Pubdate: Fri, 09 May 2003 Source: Otago Daily Times (New Zealand) Copyright: Allied Press Limited, 2003 Contact: http://www2.odt.co.nz Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/925 UPHOLDING THE LAW What does it say when about 20 protesters can enter a police station foyer and openly flout the law? That is what happened last Saturday at the Dunedin Central Police Station when cannabis smokers walked in smoking joints as part of Dunedin's J-Day - "joint day" - protest against cannabis laws. Most would agree that, today, smoking cannabis does not rate up there with the crimes of the century. It is disturbing, nonetheless, that police authority and the law can be ignored in such blatant ways. Does turning a blind eye to lawbreaking create helpful precedents? What will be next? Will the police also choose to ignore underage drinking when it is awkward and when it would have been a "considerable drain on resources"? There are two distinct issues here. One is the rights and wrongs of cannabis and whether it should be decriminalised. The second is about apparently condoning brazen law breaking. Perhaps it is a reflection on changing attitudes to cannabis that there have been little, if any, public response on this second matter. - --- MAP posted-by: Alex