GOVT IN NO HURRY TO CONSIDER CHANGING CANNABIS LAWS

The Government has again ruled out changing the legal status of
cannabis and says it is up to Parliament's justice committee to make a
recommendation - if it wants to.

Associate Health Minister Jim Anderton today released the Government's
response to the health committee's report on the status of cannabis,
which was issued in August after a three-year inquiry.

The health committee made several recommendations covering cannabis
issues but it did not recommend on the legal status of the drug.

Mr Anderton said the justice committee should consider that, but he
made it clear the Government was not in a hurry.

"I believe the justice committee's priorities should be directed to
more serious and pressing issues," he said.

"That is up to the committee to decide."