Not only should medical marijuana be made available to patients in need, but all adult use should be legal, taxed and regulated. Drug policies modelled after alcohol prohibition have given rise to a youth-oriented black market. Illegal drug dealers don't ID for age, but they do recruit minors immune to adult sentences.

Throwing more money at the problem is no solution. Attempts to limit the supply of illegal drugs while demand remains constant only increases the profitability of drug trafficking. For addictive drugs such as heroin, a spike in street prices leads desperate addicts to increase criminal activity to feed desperate habits. The drug war doesn't fight crime, it fuels crime.

[continues 69 words]

It is untrue that there is nothing in New Zealand law that allows for the use of cannabis medicinally.

In New Zealand there is increasing public and medical professional support for cannabis' availability as a medicine, as well as a greater commitment by media to more balanced coverage of this complicated issue.

The recent Taranaki Daily News article on medicinal cannabis (Taranaki woman sparks debate on medical marijuana, January 24) featuring a broad range of views is a case in point.

[continues 687 words]

Former Northland police Detective Sergeant Mike Blowers is unlikely to serve out his jail term in the region, ironically because of the good work he did to put drug dealers behind bars.

Yesterday, 51-year-old Blowers was sentenced to four years and nine months in prison after a judge said his actions involved "a very high level of hypocrisy".

Blowers, who joined the police force in 1992, admitted to supplying methamphetamine between June 1, 2011 and June 31, 2012, as well as stealing methamphetamine from the evidence lock-up at Whangarei Police Station in October 2011, replacing it with rock salt to disguise his theft.

[continues 530 words]

A former police detective who admitted to supplying drugs has been sentenced to almost five years in prison.

In the High Court at Whangarei this morning, Mike Blowers was sentenced to four years and nine months for supplying meth and two years and three months for theft of drugs, to be served concurrently. He was discharged on charge of supplying cannabis.

The former Detective Sergeant, who's 51, pleaded guilty in October to supplying methamphetamine, and stealing methamphetamine from a police exhibit room. The charges date to a period between June 2011 and June 2012.

[continues 75 words]

Police top brass have admitted mistakes were made when the detective who blew the whistle on his drug-dealing boss was investigated himself after he raised concerns with management.

Michael David Blowers was today jailed for four years and nine months after pleading guilty to methamphetamine offences while in charge of the organised crime unit in Northland.

The 51-year-old took 34 grams of the Class-A drug from the exhibit locker at the Whangarei police station and replaced it with salt to disguise the theft.

[continues 723 words]

New Zealand's abandoned experiment with legal highs will be the subject of an international survey of drug use.

The annual Global Drug Survey, launched in New Zealand today, is expected to attract more than 100,000 participants. It will examine drug use across 20 countries - and New Zealand's short-lived scheme for regulated legal highs will be a key focus.

"We'll take a close look at New Zealand and see what has happened to the use of traditional weed now that once-legal synthetic versions have at least for the near future been withdrawn from sale," survey founder and British-based consultant psychiatrist Adam Winstock said.

[continues 310 words]

A new United Kingdom government study on the relationship between harsh punishments and recreational drug use underlines how wrong-headed New Zealand parliamentarians were earlier this year to abandon their brave experiment to establish a regulated market for approved synthetic "highs".

In a study of the drug laws of 11 countries, New Zealand included, the report concludes that punitive regimes like those in Britain and New Zealand have no impact on drug use. As Liberal Democrat Minister of State for Crime Prevention Norman Baker pointed out, "banging people up and increasing sentences does not stop drug use".

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Medical Marijuana in US Is Giving 7- Year- Old Kiwi Better Seizure Control and Motor Skills, Says Her Mother

Hannah Norton For the first time in seven years, Jessika Guest feels like she is getting to know her daughter Jade.

Since trialling medical marijuana in Colorado, seven-year-old Jade's seizures have dropped from 30 to 40 a day to five or less, and from 30 seconds each time to three or five seconds.

"[ It] has been a big success," Mrs Guest said.

[continues 437 words]

In the face of a medical report highlighting the damage the drug does to the young, Laila Harre's calls to decriminalise cannabis in order to reduce its use flies in the face of common sense as well as being contrary to recent direct experience that we have had in this country.

The same voices that are calling today for the decriminalisation of cannabis also argued for the free availability of legal highs.

That free availability of legal highs did not result in reduced usage; it had completely the opposite effect, the results of which are still being felt in broken homes, sundered relationship and damaged lives around our country.

[continues 60 words]

I find your headline "Evidence Mounts Against Cannabis" (Sept 11) totally misleading and pure sensationalism, akin to the propaganda propagated by the Hurst newspaper chain that lead to cannabis becoming an illegal substance in America back in the 1920s.

The article that follows refers to a correlation between teens using cannabis and a series of negative outcomes such as poor educational achievement. Firstly, I would note that no one advocating legalisation of cannabis would want teenagers using the drug in the first place, and also that regulation, education and control will limit the availability to the teen market.

[continues 83 words]

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.

