New Zealand is suffering from the most dire weed shortage in recent memory. Not great news from a country that ranks in the top 10 in weed consumption in the world.
New Zealand underwent a similar shortage 15 years ago, a local from the South Island’s east coast describing that time as a “nightmare for consumers” who had great difficulties finding weed, nevermind paying the astronomical prices when they did.
The reasons for the shortage? No one has a definitive answer. But many locals suspect that police have seized most of the supply, even though there have been no publicly reported busts in the last few months with the exception of one. Police seized a stash worth $225,000 just last week, resulting in the uprooting of 2,000 plants, according to Vice.
One local told Vice,
“This is the first time I’ve run out of weed since I was a teenager. I had to buy weed for myself for the first time in 20 years.”
Poor little fellas. Don’t fret, high times are approaching. New Zealanders are predicting this year’s crops should generate a good amount of weed, due to a solid growing season from a hot, dry summer.
The New Zealand Police issued a public service announcement for its citizens to turn in any pot growers by asking them to look out for people “carrying shovels, spades, and similar equipment into the bush”, amongst other indicators.
Some people, like Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party leader Julian Crawford, are not so inclined to cooperate. Crawford is pushing for a regulation and taxation model, much like the one implemented in Colorado.
Crawford told Vice:
“People don’t like how cannabis is being supplied by gangs and black market forces. Sometimes there is a large amount of cannabis available and sometimes there’s none available. It’d be easier if there were retail outlets that guaranteed the supply and took profits away from the gangs and brought the tax revenue into the public purse.”
Seems logical to me. But I could be biased considering that weed is as essential to my life as food and water is.
My thoughts and prayers are with the New Zealanders in this pot-free time, and I hope they can find a way to get stoned again. Because looking at these views sober is just a slap in the face to Mother Nature.
Too beautiful not to be stoned.
[Via Vice]