DRUGS BAN AIDING DEALERS: GREENS

The National Party and anti-cannabis groups are unwittingly helping drug
dealers, a health select committee on cannabis was told in Hamilton.

Waikato Green Party executive Gary Clarkson said: "Whether they realise it
or not they're actually working in their interests.

"Prohibition always favours an unregulated black market."

If he were a dealer, Mr Clarkson said, he would want dope banned.

"If anything, I suggest going harder. It's all good for business. It will
ensure we've got a healthy profit for a long time," he told the committee,
which sat in Hamilton last week and included Green MP Nandor Tanczos, who
uses cannabis.

Mr Tanczos said a disproportionate number of Maori were convicted of
cannabis crimes.

In 1980, 1997 European and 517 Maori people were convicted, in 2000, 1350
Europeans and 1106 Maori people were convicted. But this was not because of
more Maori using dope. "I think it's obvious that's to do with the way the
law is applied," Mr Tanczos said.

Bay of Plenty public health officials from Toi Te Ora said personal dope
use should be decriminalised, but only with better health promotion so
"smokefree means smokefree".

Spokesman Michael Lane said counter-culture "makes it a glamour drug for
some people and some people just like to be staunch".

Mental Health Collective spokesperson Sarah Porter said prohibition
prevented sensible treatment. "The issue of the law means some people are
living in constant fear because of the illegality of cannabis."

Te Ruunanga A Iwi O Ngati Tamatera spokesman Roy Piahana opposed any
relaxation on cannabis because it harmed the health of young people.