Pubdate: Sat, 02 Sep 2000
Source: Otago Daily Times (New Zealand)
Copyright: Allied Press Limited, 2000
Contact:  P.O. Box 181, 52-66 Lower Stuart Street, Dunedin, New Zealand
Website: http://www2.odt.co.nz
Author: Dene Mackenzie

CALL FOR TOUGHER DRUG PENALTIES.

National education spokesman Dr Nick Smith is calling for tougher penalties 
for dealers who sell drugs to young people.

After visiting schools in Dunedin yesterday, Dr Smith said in an interview 
he was shocked at the number of "active adult peddlers" selling drugs to 
the city's young people.

While Dunedin's cannabis problem in schools was about the national average, 
the problem of adults selling to young people was far worse.

"Schools are attempting to cope with the situation but there is a 
deliberate campaign [by adult dealers] to target young people. There are 
remedies for supply but given the degree of drug supply to young people, 
should there not be tougher penalties?"

The schools were adopting a successful strategy to counter drug problems 
but were being frustrated by the Youth Law Centres which were telling 
students it was illegal to search school bags or have drug dogs at schools, 
he said.

"It seems sad to have the Government funding, with public money, the centre 
which is making the job of keeping schools drug free more difficult."

While in Dunedin, Dr Smith visited Kings, Bayfield and Logan Park high schools.

Dr Smith is convinced many of New Zealand's youth suicides relate to 
cannabis use and he is on a mission to stop any attempt to decriminalise 
the drug.

"There is a direct correlation between New Zealand's high use of cannabis 
and our high rate of youth suicide. Decriminalisation would make these 
tragic statistics much worse."

More than half of youth suicides, where there were autopsies, showed 
cannabis present in the body.

"It is a proven trigger for mental problems. Some of these kids are not 
wired for cannabis. It is a contributing factor to the level of youth suicide."

While Dr Smith said he had not smoked marijuana, list MP Katherine Rich, of 
Dunedin, admitted she had tried the drug at university.

Dr Smith said one of the trade-offs was the group of "white, middle class, 
professionals" who could smoke marijuana without it affecting their 
livelihoods.

"But should we legalise a recreational drug for a few well-off adults at 
the expense of our youth?"

"I fear we will end up with the decriminalisation [of marijuana] as part of 
the inevitable MMP political deals when we have the Greens holding the 
balance of power.

"Every school I visit, I become more passionate about the issue," he said.
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