Legal Status of Kava in Australia

[JonT]

OK, I am very confused about kava in Australia, because I cannot find any state laws legislating with regard to it, but have read news articles about its status. Like some Tongans who apparently couldn't use it at a festival due to legal restrictions? I think that was in NSW or ACT.

All I can confirm so far is this, information on federal restrictions of importation of kava:

http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/importation-of-kava

If you fly into Australia, you can carry 2kg of kava with you.

However, what are you legally allowed to do with kava once in Australia? I've no idea.

In the Northern Territory, the laws are stricter:

http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/nt/consol_act/kma135/

It sounds like "trafficable quantity" (LOL, kava FFS) counts as 2kg to 25kg of kava. So, in the NT, is possession of <2kg of kava legal?

I still find it genuinely laughable when you read about NT cops making kava busts and talking about the "street value" of kava, which is about 2000 times the going rate in the real world. It's very surreal and could easily be satirical......like watching Brass Eye

 

[Vekta]

2000 times?

When they lift the restrictions on kava that value with drop like a lead weight.

 

[Deactivated Account]

Been here drinking it since the late 90's.

Yes 2kg per person coming in over 18. You can sell it from what I know to another person however you cannot advertise it in any media...which was the same law when I had a Therapeudic Goods Importers Lic. It was only to be imported with a permit (which I had) and the origin & quantities were on the permit.

We all had our lic's revoked about 12 years back. I still buy it from people that come back from hols in Fiji. It's just not easy to find.

I do see certain head type shops selling it here in QLD but don't know how they do it legally. It's of course pathetic quality. Total waste of money.

When I was bringing it in for myself I was never allowed to sell it into Aboriginal or TI communities...not that I ever sold it as it was just for me.

So now it's a $450 air fair to Port Vila twice yearly & that's fine with me considering the $1 a shell & rocket fuel strength.

 

[Deactivated Account]

2000 times?

When they lift the restrictions on kava that value with drop like a lead weight.

I seriously doubt it will ever be lifted. We partition the govt quite often but they just fall back on the damage it does to aboriginal & Torres Strait Island communities.

Basically they slam the phone down every time we call. Unfortunate really for the huge Indian / Fijian community here as they seem to have a pretty good handle on it.

 

[Vekta]

Wasn't it the Australian government that introduced it to those communities to begin with? It would seem to me they're reluctant to admit they messed that one up.

 

[Deactivated Account]

Wasn't it the Australian government that introduced it to those communities to begin with? It would seem to me they're reluctant to admit they messed that one up.

At the very start it was 3 aboriginal elders that went to Fiji for some cultural visit in the early 80's & went 'hey...we need this back home'. So somehow the govt got involved as of course it's an intoxicant minus the violence you get from booze. But it was abused to the hilt & caused a whole new set of problems.

That's what I make of it anyway.

 

[JonT]

So now it's a $450 air fair to Port Vila twice yearly & that's fine with me considering the $1 a shell & rocket fuel strength.

Could you do it cheaper by having a PO box in Auckland, and getting kava delivered there. Once you hit 2kg, look for a cheap (i.e. jetstar) return flight then pop over for the day.

 

[JonT]

Wasn't it the Australian government that introduced it to those communities to begin with? It would seem to me they're reluctant to admit they messed that one up.

Example article: http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/man-charged-over-kava-find/story-e6freuyi-1225769771541

They quote a street value of USD900 per kilo of kava. Simply absurd!

"Superintendent of the Northern Operational Service Division Helen Braam said it was another example of an organised drug trafficking network aimed at exploiting people in remote communities."

The government created this organised drug trafficking network themselves through prohibition! The street value of course is comical - there is only an incentive for the traffickers to do this because of the ban and the stupid prices it has caused.

 

[Deactivated Account]

Could you do it cheaper by having a PO box in Auckland, and getting kava delivered there. Once you hit 2kg, look for a cheap (i.e. jetstar) return flight then pop over for the day.

Sure you could (if return NZ is cheaper than $450) but you miss out on drinking the best & strongest kava on the planet for $1 a shell. If your a serious kava drinker then you have to get to Vanuatu.

 

[Deactivated Account]

They quote a street value of USD900 per kilo of kava. Simply absurd!

.

I've heard if these sort of $ thrown about mate but honestly who is going to pay $950 AUD for 1kg of kava.

I reckon it's complete crap personally.

 

[JonT]

Sure you could (if return NZ is cheaper than $450) but you miss out on drinking the best & strongest kava on the planet for $1 a shell. If your a serious kava drinker then you have to get to Vanuatu.

I see your point; if you went to Auckland you could bring some back but you're not going to get awesome kava to drink whilst you're there. I'd stick with your Vila escapades. Or you can fly to Honiara from Brisbane, though there isn't much kava in Honiara it is obscenely strong.

 

[JonT]

I've heard if these sort of $ thrown about mate but honestly who is going to pay $950 AUD for 1kg of kava.

I reckon it's complete crap personally.

Yeah you'd have to be crazy to pay that, so you're probably right. The huge numbers make the cops look like they're doing something worthwhile maybe? And who can question the numbers?

 

[Gourmet Hawaiian Kava]

Hey Nemo, when are you going back to Vanuatu? Aloha.

Chris

 

[Deactivated Account]

It's easy Bris to Vila. A bit over 2 hours & lots of flights with Virgin & Air Van + lots of others. It's easy fast & cheap to get there.

I'm seriously toying with moving there in a few years so I'm always establishing business contacts etc. Most of the town knows me by now as im twice their size & well known for putting kava away.

I walk through town & busses stop & ask how many shells I had last night...they all remember driving from nakamal to nakamal. I just yell out the first number I think of & they all burst out laughing & give me the thumbs up. They love a big kava drinker.

 

[Deactivated Account]

Hey Nemo, when are you going back to Vanuatu? Aloha.

Chris

Tomorrow.

 

[Gourmet Hawaiian Kava]

I wish I could come with you. Is it hard to send kava powder via Vanuatu Post, there EMS service? What is the average price per Kilo of kava down there? Aloha.

Chris

 

[Deactivated Account]

I wish I could come with you. Is it hard to send kava powder via Vanuatu Post, there EMS service? What is the average price per Kilo of kava down there? Aloha.

Chris

Powdered is in the shops for about $80-$120 ...same as their web sites. Powdered kava is really not even acknowledged there as you would expect.

 

[Deactivated Account]

Yeah you'd have to be crazy to pay that, so you're probably right. The huge numbers make the cops look like they're doing something worthwhile maybe? And who can question the numbers?

I pay $80/kg for waka so it sort of makes liars out of them. If someone could get 10-12 times that I'm sure I wouldn't be getting it for 80.

 

[endwatcher]

Just wanted to remark on the OP's original;

Isnt it ironic how we can look at this whole mess with Awa and Aus. and see what the "criminalization" of it really does?
How silly of the Gov. to act this way, our U.S Gov. gets egg on their face all the time just like this with other substances, and think that this instance is a fine
learning op. for everyone to see that when the GOV. steps in and dictates our lives "Tyrany" it actually causes more confusion and pain.

I have to admit, I think they cause that on purpose to keep people diveded, and hurt. That way the powers to be can remain.....the powers to be.

Early morning rant here, I dislike Tyrants and their everlong need for control.
Drink a shell for me Nemo, have fun in Vanuatu!

 

[Deactivated Account]

Drink a shell for me Nemo, have fun in Vanuatu!

I'll make that 4.