Squinting in the Californian Sun, May 2025

Brandon Hutchison

Brandon has three decades experience being active in the drug policy field. Retired for a few years now from working in IT support in the Engineering School at the University of Canterbury, drug policy and law reform has been a hobby, albeit a very serious one. First writing a letter in 1986 to The Press calling for legalisation of cannabis, his activism has not ceased for nearly 40 years. This included interacting with so-called drug education groups such as LIFE Ed, DARE,PRYDE and FADE, (in negative ways :-) ),doing a stint on the board of Canterbury Community Council on Alcohol and other Drugs (CCCAD), a board member of NORML, and general secretary of the Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party(ALCP), a registered NZ political party that has contested every election since 1996. Was instrumental in the creation of the NZ Drug Policy Forum Trust in the early 90s. Has been threatened , and assaulted, at public ‘torch and pitchfork’ meetings. A memorable highlight was ambushing the notorious Gabriel Nahas as he was about to speak at Riccarton High School demonising cannabis. Brandon helped organise the 2004 LEAP tour, attended the “Beyond 2008” summit to Vienna in 2008 as a member of the NZ delegation, organised or contributed to numerous, panels, conferences, AGMs.

Other interests include promotion of science (served one year as President of the Canterbury Branch of Royal Society) and fighting pseudo-science, promoting humanism and atheism, supporting Palestinian rights and self-determination.
Hobbies include gardening, singing, yachting, DIYing, and observing the life course of his two adult kids.

Brandon holds a BSc in Physics from Otago Uni, and a BA in Psychology and Maths from Canterbury Uni. He is not, and never has been, a user or consumer of any illegal drug or substance.