YOUTH MPS VOTE AGAINST CANNABIS BILL

Three Christchurch youth MPs who voted for decriminalising cannabis are
likely to get an early lesson on taking the heat after speaking out on
their views.

The three were among 120 young people who replaced their adult MPs for
two days in Wellington where, in a surprising move, the Youth
Parliament voted against a mock Cannabis (Partial Decriminalisation for
Personal Use) Bill by 69-47.

The three said most young people supported partial decriminalisation
but voted against the bill because of technical problems, including
because it was badly worded.

"Mrs Shipley will probably spew," said her representative, Heath
Walters, 17.

He said present laws were clearly not working and change was needed.

Courtenay Mackie, 17, who represented Green MP Rod Donald, said: "Watch
my principal hit the roof."

Miss Mackie said she voted in favour of decriminalisation because it
could initiate debate on a serious issue.

While young people should not be allowed to smoke it, cannabis should
be treated the same as tobacco and alcohol, she said.

Sam McGoldrick, 18, said he supported decriminalisation because
experimenting was part of growing up. Teenagers should not have to
carry a conviction for the rest of their lives because of a youthful
fling with cannabis.