Question
One of the biggest issues impacting Caboolture is crime and rising homelessness, along with increased rental prices and lack of housing supply. How do you propose to tackle these issues?
Answer
The anti-cannabis laws are the real crime. They have had a disastrous effect on too many people. Six police armed with guns and a savage dog invaded my friend’s house. They stripped him naked and stole his medicine. The court branded him a criminal and stole his money with a fine. This kind of theft, violence and terror needs to stop.
We don’t need more police. We need to stop the police harassing cannabis users. They will then be free to concentrate on real crime. Surely the police know what people are thinking about them when they see them harassing harmless pensioners rather than dangerous criminals?
Since 2010 there have been about 700,000 arrests for cannabis in Australia. What a shocking waste of police and court resources.
A lot of crime, especially domestic violence is triggered by alcohol use. When cannabis is fully legal people will be free to stop using alcohol and switch to cannabis, which doesn’t promote violence.
When the government stops jailing cannabis users there will be more money available to spend on public housing. I will build on this and insist on an emergency, fully funded, government program to construct more public housing.
Speaking personally, I will also be suggesting to the Federal government that first home buyers not be required to have a deposit before buying a house. It is terribly unfair to force them to pay off a landlord’s house while saving for a deposit. A no deposit scheme operated successfully in Holland for many years.
Brief bio
I am best known as the Butterfly Man and have co-authored a book “Create More Butterflies” about 48 local butterflies.
I have been active in a wide range of community groups all my adult life. I know how important community is and that it needs to be actively nurtured.
I was treasurer of the Lifelong Learning Council Queensland for several years, secretary of the Humanist Society of Queensland, President of the Butterfly and Other Invertebrates Club, Co-ordinator of a Community garden and leader of a Bushcare Group.
Election pitch
Cannabis is being legalised all over the world because it is less harmful than aspirin, less habit-forming than coffee and has exceptional value as a medicine.
It won’t be legalised automatically here. The laws won’t change unless you vote to remove the anti-cannabis politicians.
If you want the freedom to keep your drivers licence when you use cannabis as a medicine
Vote 1, Legalise Cannabis Queensland!
If you want the freedom to grow your own cannabis medicine and not be a slave to big pharma,
Vote 1, Legalise Cannabis Queensland!
If you want criminal convictions for cannabis possession expunged to improve job prospects,
Vote 1, Legalise Cannabis Queensland!
I am standing to give you a choice. End cruel and heartless cannabis laws or submit to politicians who ignore the wishes of the majority.