O'CONNOR ADDS VOICE OF DISSENT

West Coast-Tasman MP Damien O'Connor has added an anti-legalisation voice
to the parliamentary select committee that will consider the status of
cannabis in New Zealand.

Mr O'Connor has taken the seat vacated by colleague Mita Ririnui two weeks
ago. Submissions closed on February 7 about the most effective public
health and health promotion strategies to minimise the use of, and the harm
associated with, cannabis, and consequently the most appropriate legal
status of cannabis.

But yesterday committee chairman Judy Keall said it would be later than
July before the committee members could start considering the evidence.

Ms Keall has said she opposes decriminalisation. Of the other members,
National health spokeswoman Lynda Scott has said she opposes
decriminalisation, and Roger Sowry has dismissed overseas evidence that
purported to show cannabis could be used therapeutically.

Phillida Bunkle has said she had never smoked the drug.

Three other MPs on the committee have given no indication of their preferences.

Yesterday, Mr O'Connor refused to comment on whether he had smoked
marijuana. However, he said, that he had seen the harmful effects of
cannabis on young people, on the Training Opportunities Programme courses
he used to run, who were disadvantaged several ways by their continuing use
of marijuana.

The drug destroyed concentration, suppressed motivation, and caused
distraction, he said.