, and was then unlawfully sacked.) It's time for right wing scum to really sweat.

19 May 2010 12:44p.m.

Dakta SiFFiN wrote:

Operation Lime is a complete FAIL! The only way you are going to be able to control Cannabis is by having a R18, Regulated, Taxable Market. As long as it remains illegal, Kids, Gangs, Crime and other drugs will be associated with it. This madness needs to STOP NOW!!!

17 May 2010 10:22a.m.

expacifist wrote:

Does police abusing and raping lying and covering up truth damage me more than a friend smoking a joint writing some inspired music then falling asleep,Do the police want us to stop smiling and having fun when they arrive (just like the bully Children grow to bully minded adults)I am generally peaceful, I think we are all getting upset with paying departments to not listen to us and use our good money to spank us,My dilema now is lying to my 3 year old that His Poppa thinks the police are friends, i might just show him the truth,Then a certain dept may need to ask the judge to give them eyes in the back of their heads ,My regrets to all genuine police,you wont stay clean forever mate

16 May 2010 08:45p.m.

lillyZ wrote:

What a total waste of taxpayer money.The police have only helped organised crime with their garden shop raids. Most home growers do it because they wish to seperate themselves from the black market.Or are medical users.Many will now buy from gang tinnie houses instead of harming no-one with a few plants at home. Marijuana is a class c drug & is NOT lethal. Alcohol is a class B drug&is a lethal poison. PROTECT OUR CHILDREN LEGAIZE! R18 When was the last time a slygrogger tried to sell yr kid booze? Dealers don't ask for i.d. Cannabis is easier to get than alcohol for many teens. legalize marijuana.regulate it.Tax it. GANGS ARE RICH &POWERFUL ENOUGH- LEGALIZE!!! Conservative estimates say 400,000 NZers who use pot regularly. why does the name calling, ie."drop kick weed heads" seem to come from the prohibition crowd??? I have a huge amount of science behind my opinion...Educate yourself. PEACE ALL

13 May 2010 10:19p.m.

mark wrote:

Ill have a drink and a ciggie to that not!!! . They kill and do more damage then marijuana will ever do look at the stats open your eyes

12 May 2010 03:28p.m.

Doug wrote:

Not sure of your point Gary? Would have thought targeting drug dealers and drop kick weed heads was a pretty good use of police time. Society would be better off if SOG went belly up anyway.
Agree with cynical & katrina - yet another whimp out from an out of touch judge living in a vacuum.

12 May 2010 02:03p.m.

hop wrote:

Changing the ruling will not make their sales go up why you ask do you realy think that growers are going to be going to their stores when the cops are more than happy to take your reg number as you park up and walk in. Any grower dumb enough to go back to sog now needs to get busted.

12 May 2010 01:38p.m.

more cynical wrote:

Good old New Zealand hanging a man before he's been proved guilty, thats what made this country what it is today.