MP DEFENDS CONTINUED SMOKING OF CANNABIS

WELLINGTON -- Dreadlocked Green MP Nandor Tanczos has defended his decision
to keep smoking cannabis despite it being against the law, after coming
under pressure from Justice Minister Phil Goff.

Mr Goff said last night that Mr Tanczos had the right to argue for a change
in cannabis laws but as an MP he should abide by the law.

"If you are a member of Parliament and you help create the law then you have
that extra responsibility to abide by it," he said.

"Nandor may disagree with the law but it remains the law for the time being
and I would counsel him strongly against doing anything deliberately to
break the law.

"If you break the law that you set because you don't like it, what message
does that give to everybody else?" Mr Goff said if Mr Tanczos was found in
possession of a large amount of cannabis - more than 38g - he could be
convicted of an offence that would result in him losing his place in
Parliament.

But Mr Tanczos said cannabis laws were not working, and had not prevented
people from smoking cannabis in larger numbers.

"We do have a huge drug abuse problem. The message that you use cannabis
occasionally, moderately, and responsibly - that's good role modelling for
our young people."

He repeated his assurance that he would not use cannabis while on
parliamentary duties.

It was "interesting" that cannabis use was seen as scandalous when people
accepted members of Parliament making decisions "over a couple of whiskeys
at Bellamys".