Whakamana Cannabis Museum

Last updated

Whakamana Cannabis Museum of Aotearoa
Whakamana Museum Logo 2020.svg
Shand's Emporium, Christchurch, New Zealand.jpg
The former Christchurch location, closed in April 2020.
Established2013
LocationAuckland, New Zealand
TypeScience, Social History
AccreditationMuseums Aotearoa
Director Abe Gray
Websitecannabis.kiwi.nz

Whakamana Cannabis Museum is New Zealand's first museum dedicated to the history of cannabis use and culture. [1] It was first opened in October 2013 in Dunedin by Abe Gray, former deputy leader of the Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party (ALCP), [2] and Julian Crawford, former ALCP regional spokesperson.

Contents

In 2019 Whakamana relocated to Shand's Emporium in Christchurch when Abe Gray and Cookie Time founder Michael Mayell formed a partnership to grow the concept. [3] [4]

Whakamana sought to establish itself as a social club, an authority for cannabis education and events (i.e. lectures by figures in the cannabis industry), and an alcohol-free music venue and eatery producing hemp-based foods, [5] and in late 2019, the museum attempted to raise funds via PledgeMe, a crowdfunding platform for New Zealand-based businesses, to help complete restoration of their new site. The campaign failed to raise its minimum target of $1 million NZD, therefore investors were refunded and the campaign was voided. [2]

Following revenue issues and a failure to find suitable investors, the Christchurch location was closed. In 2020, Gray attempted to establish a new site in central Wellington, the capital city of New Zealand. As a political hub which houses New Zealand's parliamentary buildings, Gray considered the location to be more effective in the lead-up to the 2020 New Zealand cannabis referendum. [6] This was ultimately put on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In 2023 a fundraiser was held for reopening the Museum in the iconic Hopetoun Alpha heritage building in Central Auckland, with a view to reopening the museum permanently at that location. [7] In 2024 the Museum started weekly social club meet ups at an Auckland waterfront bar and announced that the Museum would re-open permanently in Hopetoun Alpha in mid-2024. On August 9th 2024 the Museum was officially re-opened by Auckland Central Member of Parliament and Green Party Co-Leader Chloe Swarbrick in a ribbon cutting ceremony. [8]

Whakamana was designed to be a national information centre on aspects of the science, history, and legislation surrounding cannabis, with an aim to educate the public and destigmatise adult use of cannabis. [9] It operates within New Zealand's laws and does not sell cannabis. [9] However, Whakamana previous stated they would set up a dispensary provided the law allows it to. [10] A prescribing doctor and dispensary is included in the new Auckland location.

Early formation

The original museum was created in the Legalise Cannabis House, pictured in late 2016. Whakamana Cannabis Museum.jpg
The original museum was created in the Legalise Cannabis House, pictured in late 2016.

Originally located in Dunedin, the museum was first operated in the Legalise Cannabis House on David Street. The museum served as an information service to educate the public about all aspects of cannabis, including books that are unavailable at other libraries. [9] In addition to acting as a museum and serving as a centre for drug law reform advocacy, the museum promoted open-source computer software. [11] It also featured meeting rooms and a digital multimedia studio. [1]

The museum was opened in 2013 by Abe Gray, known for his cannabis activism as the former deputy leader of the Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party and leader of cannabis lobby group Otago NORML, and Julian Crawford, the former ALCP regional spokesperson. [11] It was reportedly a venture between the ALCP and Otago NORML. [12] Dunedin has had a long history of advocacy for marijuana law reform largely through the latter organisation. [11]

Gray, who is originally from the United States of America, has a Masters in Botany. [13] He has spoken out about the discrimination of cannabis users and has been described as a lobbyist and an activist for cannabis. [14] Gray publicly left his role as the president of the ALCP to support The Opportunities Party (TOP) in 2017, believing the organisation to be the most viable political platform to help effect cannabis law change at the time. [15] Gray hoped that support from former ALCP voters would help TOP to enter parliament without requiring an electorate seat. [16] Gareth Morgan, then the party leader, praised Gray for supporting the party's Real Deal Cannabis reform. [17]

