Pubdate: Sat, 14 May 2005
Source: Otago Daily Times (New Zealand)
Copyright: 2005 Allied Press Limited
Contact:  http://www.odt.co.nz/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/925
Author: Tom McKinlay
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization)

PROS AND CONS OF CANNABIS DEBATED

Warnings of the evils of cannabis mixed with appeals for a little less
hysteria at a forum on cannabis at the University of Otago yesterday.

Speakers from the Green Party, United Future, Destiny New Zealand, the
Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party, International Socialists
Organisation and the Dunedin School of Medicine tossed around the
relative merits of prohibition and legalisation.

Prof Robin Taylor, of the Otago Medical School, steered clear of the
moral and political issues to make a plug for inhaling fresh air.

Smoking cannabis, like smoking tobacco, had serious long-term health
effects that were born not only by the individual but by society, the
respiratory physician said.

Green MP and one-time Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party member Metiria
Turei and United Future MP Gordon Copeland represented the poles of
the debate in Parliament.

Ms Turei said it should be legal for people over the age of
18.

Mr Copeland said cannabis took a particular toll on young people,
sapping their motivation, which was why no change to cannabis law was
a condition of their support for the Labour Government.

The Destiny Church movement's two representatives on the panel,
Dunedin pastor Gary Davis and Destiny New Zealand policy director
David Jesze, were the only panellists to admit to having smoked
marijuana - though both opposed legalisation.

Mr Jesze said decriminalisation was not in the interests of future
generations, he said. Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party spokesman Paul
McMullan said it was an issue of personal rights.

The increase in the use of cannabis had not been accompanied by the
predicted negative health impacts, he said.

International Socialists spokesman Dr Brian Roper said prohibition had
never worked and should be rolled back, but to solve the problem it
was necessary to understand why people took drugs.

Many did so to make themselves feel better as they struggled to get by
on inadequate incomes in a society that made them feel alienated and
disempowered.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin