CANNABIS REVIEW STRIKES HITCHES

The Government's promised review of the legal status of cannabis has run
into problems over its failure to reach agreement on how the revamp should
be conducted.

Prime Minister Helen Clark said yesterday that the review was necessary, but
the Government had struck problems, including the terms of reference and
whether a select committee had broad enough powers to handle the review.

Two years ago, the health select committee voted unanimously to review
cannabis laws but the matter has since rolled on without being addressed.
The Government has said it intends to complete the review in its first term
in office.

A UMR Insight poll, conducted on behalf of The Dominion, found widespread
support across the political spectrum for softening cannabis laws, with 60
per cent favouring either decriminalising or legalising the drug.

Miss Clark, who favours instant fines for personal cannabis use, said the
review should be undertaken by the health select committee.

"We accepted the recommendation of the health select committee … that there
should be a review of the legal status of cannabis. And there should be, but
we're just having a little difficulty getting cooperation in the terms of
reference."

Problems struck included whether the health select committee had a wide
enough scope to conduct the review, which covered ground a canvassed by the
justice and electoral or law and order select committees, Miss Clark said.

She did not believe the issue was one of the more pressing for the
Government.

"I wouldn't rate it terribly highly as a priority, there are one or two
other things to do."

Health Minister Annette King declared herself unavailable to speak on the
subject, and health select committee chairwoman Judy Keall declined to
comment, saying she did not want to speak, if Miss Clark had commented.