Pubdate: Fri, 13 Oct 2000 Source: Nelson Mail, The (New Zealand) Copyright: 2000 Independent Newspapers Limited Address: PO Box 244, Nelson Fax: 03 546 2802 Feedback: http://www.stuff.co.nz/inl/indexLite/1,2487,0a9,FF.html Website: http://www.stuff.co.nz/inl/index/0,1008,0a1540,FF.html Author: Geoff Collett MPS AGREE TO DISAGREE OVER DOPE National could support some softening of controls on cannabis, a cannabis law reform debate in Nelson heard last night. But Nelson MP Nick Smith's suggested alternatives to wide-ranging reform were not enough for his opponent in the debate, Green Party MP Nandor Tanczos, who said National's refusal to consider decriminalising or legalising cannabis was "fundamentally flawed". Dr Smith, who is helping to lead a nationwide petition against liberalisation with the School Trustees Association, presented five proposals he said he believed could tackle problems with the present laws: * Doubling the penalties for those supplying cannabis to young people. * Improving drug education. * A parent education programme. * A consistent nationwide policy so everyone arrested for the first time on a possession for personal use charge would receive diversion and avoid a conviction. * Allowing convictions for minor offences such as cannabis possession for personal use to be wiped after six years. Mr Tanczos's key argument was that prohibition had failed, that cannabis use was widespread in New Zealand, and that decriminalisation and drug education was the way to address these problems. He said prohibition prevented education and dialogue, and decriminalising cannabis would overcome many of the problems associated with it, such as abuse, uncontrolled availability, criminal gang involvement, and the amount of police and court resources put into fighting it. Dr Smith and Mr Tanczos acknowledged that they shared many viewpoints, particularly on the need for better education about cannabis and its effects on young people. "Most of us would agree we don't want to see young people using cannabis, particularly in school," Mr Tanczos said. But he disputed Dr Smith's view that ending prohibition would increase cannabis use, citing various research to the contrary and arguing that use had dramatically increased under prohibition. Dr Smith focused on the danger the drug posed to young people and people susceptible to mental illness. He highlighted the united opposition to legalisation or decriminalisation by the "normally fractious" education sector, because of concerns about the effects of cannabis on young people. He questioned how those most at risk from the drug's harmful effects could be protected from it if prohibition ended. Both MPs cited copious research into the drug. Dr Smith said his evidence showed cannabis use led to harder drugs, contributed to road crashes and youth suicide, and affected the motivation and achievement of students. He said even the debate on decriminalisation sent signals to young people that the drug was okay. The debate lasted nearly two hours and attracted about 150 people, who packed into the National Party's Nelson headquarters at Annesbrook. It was largely good-natured, although Dr Smith was frequently heckled by law reform supporters. Members of the audience were also given an opportunity to air their views, and some passionate arguments emerged from both sides. These ranged from warnings about the dangers of chemically-enhanced hydroponic cannabis to calls from anti-drug campaigners for the pro-cannabis lobby to front up to the problems the drug was causing. - --- MAP posted-by: Doc-Hawk