DO NOT DISMISS INFORMED LOGAN

Sir-The alarm bells of every parent in New Zealand should be ringing about
Nandor Tanczos' letter (March 1). His casual dismissal of Bruce Logan's
informed opinion (February 28), from a parent's viewpoint on
decriminalisation of cannabis, is deeply disturbing.

Mr Tanczos' statement that "Bruce Logan's opinion column adds nothing
constructive to the debate" is shocking. For a sitting MP to deny the
importance of parents expressing our serious concerns on drug issues
affecting our children is unacceptable and contemptible.

Wake up, Mr Tanczos; keeping our children drug-free is the debate.

His cynical attempt to make his viewpoint more palatable with the
concession that "any law change needs to go hand in hand with drug
education" rings very hollow. In this brave new world, faced with
increasing drug use and minimal government funding of drug education, his
is nothing but a con job.

KENT DEITEMEYER
Chairman
PRYDE-Hugs Not Drugs
March 2, 2000