Pubdate: Sat, 13 Sep 2014
Source: Press, The (New Zealand)
Copyright: 2014 Fairfax New Zealand Limited
Contact:  http://www.press.co.nz/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/349
Page: A18

PUBLIC HEALTH RISK TOO GREAT FOR CHANGE TO DRUG LAW

According to drug experts, New Zealand is said to be one of the 
highest users of cannabis in the world. It may seem odd then that 
there is no greater push to have it decriminalised or even legalised. 
Only one significant party, Internet-Mana, is pushing in the election 
campaign for reexamination of the laws governing dope and even within 
that party the promotion of the policy has caused ructions.

If the high-use figures are accurate, this indifference is even 
odder. In several other places in the world recently the authorities, 
faced with high illegal use of cannabis, have given up and 
decriminalised it or legalised it.

Given the arguments against cannabis, this surrender amounts to 
taking a large risk with public health. Whatever the case for it may 
be in other countries, it is hard to see the case for it in New Zealand.

The importation, growing, sale and use of the drug remains entirely 
illegal in New Zealand. While that is the law generally, a de facto 
tolerance around some use of the drug has developed. It is no secret 
that people caught with a small amount for their personal use are 
often, perhaps even usually, not prosecuted.

This is not ideal. Since the drug is illegal, there are no controls 
on its quality, the age of those it is sold to or where it is sold. 
All the profits from its production and sale go to the criminals who 
make it. Some gangs, for instance, making a good living from it.

There are no taxes on it so any harms it causes must be paid for out 
of general public health funds rather than being paid for by those 
who produce and use it. And while it remains illegal, customs and the 
police must devote large parts of their budgets to preventing the 
importation, cultivation and sale of it. Those sums are considerable 
and a drain on the public purse.

Decriminalisation or legalisation would, however, amount to a social 
experiment from which there could be little expected benefit. As has 
been vividly demonstrated in the US state of Colorado, where cannabis 
has recently been legalised, use of the drug could be expected to 
rise dramatically. The drug may be widely used now despite its 
illegality, but that illegality is some constraint on how widely and 
openly it is used.

There could still be some constraints if it were legalised. 
Regulations governing its quality and how and where and to whom it 
could be sold, along with taxes could be introduced. But 
notwithstanding that there is little doubt that supply and demand 
would rapidly increase. The consequences of that would be a huge leap 
into the unknown.

Mental health experts have long been aware of a very distinct risk of 
psychosis among users, particularly young and heavy users. Other 
drugs cause health problems, of course, but that is no argument for 
allowing another one that may cause harm to be added to the market.

A report this week on a University of Otago study of adolescent use 
of cannabis published in the medical journal The Lancet shows just 
how hazardous the drug can be. It showed that daily cannabis users 
under the age of 17 were 60 per cent less likely to complete high 
school or attend university and were seven times more likely to 
attempt suicide. Daily users were also 18 times more likely to become 
addicted to cannabis and eight times more likely to use other illicit 
drugs. It is not a pretty picture.

Some caution is necessary here. A person under the age of 17 who uses 
any drug every day is likely to be in a bad way. Nonetheless, the 
statistics are alarming. The law governing cannabis use are 
imperfect. But anyone who wishes to change them must show the change 
would clearly be for the better.
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