SHARING JOINTS MAY RISK DISEASE

SHARING cannabis joints could risk spreading meningitis and other diseases,
Health Minister Bill English has warned.

In response to a question from Labour MP Tim Barnett, Mr English said the
Health Ministry had not conducted research into the risks of sharing joints.
But it had warned that some viruses and bacteria could be spread by saliva.

"One of the messages of the current meningococcal awareness programme is 'don't
share spit', and this would apply to the sharing of any form of cigarette or
joint," Mr English said.

In response to further questions from Mr Barnett, Police Minister Jack Elder
said police spent nearly $20 million in the 1996-97 year enforcing cannabis
laws.

During the year nearly 109,000 prosecutions were started for cannabis offences
and 923,000 police hours were spent on investigations and prosecutions.

Based on $70 an hour for police time, this was an average of $593 for each
prosecution.

Checked-by: Ghamal de la Guardia