Govt Review On Cannabis Likely Soon

The Government will review the legal status of cannabis this term of
Parliament, Health Minister Annette King says.

If the review recommended decriminalising cannabis, legislation would
almost certainly be dealt with by a conscience vote, Ms King said yesterday.

While Labour was not committed to decriminalisation, it supported the
recommendation of the health select committee inquiry last year into
the mental health effects of cannabis - that its legal status should
be reviewed, Ms King said.

The Health Ministry would prepare a paper on the matter for her,
hopefully this year.

"It has not been on the immediate horizon because of other priorities,
but in this term of Government we will certainly review it."

In January, Ms King and Justice Minister Phil Goff were briefed by
health and police officials from South Australia, where cannabis for
personal use was dealt with by "expiation notices".

Personal use there was punished by instant fines of $75 to $100, and
offenders did not receive criminal convictions.

"They have had it for 10 years and it has worked well," Ms King
said.

"I sat through all the hearings on the select committee and there was
some pretty powerful evidence that the criminal status, the legal
status, of marijuana was also seen to be a cause of one of the
problems that young people have," she said.

"With mental health problems it was seen to have caused a lot of
pressure on young people. There was seen to be a double standard by
older people who drink and smoke, but tell them they shouldn't smoke
marijuana," Ms King said.

Prime Minister Helen Clark said she favoured partial
decriminalisation, and said high-profile cases where parliamentary
staff were suspected of smoking cannabis highlighted the need for change.

Ms Clark said current laws bred disrespect for the law and imposed
punishment out of proportion to the crime. Legislation decriminalising
cannabis could win the support of Parliament.

National Health spokesman Wyatt Creech said National had previously
taken a conservative line on cannabis, but was reviewing its policy.
Its caucus would invite people with a range of views to talk to them
about the issue before forming a policy.

Mr Creech said National did not want to send a soft message, but
instant fines without criminal convictions might be a more appropriate
way of dealing with cannabis.

NZ First MP Ron Mark, who has called for compulsory cannabis testing
of all MPs and their staff, said NZ First MPs would all vote against
proposed legislation to decriminalise cannabis.

The Green Party supports legalisation of possession of cannabis for
personal use by adults.

The Alliance supports the select committee recommendation, and wants
public debate on the issue.

ACT justice spokesman Stephen Franks said ACT was still working
through several issues before deciding its policy on cannabis.