MARIJUANA LAW

Sir - Last week on our national radio I was amazed to hear that the New
Zealand Government was considering trying the South Australian experience by
allowing marijuana to be grown for personal use.

The experiment has seen South Australia become the drug capital of
Australia. It is now grown as a cash crop by individuals with sophisticated
pick-up systems by the larger criminal gangs. This has seen reports of
swapping marijuana for amphetamines etc. The number of drug-related
robberies are so far out of control with the most worrying being home
invasions.

These have caused such an effect on the community that the public forced the
Government to change the law to put in place stronger penalties for these
home invaders.

From someone who is living with the experiment all I can say is that it is
in your best interests to do something before it is too late.

Phillip Richardson, Marleston, South Australia