Reykjavík Grapevine - 24.08.2012, Page 12

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The Reykjavík Grapevine
Issue 13 — 2012
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Iceland | High times
again reported that, despite their
differences on such trifling issues
as joining the European Union,
they were going to be sticking
together. Watch this space three
months from now when the story is
reported again.
You guys remember the Worm of Lagarfljót that
was supposedly
“videotaped”
earlier this year,
sparking a viral
sensation and
international
media attention,
only to have the
whole thing dismissed as a bit of
fish netting twisting around in the
ice? Well, someone forgot to tell the
municipality of Fljótsdalshérað, who
have created a thirteen-person
“truth committee” to investigate the
existence of the Worm. The com-
mittee is entirely volunteer-based,
and includes paranormal hobbyists,
a priest, and even Social Democrat
MP Jónína Rós Guðmundsdóttir.
We might be laughing now, but boy
will we ever feel silly if they actually
do find that thing.
Citing an obscure law, police pressed charges against four
Icelanders who protested at the
Russian Embassy in support of the
band Pussy Riot, replacing the na-
tional flag that flies above the build-
ing on Garðastræti with a balaclava.
Read more on page 18 about how
one song played from the pulpit of a
Moscow church was heard around
the world.
Photo by Eyþór Árnason/DV
— Continued —
The Photo
Reykjavík
Icelandic grow ops are reportedly getting pretty good at what they do, so much that
weed connoisseurs like Busta Rhymes and 50 Cent are rumoured to have brought
home big bags of Iceland green home with them after their shows in Iceland.
RVk Homegrown, a group seeking
to decriminalise and eventually le-
galise marijuana in Iceland, first
made headlines last April with a
“smoke-out” held in front of parlia-
ment. Since then, the organisation
has swelled to over 1,200 members.
örvar Geir Geirsson, one of the
founders of the group, recently en-
gaged in an awareness campaign—
openly smoking marijuana in front
of several government offices, in-
cluding police headquarters, the
Ministry of Welfare and Reykjavík
District Court. örvar Geir tells us
more about the group and its aims.

Grass Roots Activism
What led to the founding of RVK Home-
grown?
I started off as a member of an organ-
isation called The Grassroots, which
was formed some years ago. However,
after it disbanded, I decided to start a
new group, with the purpose of sup-
porting cannabis users socialising with
one another, as well as to attract those
interested in the decriminalisation and
legalisation of marijuana.
What do you think is wrong with Ice-
land's drug policy? What would you
change about it and how?
I think the problem with Iceland's drug
policy is that it's made it a crime to car-
ry or own cannabis. I don't understand
why those who are not hurting anyone
with their use of cannabis are being
punished. I would like to see cannabis
decriminalised in Iceland, and fines
and jail time for using it brought to
an end. I would also like to see, some
day, cannabis made completely legal,
but sold in special stores, with an age
limit such as that used for tobacco and
alcohol, as well as information on the
strength of each product.
The Largest Drug Dealer In The
Country
You've been fasting and having public
"smoke ins" at various public institu-
tions. How has the public responded?
The police? The media?
People have been taking this unbeliev-
ably well. I've gotten a lot of hugs and
well wishes from people on the street.
The police told me that a conscious de-
cision had been made to leave me alone.
Despite police claims that they are not
stalking cannabis users, figures show
that the majority of those charged with
using or growing cannabis are grow-
ing only for themselves or are arrested
with a single-use portion of cannabis.
These users are then fined, with the
threat of prison if they do not pay the
largest drug dealer in the country: the
government, which oversees the sale of
alcohol in stores and the importation of
tobacco.
Few members of the media have ex-
pressed any interest in this project. It
seems as though there's some kind of
media blackout over the whole thing.
Unfortunately, people in these media
seem to have decided that cannabis
users aren't worth listening to, as they
print headlines like "Addicts on the
run" when someone is arrested with a
gramme of cannabis.
Do you think Iceland will reform its
drug policy? If so, do you think it could
happen, say, within the next 10 years?
What would be required to change pub-
lic policy?
What is mainly needed is education—
that the general public open its eyes
and realise that the penal code regard-
ing cannabis does not work, that it does
more harm than good. I also believe
that when the US legalises cannabis,
more nations will follow. It's not a ques-
tion of if, but when, it is legalised. I
hope that it will happen within the next
eight years.
Are there any other countries in the
world that you think Iceland could use
as a model for drug policy?
Portugal has shown some great results
since decriminalisation was enacted,
mainly amongst young people. I think
Iceland could model itself after them.
Light Up A Fat One
How do you respond to those who say
marijuana is addictive and should re-
main illegal?
These people should read up on what
they're talking about before they say
such nonsense. Those who are against
legalisation should also inform them-
selves better on the pointlessness of the
penal code; it does more harm than the
substance itself. It is quite possible to
be against using cannabis personally
but also be against its criminalisation.
What are your plans for the near future?
To keep RVK Homegrown going with
the yearly smoke-out in front of parlia-
ment, with the addition of a concert and
other fun things to do for those who at-
tend... and light up a fat one.
What Are Iceland's
Marijuana Laws Anyway?
According to Narcotics Act
65/1974, the sale, posses-
sion and use of marijuana
are illegal in Iceland, even
in small amounts. The law
does not distinguish between different
categories of drugs—marijuana is
classified the same way as heroin,
cocaine and methamphetamine.
Simple possession of small amounts
usually results in a fine, although the
sale of marijuana can land you up to
six years in prison.
Despite this, Reykjavík
Municipality Chief of Police
Stefán Eiríksson said in
2007 that marijuana grown
in Iceland had been on the
rise, with three times as much of
cannabis seized within the country
than at customs checkpoints. This
reflects a reversing trend—about ten
years ago, most cannabis products
were seized at customs checkpoints.
In 2011, the Directorate of
Health published an article
citing studies in which
marijuana was proved to be
less addictive than alcohol
and tobacco, and that there is no
evidence that marijuana necessarily
leads to harder drugs, despite claims
made to the contrary. Matthías
Halldórsson, head of The Directorate,
had previously told Morgunblaðið in
2009 that he believed allowing medical
use of marijuana in Iceland deserved
further investigation.
In the meantime, do bear in
mind that the police do take
marijuana use seriously. If
you're caught with even
just enough for yourself, you
could end up arrested, fined or jailed.
Northern Lights
A talk with an Icelandic cannabis activist
Words
Paul Fontaine
Photo
RVK Homegrown
NEWS IN BRIEF
NEWS IN ICELAND
LATE AUGUST