CANNABIS DEBATE

I write to correct an error in your article "Tanczos visits city to discuss
cannabis law" (The Southland Times, June 9).

Your paper reports me as saying that "the cannabis market needs to be
regulated by taxing it" and that "licensing people to grow and sell
cannabis...would also help." In fact, I said that there are a number of
policy options before us, including "instant fines" and "regulating the
market." However, instant fines lead to "net widening" and do nothing to
address the problems of an illegal market.

Regulation, on the other hand, while allowing the market to be controlled,
runs the risk of encouraging the promotion of cannabis.

The model that the Green Party is advocating is one that would allow adults
(over 18 years old) to grow, possess and use cannabis for personal use.

Cannabis would come under the Smokefree Environments Act -- driving under
the influence would be illegal -- and the money saved from not arresting
people for personal use should be put towards a comprehensive, well-planned
and evaluated drug education strategy.

The Green Party would not like to see cannabis use being encouraged in the
way alcohol use is aggressively promoted in our society now.

We do want to stop the criminalisation of the majority of New Zealanders
who admit having used it.

Nandor Tanczos, Green MP