Pubdate: Tue, 06 May 2014
Source: Dominion Post, The (New Zealand)
Copyright: 2014 The Dominion Post
Contact:  http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2550
Author: Steve Russell
Page: A6

DOUBLE STANDARDS OVER ALCOHOL

The contrast between legal highs and alcohol legislation shows how 
irrational drug laws are in New Zealand, and now with a knee-jerk 
response by Peter Dunne, in response to media-generated hysteria, 
there is chaos.

Synthetic cannabinoids create more harm than natural cannabis, but 
less than alcohol. Drug experts say that if alcohol was a new drug 
like synthetic cannabinoids it would be banned.

The prime minister debates whether rats are more acceptable than 
rabbits for drug testing while he prevails over a drug policy which 
actively encourages corporate drug testing of alcohol on young New 
Zealand human beings on a daily basis. The most stark example of harm 
being several thousand children born every year with alcohol-induced 
brain damage.

STEVE RUSSELL

Auckland
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