CLARK FAVOURS RELAXING DRUG LAW

Labour leader Helen Clark is in favour of the decriminalisation of
cannabis but it is not Labour Party policy. A spokesman said yesterday
that her remarks to a Victoria University student forum on Wednesday
were a personal view, and Labour treated the cannabis issue as a
conscience matter.

Miss Clark told students it was time to relax drug law, and that she
favoured a move to the instant fine system that operated in South
Australia. She believed that allowed cannabis to be dealt with as a
health issue, rather than a criminal matter.

New Zealand First youth affairs spokesman Brian Donnelly labelled Miss
Clark's stance "irresponsible". NZ First believed a referendum should be
held on the
issue, he said.