CANNABIS LAW REVIEW DISCUSSED BY PARTIES

Wellington: The Government is discussing with the Green Party which
parliamentary committee should hold a review of cannabis laws.

Health Minister Annette King said yesterday she had held "useful" meetings
with Green MPs on the issue.

Mrs King wants Parliament's health committee to hold the review but Green
MP Nandor Tanczos wants it carried out by the justice committee.

Both committees contain MPs from most parties in Parliament.

The National Party has said it does not want to take part in the review
and, that if the Government wants to change the law, it should put a
proposal before Parliament.

Mrs King said the review should consider health, social and justice issues
relating to cannabis laws.

She said almost 70% of New Zealanders had smoked cannabis by the age of 21,
which showed the current laws were not working.

The Government has made a commitment to review the laws but has not made a
commitment to changes.

Any changes proposed by a review are likely to be put to a conscience vote
in Parliament.

"We need to look at whether we need to change the law, to strengthen the
law and to minimise harm from this drug," Mrs King said.

"Before you make any change, doesn't it make sense to do a review to see if
you need change?"

She said she was not too concerned about which committee held the review,
as long as politicians dealt with it rather than putting their heads in the
sand.