CANNABIS LAW INQUIRY STARTS

Decriminalisation of cannabis has become a mainstream issue because
people are finally acknowledging how widespread its use is, says the
Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party.

ALCP president and Wellington lawyer Michael Appleby is one of a
number of people who will give evidence to Parliament's health select
committee inquiry into the health effects of cannabis, starting today.

The inquiry will consider the best strategies to deal with the health
fallout of cannabis use - including its decriminalisation. Mr Appleby
said the debate had come a long way in five years because "people have
finally acknowledged the majority of New Zealanders under the age of
50 have tried it."

People therefore realised that enforcement of the law was unjust as
only a few were charged and convicted - "it's like Lotto". "It's a
question of basic justice and whether or not the police should
continue to have the discretion about whether to charge people."

Figures released yesterday by Justice Minister Phil Goff show 4550
people were arrested and prosecuted for possession or use of cannabis
last year - 3503 of whom were convicted. Almost 3700 were prosecuted
for dealing in the drug, with 3003 convictions.

But Tawa College principal Bruce Murray strongly opposes any law
changes, calling cannabis an "anti-educational drug". The drinking age
had recently been lowered and the result was an increase in drinking
among youth, he said.

Committee chairwoman Judy Keall said the inquiry followed a similar
investigation three years ago supporting decriminalisation. She said
today one of the reasons for that finding was that people were often
put off seeking help for cannabis abuse because of the drug's illegal
status.

But National list MP Roger Sowry has called the inquiry unnecessary,
saying it is wrong that the committee will spend 10 times more time on
cannabis than on hospital funding over the next month.

The Green Party was to present its submission today.