Activismo por el Cannabis en Australia: El Arte de Saber Luchar por la Legalización
Originally published in Spanish By Lucía Tedesco on El Planteo & High Times Magazine.
Alec Zammitt and Will Stolk are members of Craze Co, a collective of cannabis activists in Australia. Together they have been in the news on several occasions, for protesting the legalization of the plant with war tanks on public roads, even for projecting marijuana leaves on the renowned Sydney Opera House.
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In an exclusive interview with El Planteo, they told how they faced the charges of which they were accused in court and share their vision of achieving a free cannabis world. During the dialogue, they also described their commitment to the cause and their determination to change cannabis policies in their home country and beyond.
Innocent in the eyes of the law
Recently, both faced charges in court for the episode at the Sydney Opera House: “The lawyers presented great arguments and that is why the court found that the evidence was inadmissible,” said Zammit.
One of the main accusations to clarify was the fact of demonstrating that the chalas projected in this architectural classic were not a commercial advertisement.
“The legislation says that promoting a cause falls within what is meant by promotion. Technically, that goes against the implied constitutional rights we have here in Australia. For this reason, it has been a very close fight in the courts,” explained the activist, who was far from wanting to demonstrate that what they did was not a commercial advertisement, because it was not worth the effort and the expenditure of money, given that there were other ways to win the case.
“We were able to take, I guess, the easy way out and still win. Even if we end up getting fined, I still see it as a victory. “It’s a small price to pay for the amount of education we provide.”
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But how do these types of actions help the cannabis cause? According to Zammit, “This is opening a topic of conversation to ‘move on to another even bigger conversation.’”
For his part, Stolk said of cannabis screenings: “I think this type of stunt sets a precedent and invites people to stand up for what they believe in, and what we believe in is the complete and recreational legalization of cannabis in Australia.”
The message they wanted to give, with a tone of satire, corresponds to one of their mottos: “Who are we hurting?”
“We think we can make the public aware of an issue that really needs to be disseminated in society,” said Stolk, who acknowledges that legalizing cannabis is “a really big issue.”
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Strong support for cannabis from Australia’s activist community
The CrazeCo collective has used its platform to raise awareness about the need to reform cannabis laws in Australia . His creative approach and commitment to education have inspired others around the world to join the fight.
Some say the CrazeCo team is just a group of artists and like-minded people. For Zammit it is a united group with which they work, have fun and help everyone they can in the causes they feel strongly about.
“In the collective it is not just us, who feel passionately about the cause, but there are also people affected to a great extent ,” said the activist, who does not believe that there will be a big change within the organization if cannabis is legalized. “We would probably take a more traditional way of making visible and educating, and we wouldn’t have to have, I think, as much commentary or input in the political space.”
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Activists also recounted how they are trying to spread the cannabis message internationally. “We are planning to do some collaborations in Europe. We recently did something in Berlin. “Some people took our idea and then replicated it: they put real hemp plants all over the streets of Berlin ,” Stolk recounted.
His colleague agreed with his statements from a teaching perspective: “We want to promote education, create more attractive content that benefits both consumers and the general public. There are things associated with the stigma surrounding cannabis still. But we just want to continue educating and entertaining .”
Cannabis in Australia, a look at the future
Recently, parliamentarian David Shoebridge presented a project for the legalization of cannabis in Australia and the support of activists did not go unnoticed.
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“We work with Shoebridge and fully support any type of change towards legalized recreational cannabis in Australia,” Stolk stressed, while his partner stated: “I have read the legislation in its entirety. I feel that any of these changes are a step forward.”
For Zammit, so far, the changes that have been seen around marijuana, even within the pharmaceutical market, “ is not what it should be, but it is a step in the right direction, like any stepping stone that is placed.”
However, there are specific changes that campaigners would like to see in legislation regarding how Australia is currently run. Zammit brought up a problem that affects medical cannabis patients when driving vehicles: “It is the only medicine in Australia that is treated with driving legislation: if it is present in your body, regardless of how much time has passed since having consumed or regardless of whether you are affected or not, that will constitute a crime .”
Cannabis remains in the body for several days and there is still no established evidence to determine whether or how it was used at the time. In some countries, Zammit said, they have a way to resolve this, but not in Australia, where they directly send you to court. “We really need Australia-wide advocacy or legislation. This does not mean that people who are not fit to drive should be allowed to get behind the wheel. It is simply changing the legislation,” Ella claimed.
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The main challenges of addressing legalization
“ The biggest problem we are going to have in the near future, especially with David Shoebridge, is getting one of the two main political parties in Australia to support him, to make sure he passes through the House of Representatives and the Senate,” Stolk said.
To do that, the activist stressed, a massive campaign is needed to show that cannabis can be legalized in a healthy and appropriate way, as is the case with other substances such as alcohol and tobacco.
Regarding the challenges that must be faced, Zammit also gave his point of view: “The problem is mixed between a pre-established market that will be affected, poor education and obsolete points of view , which are totally incorrect and have been transmitted from generation to generation”.
“Basically what we’re trying to say is that we need to change the stigma and then get one of these two major parties to support the cannabis bill that Shoebridge is introducing,” his colleague added.
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In a final call for reflection and fight, Stolk sent a message to encourage changing things in favor of the cannabis community. “We would like to say to everyone that if they want change, they should write to their local member of parliament and whatever country they live in and tell politicians that they are going to take charge of their own destiny, and to push for public activities, or gather signatures for projects,” he reported.
“Anyone can apply the skills they know and fight for their cause. There are a lot of stoners and cannabis users here who are still in the closet and don’t want to talk about it. “If everyone came out indignant, success would probably be achieved a little faster,” Zammit considered about his partner’s message.
Cannabis laws in Australia are ambiguous. They are not handled the same in all states. But the desire and fight for the significant change that the country needs makes Alec Zammitt and Will Stolk put their determination and creativity to this cause, to continue inspiring those who seek legalization around the world.
Read the full story in Spanish or English on El Planteo & High Times Magazine.
