Whakamana Cannabis Museum

Whakamana Cannabis Museum of Aotearoa
The former Christchurch location, closed in April 2020.
Established2013
LocationAuckland, New Zealand
TypeScience, Social History
AccreditationMuseums Aotearoa
DirectorAbe Gray
Websitecannabis.kiwi.nz

Whakamana Cannabis Museum is New Zealand's first museum dedicated to the history of cannabis use and culture.[1] It was first opened in October 2013 in Dunedin by Abe Gray, former deputy leader of the Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party (ALCP),[2] and Julian Crawford, former ALCP regional spokesperson.

In 2019 Whakamana relocated to Shand's Emporium in Christchurch when Abe Gray and Cookie Time founder Michael Mayell formed a partnership to grow the concept.[3][4]

Whakamana sought to establish itself as a social club, an authority for cannabis education and events (i.e. lectures by figures in the cannabis industry), and an alcohol-free music venue and eatery producing hemp-based foods,[5] and in late 2019, the museum attempted to raise funds via PledgeMe, a crowdfunding platform for New Zealand-based businesses, to help complete restoration of their new site. The campaign failed to raise its minimum target of $1 million NZD, therefore investors were refunded and the campaign was voided.[2]

Following revenue issues and a failure to find suitable investors, the Christchurch location was closed. In 2020, Gray attempted to establish a new site in central Wellington, the capital city of New Zealand. As a political hub which houses New Zealand's parliamentary buildings, Gray considered the location to be more effective in the lead-up to the 2020 New Zealand cannabis referendum.[6] This was ultimately put on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In 2023 a fundraiser was held for reopening the Museum in the iconic Hopetoun Alpha heritage building in Central Auckland, with a view to reopening the museum permanently at that location.[7] In 2024 the Museum started weekly social club meet ups at an Auckland waterfront bar and announced that the Museum would re-open permanently in Hopetoun Alpha in mid-2024. On August 9th 2024 the Museum was officially re-opened by Auckland Central Member of Parliament and Green Party Co-Leader Chloe Swarbrick in a ribbon cutting ceremony.[8]

Whakamana was designed to be a national information centre on aspects of the science, history, and legislation surrounding cannabis, with an aim to educate the public and destigmatise adult use of cannabis.[9] It operates within New Zealand's laws and does not sell cannabis.[9] However, Whakamana previous stated they would set up a dispensary provided the law allows it to.[10] A prescribing doctor and dispensary is included in the new Auckland location.

  1. ^ "Grand Opening for New Zealand's first cannabis museum". Scoop News (Press release). 25 September 2013. Retrieved 14 February 2016.
  2. ^ a b "Christchurch Cannabis museum searching for investors after failing to reach funding goal". Stuff. 17 December 2019. Retrieved 11 January 2020.
  3. ^ "WHAKAMANA MUSEUM LIMITED (7469137)". New Zealand Companies Registrar. Archived from the original on 22 October 2019.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference :4 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ "Clock ticking to invest in possibly NZ's first cannabis cafe". Scoop News (Press release). 14 December 2019. Retrieved 11 January 2020.
  6. ^ "Cannabis museum leaving Christchurch heritage building for capital". Stuff. 24 April 2020. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
  7. ^ Harris, Katie (6 August 2023). "Auckland cannabis museum opens with a bong, weed prescriptions and DJs set for opening". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
  8. ^ Lyth, Jaime (9 August 2024). "Auckland cannabis museum reopens after rich-lister's $500k donation". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 12 August 2024.
  9. ^ a b "Cannabis museum opens in Dunedin". Newshub. 10 April 2013. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
  10. ^ "Whakamana Press Release". Whakamana. Retrieved 22 October 2019.