RSA says it's not like a dope club | Northland News | Local News in Northland

Whangarei RSA members are fuming over claims from a marijuana law reformer that cannabis clubs he wants to set up, including in Northland, are "just like the RSA".

In a story in the Northern Advocate on Tuesday, Auckland dope reform campaigner Dakta Green, who runs the Daktory cannabis smoking club in New Lynn, said he wanted to set up similar clubs in Northland.

Mr Green said both groups "exist for the purpose of the membership and are not for profit," causing outraged RSA patrons to denounce the comparison, saying it is repugnant.

"This is an insult to all of our good men and women who made significant sacrifices for this country and our allies. What they achieved was not achieved sitting around smoking dope, and for those persons to suggest they are 'Just like the RSA' is repugnant. What these dope smokers do is illegal," a statement from the RSA said.

The RSA gave Northland police commander Superintendent Mike Rusbatch and his team their full support in "squashing this type of vermin in our society".

"There is still a bit of fight left in our older members, and plenty left in our younger members. They are all angry."

The Advocate visited ex servicemen at the Whangarei RSA yesterday to gauge the depth of feeling.