DOPE INQUIRY ASIDE, STATUS QUO TO STAY

Cannabis laws look unlikely to be relaxed, despite a parliamentary inquiry
encouraging the Government to review its existing policy.

Just weeks before the Government response to the health select committee
report is expected, the Minister of Police, Clem Simich, has indicated that
no changes to the cannabis laws are in the pipeline.

The committee's report in December recommended that the Government
reconsider the legal status of the drug because it was "clear that current
policies do not deter cannabis use to any great extent."

It stopped one step short of calling for the decriminalisation of cannabis.

The Government's response is due on March 17, but Mr Simich told Parliament
yesterday that no changes were planned.

To a question from Mauri Pacific MP Tukoroirangi Morgan on whether there
were any moves to alter the Government's cannabis policy, Mr Simich answered
"no."

"I am probably more aware than any other member in this House of the dangers
of the use of marijuana, and I have always said that it's a matter that
needs to be looked at," said Mr Simich, a former policeman.

"We need to do a lot more, and we intend to do a lot more in terms of
encouraging and counselling and all sorts of other measures to make sure
that New Zealanders minimise the use of this awful drug."

Mr Simich faced questioning over his stance in favour of decriminalisation,
which is at odds with the position of the Prime Minister, Jenny Shipley, and
other National MPs.

He said there was no split in the Government on the issue, and that his
position was a personal one.

The 10-member committee studied the effects of cannabis on mental health and
concluded that these had been overstated and that moderate use of the drug
did not harm most people.