Dagga advocate Julian Stobbs shot dead in armed house robbery (original) (raw)

On Friday 3 July, Julian Stobbs who made up one half of the well-known “Dagga Couple” was fatally shot during a house robbery in Sunrella, Gauteng. His wife Myrtle Clarke was unharmed.

Fields of Green for All was established by the dagga activists in 2013. On Friday, the organisation said the cannabis community is mourning the passing of their hero.

DAGGA COUPLE’S JULIAN STOBBS SHOT AND KILLED DURING ROBBERY

Fields of Green for All took to Facebook saying that an armed robbery had taken place at the property of Julian Stobbs and Myrtle Clarke in the early hours of Friday morning. Best known as the Dagga Couple, the pair for many years, fought legal battles to decriminalise the plant.

According to Fields of Green for All, the attackers entered the couple’s bedroom and shot and fatally wounded Stobbs.

“Clarke was physically left unharmed and the attackers made off with two cellphones and two laptops,” it said on Facebook.

“The Cannabis community is mourning the passing of our hero. The family is requesting that the public respect their privacy and allow Myrtle and the family some space during this difficult time. Thank you for the outpouring of love we have already received,” it added.

During the early morning hours of Friday, 3 July 2020, an armed robbery took place at the property of Jules Stobbs and…

Posted by Fields of Green for ALL on Friday, July 3, 2020

Head of Community Safety at AfriForum Ian Cameron also confirmed that the dagga hero has been shot and killed.

“Jules Stobbs was shot and killed at around 2:30 this am. His partner survived. Suspects stole several items, they fled, returned, shot and killed him, took phones, then they left for good. Third farm attack in 24hrs.”

The South African reached out to Police Captain Kay Makhubela for comment but he did not respond at the time of publishing.

CANNABIS ACTIVISTS

In 2010, the dagga couple was arrested in their home on charges of possession and dealing in drugs.

“We were so indignant at our treatment at the hands of the police that we sued seven government departments on charges of enacting unlawful laws. We have been full-time drug policy activists since 2011, travelling nationally and internationally to give a voice to civil society’s concerns around drug policy reform,” said Clarke.

In 2013, the couple established Fields of Green for ALL as a non-profit company to deal with the obstacles surrounding the legal regulation of dagga in SA. Most of its work involves guidance for those who have been marginalised by use, cultivation and trade in Cannabis.

“As we progress from a movement to an industry, we will not give up until we have Fields of Green for All.”