LEGALISING CANNABIS FOR MEDICINAL PURPOSES COULD LEAD TO WIDESPREAD ABUSE

Legalising cannabis for medicinal purposes would be the thin end of
the wedge towards increasing drug use in New Zealand, according to a
former detective who now manages a drug education company.

And Dale Kirk, managing director of MethCon, said taking a softer
line on drug offenders would do more harm than good.

A wide-ranging review of New Zealand drug laws recommends taking
steps towards legalising cannabis for medicinal use, cutting criminal
charges against low-level drug offenders and introducing new
regulations stopping production of party pills.

But Mr Kirk - who bought MethCon from National Party Northland
electorate candidate Mike Sabin, of Mangonui - said while legalising
cannabis for medicinal purposes would provide pain relief for some,
it would lead to widespread abuse by others.

"I think we'd see people suddenly developing medical problems to
source the drug," Mr Kirk said.

"I think any moves to liberalise cannabis laws are not necessarily
beneficial to the overall community, particularly young people. I
think anything that makes it easier for young people to get their
hands on drugs is not helpful."

The Law Commission review released last week proposes a complete
overhaul of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1975 governing prosecution of
drug offences in New Zealand.

It advocates Government-backed clinical trials testing the medicinal
benefits of cannabis "as soon as practicable".

Police should not prosecute those whose cannabis use is to relieve
pain or manage symptoms of debilitating illness until those trials
are carried out, the review says.

The review also proposes diverting minor drug offenders through a
cautioning system instead of the courts.

And it calls for new laws stopping the production of drugs such as
party pills until they are proven safe.

Mr Kirk said synthetic alternatives made the argument for the
medicinal use of cannabis redundant, while a cautioning system for
minor drug offenders would be like "a slap on the hand with a wet bus ticket".

He suggested a system of instant fines and demerit points would
better serve police and the wider community.

"I guess to be fair, not a lot of people get charged with small-time
possession these days, but I think for the sake of formalising the
system and freeing up police resources it would be a good thing."

Mr Kirk was, however, enthusiastic about the proposal to revert the
onus of responsibility for party pill safety from the Ministry of
Health to the manufacturers.

Associate Health Minister Peter Dunne has welcomed the report - but
says the Government will need time to consider its recommendations.

"The existing act fails to adequately address the rapidly expanding
market for new psychoactive substances, such as party pills and
smokeable products."

Drug law reform organisation NORML acting president Phil Saxby said
Law Commission proposals were good in some areas, such as medicinal
cannabis, but were limited on wider issues.

"With 400,000 cannabis users every year, and one of the world's
highest arrest rates for cannabis offences, it's clear the commission
understands that prohibition policies are stretched to breaking
point," Mr Saxby said.

NORML wanted to promote drug law reform discussion over the next few
months to make it a hot topic for the election.

"We will challenge all candidates to say where they stand on the main
recommendations of the Law Commission report."