OLDER PEOPLE BEING BUSTED FOR CANNABIS - STATISTICS

The average age of those convicted for cannabis offences has risen over the
past 20 years and Maori, who make up around 14 percent of the population,
figure disproportionately in the statistics.

The areas with the oldest average convictions for dealing (35 years) were
Kaitaia and Kaikohe, where 119 people went through the courts in 2000.

Figures released in reply to parliamentary questions from Green MP Nandor
Tanczos show that in 1980 the average age of those convicted with cannabis
possession offences was 23 years. By 2000 it had risen to 28 years.

The average age of those convicted for dealing in cannabis went from 24 to
31 years over the same period.

Figures provided by Justice Minister Phil Goff show that over the 20-year
period the number of Maori convicted for possession doubled, while the
number of Europeans had dropped. In 1980, 517 Maori were convicted for
possession, while 1997 Europeans went through the court for the same
offences. In 2000, 1106 Maori were convicted and 1350 Europeans.

The number of Maori convicted for dealing offences has risen tenfold from
156 in 1980 to 1210 in 2000. The number of Europeans convicted for the same
offences rose from 921 to 1371.

The total number of convictions for cannabis possession remained relatively
stable - 2627 in 1980 and 2615 in 2000 (total figures differ as not all
convictions recorded ethnicity or age).

The number of people convicted for dealing in the drug rose from 1127 in
1980 to 2241 in 1990. It rose to 2982 in 1998, and fell back to 2681 in 2000.

Those convicted for possession in Taihape were the oldest on average, with
five people aged an average of 31 going through the courts in 2000.

The area with the youngest average age for possession convictions - 25
years - was Pukekohe with 19 convictions in 2000.

Numerous areas recorded 28 as the youngest average age for dealing convictions.

Maori also figure prominently in the number of those who were jailed for
cannabis offences. In the 1999 jail census, 209 people were behind bars for
dealing in cannabis, 101 of whom recorded their ethnicity as Maori, while
95 said they were Europeans.

Another reply to the series of questions from Mr. Tanczos showed that in
the 1999/2000 year police spent 298,000 hours on cannabis related matters,
up from 279,63 hours in 1994/1995. In 1998/1999 police spent 305,624 hours
on cannabis offences.