COMMENTS ON P THE 'HEIGHT OF HYPOCRISY'

Calls by Green MP Nandor Tanczos for police to ease up on cannabis law
enforcement to concentrate on P (methamphetamine) are a new height in
hypocrisy, United Future leader Peter Dunne says.

"Are there no depths to which he will not stoop to promote his
pro-cannabis obsession?" Mr Dunne said.

"He's suddenly concerned about P? Where was his concern, and that of
his Green colleagues, when they alone block-voted to oppose P being
reclassified as a Class A drug earlier this year?

"It is simply disgraceful."

Mr Tanczos had ignored the fact that it is beyond dispute that
cannabis is a 'gateway' to harder drugs such as P, Mr Dunne said.

Only the Greens voted against the Misuse of Drugs (Changes to
Controlled Substances) Order which contained the reclassification of
methamphetamine.

Mr Tanczos said at the time he was extremely concerned about the use
of P but reclassifying it was not the answer.

"The solution lies in reducing demand, through education and
treatment, and reducing supply by targeting precursor drugs such as
pseudoephedrine," he said.

"Raising the penalties would not achieve this.

"No more speed labs will be busted as a result of this move and no new
treatment centres will be opened. This is just window dressing."

Progressive Coalition MP Matt Robson said the Green Party's continual
push for the decriminalisation of cannabis was sending the wrong
message to young people on the use of dangerous drugs.

"The Greens' suggestion that police resources should be directed away
from cannabis to methamphetamine is risible," he said.

"Who so they think is selling methamphetamine? The cannabis
supermarkets are becoming P supermarkets and I wouldn't be surprised
if a few have photos of their favourite MP on the wall for his efforts
to create more customers.

"P suppliers and cannabis suppliers are the same drug-pushing
low-lifes and we should stand up to them, not humour them."