In 2018 the museum left its original home in South Dunedin to occupy a new central city premises in the Eldon Chambers Building in Princes Street. [18] During this time, comedian Guy Williams documented the museum in a segment for the comedy programme Jono and Ben . [19] Gray stated that the presence of the museum in Dunedin would put it in the ideal position to become a centre for cannabis tourism should the drug ever be legalised in New Zealand, referencing the city's history of support for law change relating to drug use and possession. [11] However, the museum moved again in 2019, this time to Christchurch; Gray had hoped to keep a branch of the museum running in Dunedin, but found the idea unsustainable due to a reliance on volunteers. [4]

2019 Christchurch project

Mayell (left) and Gray speaking at the University of Canterbury, October 2019. Michael Mayell and Abe Gray on Stage in 2019 (cropped).jpg
Mayell (left) and Gray speaking at the University of Canterbury, October 2019.

In mid-2019 the museum left Dunedin and relocated to Christchurch. Gray teamed with Michael Mayell, a social entrepreneur and environmentalist known for founding the snack company Cookie Time. Mayell has an interest in the emerging hemp economy and argues that it could allow New Zealand to reduce its reliance on dairy farming. [20]

Shand's Emporium being restored next to Trinity Church in 2018. Trinity Church 263.jpg
Shand's Emporium being restored next to Trinity Church in 2018.

The museum was housed in Shand's Emporium building on Manchester Street in Christchurch, having been relocated from its original site in Hereford Street and adjoined to the neighbouring Trinity Church, with plans to restore the church as the central space for the museum. Both buildings are among the oldest in Christchurch and had required restoration following the 2011 Christchurch Earthquake. [21]

The organisation operated a Cannabis Social Club, which was New Zealand's only functioning club in 2019. [13]

Whakamana is an education centre to provide public access to science, literature, and experiences to promote cannabis education. [22] The museum has hosted past events featuring notable individuals and experts on cannabis including activists and green fairy [note 1] Rose Renton. [23]

Crowdfunding campaign

In a press release, Gray and Mayell announced plans to raise $1 million NZD via the crowdfunding platform PledgeMe to complete the Trinity Church restoration and expand their services and resources, offering one share per dollar at a minimum of fifty shares. The campaign went live in late 2019.

By the end of the fundraising period the campaign had raised $214,616 (NZD) from 299 people. [24] However, the campaign had failed to raise its minimum target of $1 million NZD, therefore the total amount was returned to investors in accordance with the terms of PledgeMe. Gray initially attributed the failure of the campaign to a lack of awareness about the project among the local cannabis community, but argued in a later interview that prevailing cannabis stigma had played a role. [25] [26]

Following the failure of the campaign, Gray and Mayell said they were approaching investors and seeking alternative means of funding, and would seek overseas investors if suitable New Zealand investors could not be found. [2]

In May 2020, Mayell revealed that revenue issues had forced the museum to close its Christchurch location. Whakamana planned to move to Wellington in the form of a new project, [6] but ultimately went into storage due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

2020 Wellington project

In January 2020, Whakamana Museum posted on their Facebook page that they were seeking volunteers to set up a temporary pop-up museum in Wellington, intending to keep it running until the 2020 New Zealand cannabis referendum was resolved. [27] Gray moved to Wellington to facilitate the project. Whakamana had planned to have a location set up in time for April, however this was impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. [25]

After deciding it was untenable to continuing leasing the Manchester Street premises, Whakamana announced they would close their Christchurch premises permanently to focus resources on the Wellington project, but ultimately went into storage due to the COVID-19 pandemic. [6]

2023-24 Auckland Revival

In 2023 a fundraiser was held for reopening the Museum in the iconic Hopetoun Alpha heritage building in Central Auckland, with a view to reopening the museum permanently at that location. [28] In 2024 the Museum started weekly social club meet ups at an Auckland waterfront bar and announced that the Museum would re-open permanently in Hopetoun Alpha in mid-2024. On August 9th 2024 the Museum was officially re-opened by Auckland Central Member of Parliament and Green Party Co-Leader Chloe Swarbrick in a ribbon cutting ceremony. [29]

See more

Notes

  1. ↑ "Green fairy" is an informal term for someone who supplies medical cannabis product directly to people, typically working outside of the law.

