MORE KIWIS SAY NO TO CANNABIS

New Zealanders have made a U-turn on relaxing cannabis laws, with
only one in five people now supporting liberalisation.

Research issued yesterday by the Drug Foundation shows that just 19
per cent want cannabis laws liberalised, down from 60 per cent in 2000.

Its use is banned under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1975.

The UMR Research study shows 46 per cent of the population want no
change to cannabis laws, and 34 per cent want laws to be made
tougher. Wellington scored highest, with 55 per cent of people polled
wanting existing laws to remain.

Drug Foundation executive director Ross Bell said that as statistics
indicated more than half of New Zealanders had tried cannabis, and
one in eight regularly used the drug, it was time to re-examine the issue.

"Politicians are happy to spend a lot of time on party pills and P
because they know they have the public onside. They don't want to
talk about cannabis, because it's not seen as a vote-winning issue."

He said there were numerous issues relating to cannabis use that
needed serious consideration,including the effects on health of
smoking the drug, links with mental illness, high use by school
pupils, medicinal use and driving under the influence of cannabis.

Mr Bell said the foundation was taking a neutral stance on the issue
of decriminalisation, as it often polarised the debate.

Chris Wilkins, a senior drug researcher at Massey University's Centre
for Social and Health Outcomes Research and Evaluation, said a survey
in 2006 of people aged 15 to 45 found 58 per cent had tried cannabis
and 18 per cent had used it in the past year. "It's by far the most
commonly used illegal drug."

But Associate Health Minister Jim Anderton said though
methamphetamine and BZP party pills had been the main source of
public concern in recent years, the Government had not put cannabis
in the too-hard basket.

New Zealanders had become worryingly complacent about cannabis and a
concerted effort by government and communities was needed to minimise
its harm, he said.

But Dr Wilkins said there was evidence to suggest the rates of
cannabis use were falling.

The increased availability of amphetamine and ecstasy was providing
drug users with alternatives, which were more consistent with current
social values, he said.

Cannabis was seen as a Sixties drug and many of today's professionals
had taken more stimulant-type drugs, that enabled them to work and
party longer.

TOUGHER LAWS

UMR Research findings issued by the NZ Drug Foundation. Sample size:
750. Make the law a lot tougher - 25 per cent Make the law tougher -
9 per cent (Total "tougher" = 34 per cent) Make the law more liberal
- - 8 per cent Make the law a lot more liberal - 11 per cent (Total
"more liberal" - 19 per cent) Make no change to the current law - 46
per cent Unsure - 1 per cent