10 February 2012

Kava now ok for the Multicultural Festival

| johnboy
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Radio Australia have word that the Chief Minister has now granted a three day exemption for the traditional use of kava at the Multicultural Festival:

But authorities have had a change of heart, and a trial exemption began at midnight.

The Chief Health Officer of the ACT, Dr Paul Kelly, has told Radio Australia he doesn’t believe the cultural use of kava is harmful.

“The ban was actually put in place for a very specific reason and that’s in relation to the widespread abuse of kava in Aboriginal communities in the Northern Territory where the use of kava is very different to the longstanding cultural use in Pacific Island countries and Pacific Island residents of Australia,” he said.

UPDATE 10/02/12 13:29: The Greens are expressing their approval of this decision:

Amanda Bresnan, ACT Greens Multicultural Affairs spokesperson said the ACT Government’s decision to permit kava at the National Multicultural Festival is a show of respect for Pacific Islander culture.

“I congratulate the Government for granting the exemption for the Multicultural Festival. Kava ceremonies are a central and meaningful part of Pacific Islander culture, and this decision recognises and respects this” said Amanda Bresnan MLA, ACT Greens Multicultural Affairs spokesperson.

[Photo by Mark Heard CC 2.0 BY]

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Kiron2222 said :

Jethro said :

I see the mistake you are making Kiron2222… you’re operating under the assumption that drug laws are based on reason.

I also noticed that I think I must have still been under the effects of Kava when I wrote that post as my grammar in it is awful 🙁

Yes I agree that the drug laws at the moment are not based on any sort of reason and are all based on kneejerk reactions by people who have never bothered to do the research, but god darn, you would think in the legislation they would actually do a basic google/erowid search on the stuff they are banning.

The major problem I have with the ACT legislation as it stands is that it is incredibly wide-sweeping banning entire genus, they are scraping the absolute bottom of the barrel with Conocybe spp and Amanita spp to find something to make illegal, a lot of the plants on the list grow naturally in Australia and you could find plants on the list in everyones garden, most of the plants on the list are legal everywhere else in Australia and there are clear mistakes on the list like misspelling of names and Psilocybin is classed as a plant when a basic google search will show you, it’s a chemical compound ([3-(2-Dimethylaminoethyl)-1H-indol-4-yl] dihydrogen phosphate).

Some uniformity across the laws would be nice, considering someone from somewhere else in Australia might waltz into the ACT with a huge amount of scheduled plants because they didn’t read some obscure legislation from the 80s.

Also if Kava is illegal because Remote Aboriginal communities in the NT were abusing it…. why is it illegal in the ACT?

Shhh… people might hear you.

Jethro said :

I see the mistake you are making Kiron2222… you’re operating under the assumption that drug laws are based on reason.

I also noticed that I think I must have still been under the effects of Kava when I wrote that post as my grammar in it is awful 🙁

Yes I agree that the drug laws at the moment are not based on any sort of reason and are all based on kneejerk reactions by people who have never bothered to do the research, but god darn, you would think in the legislation they would actually do a basic google/erowid search on the stuff they are banning.

The major problem I have with the ACT legislation as it stands is that it is incredibly wide-sweeping banning entire genus, they are scraping the absolute bottom of the barrel with Conocybe spp and Amanita spp to find something to make illegal, a lot of the plants on the list grow naturally in Australia and you could find plants on the list in everyones garden, most of the plants on the list are legal everywhere else in Australia and there are clear mistakes on the list like misspelling of names and Psilocybin is classed as a plant when a basic google search will show you, it’s a chemical compound ([3-(2-Dimethylaminoethyl)-1H-indol-4-yl] dihydrogen phosphate).

Some uniformity across the laws would be nice, considering someone from somewhere else in Australia might waltz into the ACT with a huge amount of scheduled plants because they didn’t read some obscure legislation from the 80s.

Also if Kava is illegal because Remote Aboriginal communities in the NT were abusing it…. why is it illegal in the ACT?

Kiron2222 said :

I just sat in on the Kava circle partook in their little song and did it at the multi-cultural festival.

Really nice effect of being really relaxed and numbness of the mouth, it didn’t really have any noticeable taste, lasted about half an hour and then I was back to normal.

This does bring up an interesting thing though

“Peyote ceremonies are a central and meaningful part of Native American culture, and this decision recognises and respects this”

“Ayahuasca ceremonies are a central and meaningful part of South American and Asian culture, and this decision recognises and respects this”

Care to lobby overturning the ban on both those plants (Lophophora/Banisteriopsis caapi) here in Canberra since the ACT seems to be the only place where they are illegal on the planet Greens/Labor?