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References

  1. 1 2 "Grand Opening for New Zealand's first cannabis museum". Scoop News (Press release). 25 September 2013. Retrieved 14 February 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 "Christchurch Cannabis museum searching for investors after failing to reach funding goal". Stuff. 17 December 2019. Retrieved 11 January 2020.
  3. ↑ "WHAKAMANA MUSEUM LIMITED (7469137)". New Zealand Companies Registrar. Archived from the original on 22 October 2019.
  4. 1 2 Lewis, John (2 November 2019). "Cannabis Museum moves north". Otago Daily Times Online News. Retrieved 18 January 2020.
  5. ↑ "Clock ticking to invest in possibly NZ's first cannabis cafe". Scoop News (Press release). 14 December 2019. Retrieved 11 January 2020.
  6. 1 2 3 "Cannabis museum leaving Christchurch heritage building for capital". Stuff. 24 April 2020. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
  7. ↑ Harris, Katie (6 August 2023). "Auckland cannabis museum opens with a bong, weed prescriptions and DJs set for opening". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
  8. ↑ Lyth, Jaime (9 August 2024). "Auckland cannabis museum reopens after rich-lister's $500k donation". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 12 August 2024.
  9. 1 2 3 "Cannabis museum opens in Dunedin". Newshub. 10 April 2013. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
  10. ↑ "Whakamana Press Release". Whakamana. Retrieved 22 October 2019.
  11. 1 2 3 4 Chilton-Towle, J., "Dunedin marijuana museum planned", Otago Daily Times , 1 September 2013. Retrieved 14 February 2016.
  12. ↑ "Cannabis museum part of campaign". Stuff. 25 September 2013. Retrieved 22 October 2019.
  13. 1 2 Doyle, C., "", Critic (magazine) , 17 September 2018. Retrieved 21 September 2018.
  14. ↑ "Flying high: Customs officer warns museum curator over cannabis T-shirt". Stuff. 6 September 2018. Retrieved 22 October 2019.
  15. ↑ "Gareth Morgan's message on cannabis hits home". Stuff. 5 June 2017. Retrieved 11 January 2020.
  16. ↑ "Cannabis Party leader quits for Opportunities Party". Newshub. Retrieved 11 January 2020.
  17. ↑ Simmons, Geoff (6 June 2017). "Defection of ALCP President Abe Gray to The Opportunities Party (TOP)". TOP. Retrieved 11 January 2020.
  18. ↑ "Dunedin's Cannabis Museum left high and dry over alleged fake landlord". Stuff. 12 May 2018. Retrieved 18 January 2020.
  19. ↑ New Zealand Today - The Dunnerz Cannabis Museum , retrieved 14 January 2020
  20. ↑ Loughrey, David (7 January 2019). "Cannabis museum for Christchurch". Otago Daily Times Online News. Retrieved 22 October 2019.
  21. ↑ "Cannabis advocates aim to transform Christchurch heritage buildings into 'cannabis HQ'". 2 August 2019.
  22. ↑ "Cannabis Institute for Christchurch Historic Buildings". Scoop News (Press release). 11 August 2019. Retrieved 22 October 2019.
  23. ↑ "NZ's Best Known Green Fairy To Talk At Cannabis Museum". Scoop News (Press release). 14 November 2019. Retrieved 18 January 2020.
  24. ↑ "Whakamana Museum Limited | PledgeMe". 18 December 2019. Archived from the original on 18 December 2019. Retrieved 11 January 2020.
  25. 1 2 Dastgheib, Shabnam (16 March 2020). "The founder of a failed cannabis museum sounds a warning for similar startups". The Spinoff. The Spinoff. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
  26. ↑ "Planned cannabis museum struggles to get funding". Newshub. Retrieved 11 January 2020.
  27. ↑ "Whakamana: The Cannabis Museum of Aotearoa - Posts | Facebook". Facebook . 12 January 2020. Archived from the original on 12 January 2020. Retrieved 13 January 2020.
  28. ↑ Harris, Katie (6 August 2023). "Auckland cannabis museum opens with a bong, weed prescriptions and DJs set for opening". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
  29. ↑ Lyth, Jaime (9 August 2024). "Auckland cannabis museum reopens after rich-lister's $500k donation". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 12 August 2024.
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