Two appear in court after Whangarei cannabis club raid

A cannabis clubhouse in Northland has been shut down following a police raid.

Members of The Daktory openly sell and smoke cannabis at the organisation's Port Rd clubhouse in Whangarei.

It is leased by Brian Borland, who has been a cannabis dealer for 42 years.

Police stormed the clubhouse on Wednesday after a neighbour spoke out about the goings-on at the address.

He said he was "appalled" that the club was getting away scot-free with growing and selling the drug.

A 60-year-old man and a 28-year-old woman were arrested and appeared in the Whangarei District Court on Thursday afternoon.

Members were planned to protest outside the court before the hearing.

A post on The Daktory's Facebook page read: "Who knows what the future will bring but due to current circumstances the Daktory Whangarei is closed until further notice and the AGM has been cancelled."

Another post asked members to halt all online payments to the club.

Earlier, Borland said he believed it was a waste of time for police in Northland to use their already stretched resources against cannabis users and growers.

"I've spent three years in jail, and lost seven gardens to the police, and it's made no difference," he said.

"It's just tied up hundreds of hours of police time and resources."

Whangarei area commander Inspector Al Symonds said police took the cultivation and selling of cannabis "very seriously".

"We know the people of Whangarei do not accept this type of behaviour and do not want these drugs on our streets where they cause harm to our community."

- Stuff