Actually question about that legislation, the actual scheduled plants in the ACT lists “Banisteria caapi”, yet no plant by this name actually exists, Banisteriopsis caapi is the correct spelling.. what is going on there because it is mispelt in the legislation, does that mean it’s legal?
Also looking at the list of scheduled plants.. I wonder if the person who wrote proposed this legislation actually knows anything about plants. How is Psilocybin a controlled plant when it isn’t a Plant? Conocybe spp is also on the list … which I could find in anyones garden anywhere in Australia growing naturally in quite large numbers, hell when I was in Civic a few hours ago I saw it growing in the lawns in the front of AFP headquaters. What is strange is that is an entire Genus of plant with hundreds of species in it is illegal, because only 4 of them are psychedelic.

Amanita spp is also on the list, arresting anyone with Deathcap mushrooms in their gardens? How about those guys that ate Death Cap mushrooms arresting the survivor/survivors for having a scheduled 5 substance on them what about closing down the restaurant/club that serves scheduled plants to their customers?

I wish I was talking in cheek, but this is the same chart that lists Marijuana and Cocaine plants, if growing them in your garden is illegal, why don’t police crack down on the hundreds if not thousands of plants that make up the shockingly bad “Australian Capital Territory drugs of dependence act 1989”.

Oh well, that’s my little rant out of the way.

I see the mistake you are making Kiron2222… you’re operating under the assumption that drug laws are based on reason.

I just sat in on the Kava circle partook in their little song and did it at the multi-cultural festival.

Really nice effect of being really relaxed and numbness of the mouth, it didn’t really have any noticeable taste, lasted about half an hour and then I was back to normal.

This does bring up an interesting thing though

“Peyote ceremonies are a central and meaningful part of Native American culture, and this decision recognises and respects this”

“Ayahuasca ceremonies are a central and meaningful part of South American and Asian culture, and this decision recognises and respects this”

Care to lobby overturning the ban on both those plants (Lophophora/Banisteriopsis caapi) here in Canberra since the ACT seems to be the only place where they are illegal on the planet Greens/Labor?

Actually question about that legislation, the actual scheduled plants in the ACT lists “Banisteria caapi”, yet no plant by this name actually exists, Banisteriopsis caapi is the correct spelling.. what is going on there because it is mispelt in the legislation, does that mean it’s legal?
Also looking at the list of scheduled plants.. I wonder if the person who wrote proposed this legislation actually knows anything about plants. How is Psilocybin a controlled plant when it isn’t a Plant? Conocybe spp is also on the list … which I could find in anyones garden anywhere in Australia growing naturally in quite large numbers, hell when I was in Civic a few hours ago I saw it growing in the lawns in the front of AFP headquaters. What is strange is that is an entire Genus of plant with hundreds of species in it is illegal, because only 4 of them are psychedelic.

Amanita spp is also on the list, arresting anyone with Deathcap mushrooms in their gardens? How about those guys that ate Death Cap mushrooms arresting the survivor/survivors for having a scheduled 5 substance on them what about closing down the restaurant/club that serves scheduled plants to their customers?

I wish I was talking in cheek, but this is the same chart that lists Marijuana and Cocaine plants, if growing them in your garden is illegal, why don’t police crack down on the hundreds if not thousands of plants that make up the shockingly bad “Australian Capital Territory drugs of dependence act 1989”.

Oh well, that’s my little rant out of the way.

vg said :

Probably a few Tongans who think Maccas tastes like s*** too…….and that’s as close as we have to anything traditional

Um, kangaroo or quandong anyone?

vg said :

jsm2090 said :

A good decision from a cultural standpoint. You won’t catch me lining up though KB1971. After trying it in Fiji, I can only compare it to taking a sip of Burley Griffin’s Central Basin non-vintage.

Probably a few Tongans who think Maccas tastes like s*** too…….and that’s as close as we have to anything traditional

The difference being that kava tastes better.

HenryBG said :

vg said :

Probably a few Tongans who think Maccas tastes like s*** too…….and that’s as close as we have to anything traditional

What a bizarre contribution…
Who is “we”, in this context? What tradition does “maccas” represent?

It is odd. I remember the first Maccas coming to Canberra, and it certainly isn’t part of any traditions I am aware of. If you wanted “traditional” Australian, you’d be looking at sweet, milky tea, bread butter and jam, lamb chops, and beer.

If you’re looking at johnney-come-lately city people who’ve been here 20 years, then I guess Maccas would be it.

I know which tradition I’d prefer.

vg said :

jsm2090 said :

A good decision from a cultural standpoint. You won’t catch me lining up though KB1971. After trying it in Fiji, I can only compare it to taking a sip of Burley Griffin’s Central Basin non-vintage.

Probably a few Tongans who think Maccas tastes like s*** too…….and that’s as close as we have to anything traditional

What a bizarre contribution…

Who is “we”, in this context? What tradition does “maccas” represent?
Sounds like you’re the victim of leftist socipathy….

Kava tastes like muddy water. Fact.
And if Tongans, no, everybody hated “Maccas” a bit more than they currently do, that would be a good thing.

vg said :

jsm2090 said :

A good decision from a cultural standpoint. You won’t catch me lining up though KB1971. After trying it in Fiji, I can only compare it to taking a sip of Burley Griffin’s Central Basin non-vintage.