[continues 541 words]

Internet Party Leader Says Study Proves Cannabis Use Should Be Treated As Health Issue

Internet Party leader Laila Harre is standing by her policy to decriminalise cannabis following the publication of a study highlighting the damaging effects of regular use on young people.

An Australasian research paper into the effects of cannabis use on adolescents was published in

medical journal on Tuesday. It found that under 17s who use cannabis daily were 60 per cent less likely to complete high school and 60 per cent less likely to gain a degree.

[continues 354 words]

Regular cannabis use by teenagers can lead to an increased risk of suicide, greater use of illicit drugs and poor educational achievement, a Christchurch study says.

The study, published in medical journal The Lancet, showed daily cannabis users under the age of 17 were 60 per cent less likely to complete high school or attend university and were nearly 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.

[continues 409 words]

Seed growers are fed up with continued delays limiting them from growing hemp for the 2014/15 season and developing a vibrant industry.

Hemp can be grown and extracted oil sold, but no other products can be made from its seed such as milk or protein powder.

Auckland hemp farmer Dave Jordon said he had sold his entire coming season's crop in advance "because hemp is so damn good".

With a worldwide shortage of hemp seed, Jordon was regularly contacted from people throughout the world wanting a supply of hemp seed.

[continues 468 words]

READERS MAY be wondering at the tension between parents breaking the law to give cannabis extracts to their sick children, and politicians defending the status quo. Advocates say the drug effectively treats serious illness, while associate health minister Peter Dunne demurs that its safety and efficacy is uncertain.

In fact cannabis is one of the most rigorously studied pharmaceutical agents known to science. The amassed evidence of peer-reviewed research, when viewed in aggregate, paints a reassuringly consistent picture. Cannabis drugs are extraordinarily non-toxic, with the clinically proven harms being few and avoidable. And regardless of one's views on recreational use, the potential of the medicine is deeply promising, while largely untapped. Neither lack of scientific support, nor genuine fears for the safety of patients, can reasonably explain the government's reluctance to allow this medicine. Perhaps our elected representatives fear that a century of politically motivated anti-cannabis propaganda has been too effective to turn against. Also, mainstream uptake of cannabis medicines may ultimately help reveal how brazenly we have been deceived. Given the suffering of so many sick people, the resulting backlash could be considerable.

Jonathan Rennie, Auckland

[end]

Associate Health Minister Peter Dunne Is Blaming Dope Smokers for the Current Debate Over Cannabis Decriminalisation. Josh Fagan Reports.

DEBATE OVER medical cannabis has been hijacked by "nuisance" campaigners who are making it harder for people with serious diseases, says Associate Health Minister Peter Dunne.

The Government has come under renewed pressure to conduct trials on medicinal cannabis products, while New South Wales Premier Mike Baird said last week he was in support of NSW becoming the first Australian state to legalise medicinal cannabis for terminally ill patients.

[continues 570 words]

A family is being torn apart in its bid to give a 6-year-old medicinal cannabis.

Jessika and Brendan Guest moved from the United States to Whangarei last year with their children Jade, 6, and Ethan, 8.

But Jessika is now heading back to Colorado with the children where they can legally source cannabis oil to treat Jade's epilepsy.

Jessika believes medicinal marijuana is the best option for Jade whose condition has worsened in recent months to the point where she has more than 30 seizures a day.

[continues 488 words]

A Northland family is being torn apart in their bid to give their six-year-old daughter cannabis oil.

Jessika and Brendan Guest moved from America to Whangarei last year but Jessika Guest and their two children Jade, 6, and Ethan, 8, are heading back to Colorado where they can legally source cannabis oil to treat Jade's epilepsy.

Guest said she believed medicinal marijuana was the best option for Jade, whose condition has worsened in recent months, leaving her suffering more than 30 seizures a day.

[continues 241 words]

"It's hugely frustrating to see your child constantly seizuring and knowing that . . . there's medicine that possibly could be helping them."

A Rotorua woman says cannabis might help her 6-year-old daughter who suffers seizures and wants the Government to "open their eyes" on the medical marijuana debate.

Karen Jeffries' daughter, Zoe, was born with refractory seizure disorder and Jeffries said she was told by doctors Zoe was unlikely to live more than 24 hours.

Zoe survived, but has grown up on a "cocktail of pharmaceuticals" and continues to suffer more than 100 seizures a day. She will never be able to talk properly or walk without the aid of a frame.

[continues 343 words]

An American Family Is Upending Their New Start in New Zealand to Chase Cannabis Treatment for Their Young Daughter Josh Fagan Reports.

A NORTHLAND family is being torn apart in their bid to give their six-year-old daughter cannabis.

Jessika and Brendan Guest moved from America to Whangarei last year but Jessika and their two children Jade, 6, and Ethan, 8, are heading back to Colorado where they can legally source cannabis oil to treat Jade's epilepsy.

Jessika said she believed medicinal marijuana was the best option for Jade, whose condition has worsened in recent months, leaving her suffering more than 30 seizures a day.

[continues 753 words]