MPS UNITE TO FIGHT CHANGES

MPs from all sides of politics have joined forces in a last-ditch bid
to block the State Government's drug law reforms.

The MPs, united under the banner Parliamentarians for Drug Prevention,
are led by Opposition education spokesman, Mr Stephen O'Doherty. They
have held several meetings to plan the fight against the proposed reforms.

A series of seminars, rallies and conferences are being organised to
take place before Parliament reconvenes on September 7.

This week the group invited the vocal anti-cannabis campaigner, Dr
John Anderson, to address them at Parliament in a bid to increase
opposition to the proposed trial of a police cautioning system for
small-time marijuana offenders. Mr O'Doherty said they also had the
support of several key anti-drug campaigners, including the Salvation
Army's Major Brian Watters and Ms Jill Pearman from Drug Watch Australia.

He said the Government's drug reform agenda would bring fundamental
change to NSW, which would "increase the harm from drugs in our community".

"People do not want to see an increase in the use of marijuana,
methadone widely distributed from local chemist shops, or our police
made to turn a blind eye to heroin use," he said.

"There is a lot of opposition to the plans that have been brought
forward by Bob Carr and John Della Bosca and we have an opportunity to
work towards stopping these plans."

Mr O'Doherty said MPs from both major parties as well as minor parties
and independents had expressed interest in listening to speakers
organised by the group.

These included a former ALP minister now a backbencher, a Central
Coast Labor MP, the anti-tobacco campaigner and Democrat MLC, Dr
Arthur Chesterfield Evans, Rev Fred Nile, and Dubbo Independent Mr
Tony McGrane as well as a "raft of country members".

"There will be a significant public seminar during the sitting week
here in the Parliament so MPs can have contact with arguments that
were not well put at the summit," Mr O'Doherty said.

"For example, we believe that that there needs to be an education
campaign for GPs into the effects of cannabis in relation to ... the
prescription of anti-depressants.

"It seems that from what John Anderson told us, cannabis inhibits the
breakdown of anti-depressants in the liver.

"So, when a young person [who is using cannabis] is depressed, goes to
the doctor and is prescribed a dose of anti-depressants, the GP
doesn't know they are using cannabis." The body did not break down the
anti-depressant as it should, sometimes with severe toxic effects, in
extreme cases resulting in death.

The effects of cannabis were not fully understood, Mr O'Doherty said,
and the reforms could make the drug more freely available, and
increase its level of acceptability among young people.