Probably a few Tongans who think Maccas tastes like s*** too…….and that’s as close as we have to anything traditional

Bite your tongue…. VB, MB and Crown.

Thoroughly Smashed said :

Heh. Imagine if you had to be white skinned to buy a kransky from the German tent.

Good point. Under this new-style “multiculturalism”, I think I may need to carry around my ancestors’ birth certificates to ensure I can get hold of a kransky… still, at least I don’t have to drink kava again!

jsm2090 said :

A good decision from a cultural standpoint. You won’t catch me lining up though KB1971. After trying it in Fiji, I can only compare it to taking a sip of Burley Griffin’s Central Basin non-vintage.

Probably a few Tongans who think Maccas tastes like s*** too…….and that’s as close as we have to anything traditional

Thoroughly Smashed said :

Disposable said :

KB1971 said :

How does one get “in the circle”?

Be of Pacific Islander descent

“The ACT government has bowed to community pressure and will allow kava to be served to Pacific islanders at the National Multicultural Festival in Canberra tonight.”

Heh. Imagine if you had to be white skinned to buy a kransky from the German tent.

Yep, because going to the multi-cultural festival should only be about experiencing your own culture! This Kava business is crazy – surely it’s either legal or not, and isn’t dependent on the background of the consumer.

I can’t wait to get me some of the pre-chewed muddy water sewage tasting Kava stuff. Yessiree, none of that cold foamy german lager for me this year. Kava is the wave of the future. Just look at that stuff. It’ll soon be on tap at every pub in town!

jsm2090 said :

A good decision from a cultural standpoint. You won’t catch me lining up though KB1971. After trying it in Fiji, I can only compare it to taking a sip of Burley Griffin’s Central Basin non-vintage.

It looks bloody disgusting, and from memory they start by chewing up the root-thing and spitting it into the muddy water. Bloody yuck.

I’ll be preferring to join a circle engaged in the cultural use of beer, myself.

A good decision from a cultural standpoint. You won’t catch me lining up though KB1971. After trying it in Fiji, I can only compare it to taking a sip of Burley Griffin’s Central Basin non-vintage.

I think you were right the first time. Why should something be exclusive to a certain race? Imagine if prohibition was reintroduced, and subsequent multicultural festivals served alcohol to whites only

Thoroughly Smashed2:46 pm 10 Feb 12

Thoroughly Smashed said :

Disposable said :

KB1971 said :

How does one get “in the circle”?

Be of Pacific Islander descent

“The ACT government has bowed to community pressure and will allow kava to be served to Pacific islanders at the National Multicultural Festival in Canberra tonight.”

Heh. Imagine if you had to be white skinned to buy a kransky from the German tent.

This probably sounds a lot more raving-loony than I intended… Allow me to elaborate.

As far as the kava debate, except for one sarcastic comment I made in the previous topic I’m not bothered whether kava is available or not, or who partakes. However, and assuming I’m not jumping to the wrong conclusion, its apparent exclusivity means a festival celebrating multiculturalism is absolutely the wrong place for it.

Thoroughly Smashed said :

Disposable said :

KB1971 said :

How does one get “in the circle”?

Be of Pacific Islander descent

“The ACT government has bowed to community pressure and will allow kava to be served to Pacific islanders at the National Multicultural Festival in Canberra tonight.”

Heh. Imagine if you had to be white skinned to buy a kransky from the German tent.

Or a beer

Thoroughly Smashed2:21 pm 10 Feb 12

Disposable said :

KB1971 said :

How does one get “in the circle”?

Be of Pacific Islander descent

“The ACT government has bowed to community pressure and will allow kava to be served to Pacific islanders at the National Multicultural Festival in Canberra tonight.”

Heh. Imagine if you had to be white skinned to buy a kransky from the German tent.

KB1971 said :

How does one get “in the circle”?

This is also my question. And where is the the stand for the observers of traditional Nimbin culture to share their cultural traditions ’round the circle (presumably to the left hand side)? [/remove tongue from cheek]

KB1971 said :

How does one get “in the circle”?

Be of Pacific Islander descent

“The ACT government has bowed to community pressure and will allow kava to be served to Pacific islanders at the National Multicultural Festival in Canberra tonight.”

How does one get “in the circle”?

The Canberra Times article from today has more info and states that Kava will not be provided to the public:

”Kava will only be passed around the circle, no kava will go out to the public in general,” Mr Tofua’ipangai said. ”That’s our agreement.”

http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news/local/news/general/govt-relaxes-ban-on-kava-at-festival/2450688.aspx

I would have thought that the use of Kava by remote Aboriginal communities would be far less dangerous than some of the alternatives such as alcohol or petrol.

But I guess actually trying to put systems in place that address the route causes of drug abuse in remote communities would take more effort than simply putting in non-effective bans against their use. The alcohol ban in far North Queensland made it illegal to take alcohol into remote communities, but was not supported with any real increase in alcohol support services, counseling, economic development plans, etc.

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