SHIPLEY REITERATES CANNABIS STANCE

National Party leader Jenny Shipley yesterday confirmed she had never tried
recreational drugs and reiterated her stance against legalising cannabis.

Mrs Shipley was speaking at Rongo-Atea residential alcohol and drug
treatment service in Hamilton.

Rongo-Atea was the best drug and alcohol centre she had seen, she said.

Rongo-Atea offers drug and alcohol rehabilitation in a structured,
seven-days-a-week programme lasting between 16 weeks and one year.

It houses four people at a time but may expand at Kirikiriroa Marae.

Legalisation of cannabis is expected to come before Parliament in this
parliamentary term.

Mrs Shipley said the diet and exercise programme she'd adopted since
suffering heart problems earlier this year was going well.