Pubdate: Fri, 12 Dec 2003
Source: Cook Straight News (New Zealand)
Address: PO Box 13-089, Johnsonville, New Zealand
Contact:  Jim Chipp

MOSES CHALLENGES TANCZOS OVER CANNABIS CONUNDRUM

Wellington College head Roger Moses has challenged Green MP Nandor Tanczos 
to meet principals to discuss cannabis law reform.

The occasion was a public debate between Mr Tanczos and Associate Health 
Minister Jim Anderton at the Johnsonville Community Centre on Wednesday 
evening that attracted 150 people.

"Day in, day out, we are faced with young people who are de-motivated and 
dropped out," Mr Moses said.

"Yes, your arguments are plausible, (but) I don't think they are credible." 
Mr Tanczos readily accepted Mr Moses' challenge.

There was no winner on the podium, and nor was there a popular winner with 
an animated audience apparently evenly divided.

Mr Tanczos detailed the long history of cannabis use in New Zealand 
beginning with its introduction for medicinal purposes by Sister Mary 
Aubert to her Whanganui River-based order.

Most submissions to Parliament's Health Select Committee review of cannabis 
law favoured decriminalisation, he said.

"This is not a radical issue.

"This is a mainstream issue that has the support of a majority of New 
Zealanders."

One area of agreement between Mr Tanczos, Mr Anderton and the audience was 
that the law's focus ought to be the protection of teenagers.

"Where problems do happen, a harm-reduction approach is what is needed," Mr 
Tanczos said.

While cannabis possession is a crime, college students caught with it are 
usually suspended or expelled to stay at home, where they might spend their 
time smoking cannabis.

"The best thing we can do is keep young people within 
education...prohibition makes education and harm-reduction difficult."

Mr Anderton said the law should focus on one group and one group only: "The 
young people of this country."

He was a wowser who did not drink until he was 30, and has never smoked 
cannabis, he added.

"Drugs are not a life-enhancing lifestyle choice. Quite the opposite is true."

Mr Anderton ridiculed a recent Green Party campaign against unhealthy foods.

"How on earth you can denounce breakfast cereals and fizzy drinks, and then 
want cannabis decriminalised, I don't know. 
- ---
MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart