POT ISSUE DIVIDES SCHOOLS AND MINISTER

Secondary schools principals are taking a strong stand against any easing
of cannabis laws, putting them at odds with Education Minister Trevor Mallard.

Principals at a conference in Queenstown were shocked to hear Mr Mallard
say he supported partial decriminalisation.

They say cannabis renders children in their classrooms red-eyed and drowsy,
with slurred speech, an inability to concentrate and little interest in
learning.

Mr Mallard said: "I do not support legalisation of the drug. But neither do
I want young people to be landed with a criminal record for the rest of
their lives if they are caught with a bit of cannabis in their teenage
years, and I feel partial decriminalisation would address this issue."

The president of the Secondary School Principals Association, Tom Robson,
said that drug use was community-wide, but schools were being left to carry
the can.

Cambridge High School principal Alison Annan's biggest concern was whether
the difference between decriminalisation and legalisation would be clear to
teens.

"They do insist it would be illegal for children under the age of 18, which
I think is absolutely essential. I'm not sure how we can have faith in the
strength of that by itself."

Takapuna Grammar principal Paul Daley said young people would see
decriminalisation as justification for their drug use, exacerbating
existing problems. It could also put added pressure on those who say "no"
to say "yes."

The problem was increasing, particularly among third and fourth formers. "I
see it in my school now with young people who have little desire for
learning and no appreciation of the consequences."

Two weeks ago, five students were suspended. One, a fourth former, was
caught dealing in the school grounds to finance his own habit.

Students in the Far North, where cannabis farming contributes greatly to
the local economy, are at the greatest risk from drugs.

Kamo High School principal Richard Abel said that when parliamentarians
such as Green MP Nandor Tanczos openly supported using illegal drugs, it
made the schools' job even harder.

Mr Tanczos said he could understand the principals' concerns, but
prohibition was not working. Decriminalisation would let the Government
spend more money on drug education and rehabilitation rather than prosecutions.

He said if young people were better educated, they might put off trying
cannabis until they were older.