Pubdate: Fri, 31 May 2013
Source: Manawatu Standard (New Zealand)
Copyright: 2013 Manawatu Evening Standard
Contact:  http://www.stuff.co.nz/manawatu-standard/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1057
Author: Mike Finlayson
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v13/n226/a09.html

PROHIBITION OF CANNABIS ' TOTAL FAILURE'

The author of ' Legalising drugs a wrong step' ( Miller On Politics, 
May 27) makes a series of assumptions that contradict international experience.

The first is the idea that somehow young people are influenced by the 
criminal status of cannabis, that they are put off using it. Absolute waffle.

Youth have a strong sense of justice. The idea that cannabis, a far 
less harmful substance than alcohol, is criminalised while alcohol is 
widely promoted reeks of hypocrisy and vested interest.

The youth that we should be most concerned about, those whose 
upbringing has negatively impacted their self esteem, are actually 
more likely to use cannabis because it is illegal. " Look at me, I'm 
an outlaw."

In the Netherlands, their policy of de-emphasising drug use means 
that if youth use/ take drugs to school you are not an outlaw, you 
are a loser. Find me one kid that wants to be labelled a loser and 
I'll buy you a beer. Tellingly, the adolescent drug use patterns 
there are much lower than here where we have total prohibition.

So fact # 1: Prohibition of cannabis does not stop kids using it.

Fact # 2: Prohibition increases the danger for at-risk youth.

Prohibition means that kids can buy cannabis far easier than alcohol. 
You need to prove your age when buying alcohol. I don't think most 
tinnie houses impose that same restriction. Prohibition has handed 
control over to the blackmarket and many involved in it are just as 
happy to sell kids some P, there's more profit in it.

Fact # 3: Prohibition helps to put vulnerable youth in contact with hard drugs.

The debate is not about cannabis, it is about the best way of 
controlling it. Prohibition is a total failure and good on MP 
Lees-Galloway for questioning conventional ' wisdom'.

MIKE FINLAYSON

Kaitaia
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