COMMUNITY IS URGED TO ENGAGE ON DRUG ISSUE

OUR politicians shy away from talking about cannabis because there is
less political mileage in pot than P and party pills - but that
should not stop us taking the issue seriously as a community.

That view by executive director of the New Zealand Drug Foundation
Ross Bell has garnered support from men and women who sort out the
problems that come from the amount of the drug grown and smoked in
the Tairawhiti district.

The issue has been raised by the foundation to get it back on the
agenda after four years of silence by politicians, Mr Ross says in an
article in today's Gisborne Herald.

It is this engagement with the issue within our community that will
free people from problematic drug use, says Nigal McRoberts, the unit
manager of Awhina House, Gisborne's main drug treatment facility.

"It's about how we voice our concern and work out why people do not
see what a problem cannabis is in our community.

"Mr Bell is right to say we need to get the issue back on the table -
we need to have a really good debate around how people feel about
cannabis and we need for it to start pretty much immediately.

"We need people like Meng Foon, Nona Aston, a few doctors, community
leaders with a few clues to all join in and be vocal about the issue
so people understand that the debate is coming from within our
community. We can make a thousand programmes but, unless there is
discussion from within the community about what is needed and how it
is accessed, it's of limited use."

Our questioning of the Ministers of Health and Justice and spokesmen
in the Labour, National and Green Parties has drawn just one response
after a day and a half - National's health spokesman, Tony Ryall.

"The National Party does not support decriminalisation of cannabis -
we are concerned about the social and health consequences of this drug.

"There is no doubt that drug rehabilitation in NZ needs greater
priority, but this view does not extend to legalising cannabis."

He cited the recent front-page apology by The Independent on Sunday
newspaper in Britain this year for its 10-year campaign to legalise cannabis.

"There are now more than 22,000 people a year, almost half under the
age of 18, being treated for cannabis addiction in Britain.