Testing times for Kent
cannabis in Samoa for the first time. He’s also updated key data on New Zealand’s cannabis variations – the first time in a decade it’s been looked at.
He discovered Samoan cannabis was not as potent as New Zealand varieties.
‘‘Changes to the normal baseline would mean a new strain of cannabis has been introduced into the country or a change in the growing operations carried out by cultivators,’’ he explains.
‘‘This kind of information is important with police investigations as it sort of shows that cannabis growers are learning and adapting, therefore police have to keep up.’’
Ahead of the referendum on legalising cannabis due to be held at the 2020 general election, NZ Drug Foundation executive director Ross Bell says we still lack critical data which would help establish a regulated cannabis market and a gauge for what kinds of cannabis should be allowed to be sold.
Recent polling suggests the country is heading towards decriminalisation, and understanding the variations in strength will be important.
Ross reckons this research can ultimately lead to decisions being made on whether you can put a cap on how potent cannabis can be or, for example, whether you would tax potent cannabis more highly than mild cannabis in a similar way to how we currently tax stronger alcohol such as spirits compared to beer.
‘‘We have a whole lot of baseline information we really need to get done now, so that if we were all going to vote yes at the referendum and create this regulated market, then we could start tracking the effectiveness or otherwise of those changes,’’ Bell says.
University of Auckland’s head of School of Chemical Sciences Associate Professor Gorson Miskelly agrees Onesemo’s studies set a standard for being able to discriminate between cannabis grown as hemp, for medicinal purposes or for recreational use; and because he’s also been able to show plants had a unique fingerprint of where and how they’d been grown, authorities would be able to tell more easily whether plants had been grown for their own use, imported from overseas or – in the event of decriminalisation – on a particular licensed farm.
‘‘Kent has a mature outlook on life, and has been a pleasure to work with,’’ Miskelly said.
‘‘He adjusted very quickly to the life of a graduate student scientist after having been a policeman in Samoa. He is curious, and wants his work to be useful to society. That is a great combination.’’
While cannabis remains illegal in both New Zealand and Samoa, Onesemo also hopes his research will help his fellow police officers identify suspects and their products more efficiently.
He says cannabis is one of the most common drugs in Samoa although growing operations often aren’t sophisticated and by and large, hard drugs haven’t reached their shores.
Currently, possession and cultivation of a prohibited plant carries a maximum penalty of 14 years imprisonment under the Samoan Narcotics Act. The act was amended in 2009, effectively doubling the maximum sentence.
The tougher laws are a clear divergence from New Zealand, where a medicinal cannabis bill was passed in December allowing terminally ill patients to begin smoking illegal pot immediately without the fear of prosecution.
A scheme is due to be set up within a year, which will allow pharmacies to sell regulated marijuana products. The new law paved the way for local companies to produce medicinal cannabis products for the domestic and international markets.
Now his studies are complete, Onesemo is turning his attention to more important matters – his home life. On Friday, he jetted home to his wife Isabella Tuala and children Lauina (5), Angelo (4) and Fuiolevaga (2) – just the fourth time he’s been back in the past two years.
He said he was looking forward to sampling island food and reconnecting with his family.
Such has been his dedication that he wasn’t present for the birth of Fuiolevaga.
‘‘And I missed out on her first birthday, so I’m not that popular.’’
For Onesemo, his interest in studying cannabis arose from his days studying forensic toxicology at the University of Canberra. It was there, while completing a report on the drug, that he realised he had found his niche.
After graduating, he went back to Samoa and joined the police, skipped frontline duties and went straight to work in the forensic division.
He’s one of 10 forensic officers who investigate a wide range of crimes from burglaries to murders and drugs raids. And his determination to make waves in his chosen field is apparent in how he found himself working in a laboratory nearly 3000 kilometres from home, a journey that started by chance when he stopped at a relative’s house to get his car fixed three years ago.
His cousin – also a police officer – told him about a scholarship to study in New Zealand known as a Science Support Award, a joint effort between Samoa and New Zealand police forces, the University of Auckland and ESR. The only hitch was applications closed the following day.
‘‘I got all the forms done, and I think about one month later I found out I was shortlisted,’’ he says. ‘‘And the funny thing was that my cousin also applied – he got dropped and I got chosen, so he was pretty pissed about that.’’
His cousin reapplied and was awarded a scholarship the following year.
Onesemo found the opportunity to study cannabis as part of his Master’s research and once again set his focus on getting back into academia.
He says the studying seemed daunting and required all his attention – which is why after two years he still hasn’t visited extended family in south and central Auckland.
‘‘I don’t really have much life out of my apartment and my thesis,’’ he says. ‘‘When I set a goal I focus on it.’’
He has however seen his brother Henry, who also lives in Auckland city and is a chef with the social enterprise Eat My Lunch.
Thesis supervisor Cameron Johnson describes Onesemo – the first member of Samoa’s police force to travel to New Zealand for the Master’s programme – as an ‘‘exceptional, motivated student’’ who has been very proactive about creating opportunities to learn and upskill.
Now he’s back home, Onesemo wants to inspire other students to follow his career path.
‘‘The forensics division with the Samoa police allows another career avenue for students who can use their knowledge to help with police investigations and furthermore increase the standard of forensics in the Pacific,’’ he says.
Onesemo will now be in a position to improve his island nation’s forensic capabilities by being able to do a full range of drug analysis.
It’s expected his skills will be in hot demand with prosecutors there.
‘‘Upskilling your lab work and your practical skills is one of the best skills you can bring back,’’ Johnson says.
And despite the hearty laugh from Onesemo, it’s a firm ‘‘no’’ when asked if he would go through it all again to earn a PhD.
‘‘He adjusted very quickly to the life of a graduate student scientist after having been a policeman in Samoa. He is curious, and wants his work to be useful to society. That is a great combination.’’
Gorson Miskelly