CORONER SAVAGES PRO-DRUG LEADERS

Ecstasy Death Verdict

Auckland's coroner yesterday attacked pro-cannabis politicians, challenging
them to attend inquests to see the damage drugs cause.

Coroner Mate Frankovich made the comments while finding that top Northland
surfer Jamie Langridge died from a huge Ecstasy dose.

He warned politicians to think again before decriminalising cannabis.

Mr Frankovich found that 24year-old Mr Langridge, who died at a Pakatoa
Island dance party on March 4, had five times as much Ecstasy in his blood
as the country's first Ecstasy victim in 1998.

"It would appear some young people of today feel it necessary to inoculate
themselves against what they perceive are the evils of sobriety," he said.

"I feel sure that some of our parliamentarians might revise their towards
the one of the use of marijuana ... if they were to attend a few inquests."

Green MP Nandor Tanczos rejected the coroner's comment as 'weird logic".

He said he could not understand why Mr Frankovich was linking cannabis
reform with an Ecstasy death.

"It's a bit like saying drink driving is dangerous, therefore we should ban
cycling."

Mr Tanczos agreed Ecstasy could dangerous, and said education was crucial
for the "large numbers" of people who regularly used it.

The coroner said Mr Langridge had .58mg of Ecstasy per 'litre of blood in
his system when he collapsed and died.

His death was New Zealand's second Ecstasy-related fatality. In October
1988, Ngaire O'Neill died after taking the drug at a Karangahape Rd,
Auckland, nightclub.

Mr Frankovich found Mr Langridge, a Whangarei builder, died as a result of
taking five times more Ecstasy than Ngaire O'Neill had taken.

The inquest was told Mr Langridge was one of about 400 people who went to
the all-night dance party on Pakatoa.

Mr Langridge drank liquor at the party. About 2am, he went to the men's
toilets. His legs collapsed beneath him and he hit his head on a concrete
path.

His pupils were dilated, his pulse was rapid and he was not breathing. Soon
after, his pulse stopped.

St John first aid staff tried to revive him, and paramedics arrived at
2.35am. They gave up at 3am after Mr Langridge failed to respond to their
efforts.

Police investigations into the death included photographing everyone at the
party. But they were unable to find who supplied Mr Langridge with Ecstasy
or any evidence of drug use throughout the night.

Sergeant Lance Burdett told the inquest Mr Langridge had a pre-disposition
towards cannabis use.

Mr Langridge's father, Laurie, last night said he did not go to the inquest
because he couldn't afford the day off.

"It's not going to help Jamie at all by going there...We just miss our son
and we just know we're never going to get him back."