MP, CARTOONIST AGREE DRUG-USE EDUCATION VITAL

WELLINGTON -- While their views on drug use are different, Rastafarian Green
MP Nandor Tanczos and cartoonist and anti-drug campaigner Tom Scott agree
the cannabis laws are not working.

They say education of young people on the effects of drug use is vital.

The pair were interviewed by BBC reporter Julian Pettifer for a Crossing
Continents programme on BBC Radio 4 to be broadcast in Britain on March 9.

Programme producer Rosie Goldsmith said there was considerable interest in
the cannabis debate and what was happening in New Zealand. "It's such a big
debate in our country. Here (in New Zealand) it's much more advanced. In
Britain ... (Prime Minister Tony) Blair and the Government won't talk about
it in Parliament. You have a Prime Minister here (who) supports partial
decriminalisation."

Mr Tanczos said he was not surprised at the international interest in the
debate.

"There is a global awareness that prohibition has failed as a policy and we
need to find more sensible policies, on cannabis particularly.

"I think a lot of people will be watching this country because we have been
a world leader in so many things," he said.

Everyone who wanted to smoke cannabis in New Zealand did so and control
needed to be taken out of the hands of organised criminals and given to
responsible people, he said.

But Scott said lowering the threat or danger associated with drugs would
lead to a rise in their use. Decriminalisation without a massive education
campaign would be dangerous. If attempts were made today to introduce
nicotine and alcohol -- both legal substances -- they would fail because of
the health risks.

As well as recording the debate between Mr Tanczos and Scott, Pettifer was
to interview Prime Minister Helen Clark, National Party leader Jenny Shipley
and others around the country, starting in Coromandel which has a high
percentage of Green voters.