EIGHT YEAR OLDS "OPENLY SELLING CANNABIS" AT SCHOOL

Eight-year-old Northland children openly deal in cannabis at school, a
parliamentary select committee was told in Waitangi yesterday.

The health select committee was in Waitangi to hear submissions from
Northlanders into its inquiry on the legal status of cannabis. It is
holding meetings around the country on the issue.

Tales emerged yesterday of adults too stoned to be effective parents.

"We have eight-year-olds openly selling it in schools," said Te Runanga O
Te Rarawa Te Oranga health manager Owen Lewis.

"We have kids the same age who have got many social issues as a result of
families abdicating their responsibilities as parents because they are so
spaced out."

The runanga said some Far North families had three generations of cannabis
smokers and the drug was having a major impact on Te Rarawa. It opposed
decriminalisation of the drug.

Innovative, home-grown and culturally sensitive ways were needed to educate
and promote the reduction of cannabis use, the runanga said.

Community Action Project of Whangaruru spokesman Carmen Hetaraka also
opposed decriminalisation. But other speakers asked the select committee to
change the law.

All acknowledged Northland had major cannabis problems, exacerbated by the
region's low socioeconomic status, high unemployment, poor housing and lack
of education.

Those calling for law reform said they did not want cannabis made legal for
people under the age of 18, but that adults who chose to smoke the drug
should not be branded criminals. The committee is expected to report to
Parliament before Christmas.