Andrew Bell talks about medicinal cannabis should be legalized ahead of the Stop the Arrests protest in Rotorua this weekend.
A peaceful protest against cannabis laws will be held in Rotorua this weekend, one of many being held around New Zealand.
Organisers of the National Day of Action - Stop the Arrests event are calling for an immediate moratorium on cannabis arrests, prosecutions and any ongoing investigations into this typeof offending.
Local businessman Andrew Bell will host the Rotorua protest.
He said it would begin at the Village Green and, depending on the crowd, may march to the Rotorua Police Station.
"I have for much of my life been very conservative on the issue of cannabis and its use, however during a very painful and debilitating health episode I was given some cannabis to try.
"I was forced to relook at the cannabis issue and do further research. My conclusion shocked me.
"This plant has been ours to use for thousands of years and at no time has it ever caused the collapse of any society that used it, yet within the last 50 to 70 years we have been indoctrinated to believe it is a dangerous and harmful plant."
He said the action was not so much against police, as he believed they had a tough job.
