Pubdate: Tue, 12 Aug 2003 Source: Otago Daily Times (New Zealand) Copyright: Allied Press Limited, 2003 Contact: http://www.stuff.co.nz/otago Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/925 Author: NZPA Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization) NO CANNABIS COMPROMISE Wellington: Keeping cannabis illegal was a bottom line for United Future and it would not help any party that planned to legalise the drug form a government, leader Peter Dunne said yesterday. Parliament's health committee has looked at the health effects of cannabis but last week failed to decide whether the drug's legal status should be changed. It said Parliament's justice committee should decide the "appropriate" legal status of cannabis. However, it also argued that prohibition was not working. Whatever might eventually be decided on the legal status of cannabis, the Government could not change it in this term of Parliament because its support agreement with United Future specifically prevents that happening. Mr Dunne said yesterday that no future government would be formed with United Future's backing unless it committed itself to keeping cannabis illegal. MAP posted-by: Doc-Hawk