Q&A
The Hemp & Cannabis News
December 2016
‘CANNABIS IS LIFE...
CANNABIS IS TRUTH’
BRANDON STRONGE, CANNABIS PARTY
CANDIDATE IN MT. ROSKILL BY-ELECTION
MT. ROSKILL: First big test of NZ
public opinion since Brexit and
the election of Donald Trump as
U.S. President.
THC: There’s a theory, Brandon, that we’re
now living in a new era politically. Maybe New
Zealand’s looking for its own anti-establishment
figure like Trump - what’s your take on that?
BS: I believe in being a bit like Trump, a realist over
someone who’s just doing what they have to to
be there. Trump got voted in because he was the
right person for the job, in my opinion. I can see
the whole world going that way, but there’s a lot of
people who are still stuck in their ways and don’t see
the bigger picture.
THC: You clearly believe you’re right about
medical cannabis being a good thing for New
Zealand but how do you go about convincing
people?
BS: Do it like Trump, I believe, is the best policy - just
be honest. Putin’s a great leader who’s not scared
by the truth unlike the American administration has
been. Someone like Trump, he may say some rash
things that we don’t all agree with but he reads the
room. That’s not something that a dishonest person
would do, they’d be doing the things they think
you want but secretely, behind the doors... One of
the things we need to do, which I agree with Donald
Trump about, is to get rid of lobbyists. Lobbying is
bribing, that’s all it is -
THC: It didn’t used to be, though, did it? But now
it’s widely known that as you say, lobbying is
basically giving as much money as is necessary to
have some influence in government decisions.