Pubdate: Fri, 09 Jun 2000
Source: Press, The (New Zealand)
Copyright: 2000 The Christchurch Press Company Ltd.
Contact:  Private Bag 4722, Christchurch, New Zealand
Fax: +64-3-364-8238
Website: http://www.press.co.nz/
Author: S. McIntyre

CANNABIS POLICY

Sir - Jenny Shipley has been quoted as saying: "we must decide whether
moving the boundary [of cannabis laws], muddling the message, and
increasing the number of New Zealanders who use cannabis, will add to
our over-all well-being or simply create greater problems".

Why on earth would Mrs Shipley assume that law reform will lead to an
increase in the numbers of cannabis-smoking New Zealanders? I can
think of two cases where liberalisation has lead to a statistically
measurable decrease in dope smoking. The first is Amsterdam (anyone
who says that this city faces worsening drug-related problems is plain
wrong). The second is California, where after the medical marijuana
law was passed, a survey found that use among 16-year-olds leveled off
(while on the east coast they continued to rise). Against the national
average this can be considered a decrease.

The only one "muddling the message" here is Mrs Shipley.

S.McINTYRE
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