CRASH CORONER SPEAKS OUT AGAINST LEGALISING CANNABIS

Nelson coroner Ian Smith has waded into the debate about the dangers of
legalising cannabis, following the death of a man in a car crash, saying he
has a "clear and deep belief" it should not be legalised.

At an inquest on Monday, Mr Smith said the alcohol level of bushman Daniel
John Russell, 28, was twice the legal limit and he had smoked cannabis in
the four hours before his death.

Mr Russell died on March 28, a short time after he drove his vehicle into
the Soldiers' Memorial gates on Main Rd, Tapawera, 51km southwest of
Motueka, at 4.30am.

He was not wearing his seatbelt and had 192mg of alcohol per 100ml of
blood. The legal limit is 80mg.

Mr Russell was trapped in the vehicle and died at the scene.

Detective Sergeant Mark Kaveney said that on the day before Mr Russell was
thought to have attended the Richmond Speedway with friends.

He then went to the Kohatu Hotel, where he was described as "talkative,
chatty and in a happy mood" and "pissed but not paralytic".

No one saw him leave in his vehicle some time after 1.30am.

However, a friend, Zachary Tate, said Mr Russell arrived at his home at
Elms Cottage shortly after he returned from the hotel. The men drank beer,
then Mr Russell said he was leaving.

Attempts by Mr Tate and his flatmates to take Mr Russell's car keys and
talk him into staying the night were unsuccessful.

Mr Smith said he would be asking why the hotel did not have a courtesy van.

"Clearly your son was very, very drunk," he said to Mr Russell's parents.
"The number of times people die from alcohol combined with cannabis - I
have seen it too many times.

"We have this great debate going on as to whether we should legalise
cannabis and I have a very clear and deep belief we should not."

Mr Smith ruled that Mr Russell died when he suffered multiple injuries in a
car accident.