The controversial councillor behind a push to legalise
cannabis has resigned from the Waimate District Council, but
has vowed to fight even harder to legalise the drug.
In April, self-confessed dope-smoker Sandy Mulqueen led a bid
to convince the council to back her We Desire Change
legalisation campaign in its Long Term Plan, and although her
submission was thrown out, Ms Mulqueen said the cannabis
issue was not behind her decision to resign on Friday.
"I'm actually leaving town for work. I'm moving to Milton. We
are opening up a new Waimate knitwear shop down there, and
just didn't think it would be a good think trying to squeeze
my council business into that as well. I can't do justice to
the role."
She was disappointed the council had not "gone near" efforts
to legalise cannabis, she said, adding that Waimate locals
had remained supportive of her position in the council.
"Other people are able to block that out and deal with me
like they always have."
Her efforts to lobby for a change to the law would continue.
"I feel freer now to say whatever I like, and I will be. I'm
going to have a little more time on my hands, so I'm going to
be working on a blog and just going to be trying to promote
it a little stronger from now on."
Waimate Mayor John Coles said a by-election was not needed
because the resignation was within 12 months of an election,
but urban residents would now be under-represented.
"We did have an even split of four urban councillors and four
rural councillors."
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