HARRE BACKS PARTIAL LIBERALISATION OF CANNABIS LAW

Youth Minister Laila Harre has revealed her support for a partial
liberalisation of cannabis law to allow users to carry small amounts of
the drug without risk of prosecution.

After speaking at a youth forum in Wellington yesterday, Ms Harre said
she supported partial liberalisation rather than a model that would see
the introduction of instant fines for cannabis use.

She said that under the partial liberalisation option, people could
carry small amounts, but growing and possessing large quantities would
remain outlawed.

Ms Harre said that in other countries the instant-fine model had
resulted in an increase in criminal convictions for non-payment further
down the track.

"The fines may be nothing more than a tax on cannabis users, heavily
weighted against those who are most likely to get caught and less likely
to be able to pay, such as young people," she said.

South Australia introduced an instant fine system in 1987, but found
that about half of those caught ended up with criminal convictions for
non-payment.

Submissions to the cannabis law reform review by the health select
committee close on February 7.

Other options outlined at yesterday's forum included prohibition with
the exception of allowing cannabis use for medicinal purposes, giving
the police the option of issuing formal cautions or referring users to
drug education, and complete legalisation.

The wide-ranging review will look at strategies to minimise the harm
associated with cannabis as well as the drug's legal status. But
progress on legislative change is expected to be slow and unlikely to
happen until after the next election.

At yesterday's forum, Brother Pat Lynch from the Catholic Education
Office spoke against any law reform. He said New Zealand must not
descend into a "cannabis fog" that would rob its young people of their
health and wellbeing.

Former Youth Affairs Minister and member of the Coalition for Cannabis
Law Reform Deborah Morris said prohibition would do more harm than
moderate marijuana use.

She said prohibition created a climate of fear by isolating and
victimising users, especially young people and Maori.

She said it also wasted taxpayer money by attempting to enforce an
unenforceable law.