Couple’s court bid to legalise dagga delayed
THEY have been called “canabrities” looking to get famous, and a bunch of “drug addicts” trying to get off their drug charges.
But Myrtle Clarke and partner Julian Stobbs are determined to keep fighting for the legalisation of dagga.
The “dagga couple”, as they have been nicknamed, appeared briefly in the Gauteng High Court, Pretoria, yesterday to kick-start their 19-day trial calling for the legalisation of cannabis.
The couple, through their organisation Field of Green For All, were expected to bring nine experts to testify on a range of topics concerning cannabis usage, its healing powers, and its cultural, historical, economic and traditional aspects.
The matter was postponed yesterday following a dispute on court proceedings being streamed live.
A live stream order was granted on Friday.
Clarke said they had put in an application six weeks before the trial for the broadcasting of proceedings, but had had to make a number of concessions, one being that no evening highlights would be made.
However, despite the green light for the stream going ahead, the defence requested Judge Natvarlal Ranchod to provide reasons in writing before the matter could proceed.
“The judge had to go back and write his reasons for granting the live stream and that was only after 12 midday. So it was decided that the matter be postponed to allow for a full day,” she said.
As they prepared to start the marathon trial inside, members of Umphakathi Okhathazekile (Concerned Young People of South Africa) protested outside, holding up placards that read “Say no to dagga” and “Dagga kills”.
They had come in from different provinces and handed out pamphlets which called on citizens to say “no” to the legalisation of cannabis as they believed it destroyed lives
But Clarke said they were not disheartened by the crowds gathered outside.
“We don’t take it personally. If anything, we would be worried if they weren’t demonstrating. This is the hallmark of a functioning democratic process,” she said.
Western Cape High Court Judge Dennis Davis earlier this year declared that legislation banning the use of the plant by adults in the privacy of their own homes was invalid.
He subsequently gave Parliament 24 months to change the laws which he regarded as inconsistent with the constitutional right to privacy.
The matter is expected to continue today.