NOT PARTY TO CANNABIS KEEP IT ILLEGAL, SAYS CLEVEDON MP

The National Party opposes legalising cannabis as a health committee
report recommends the drug be used for medicinal purposes.

An all-of-government approach is essential to ensure quality, accurate
health messages about cannabis use, the health committee report found.

The committee made several recommendations about the most appropriate
strategies, following an inquiry on the public health impact.

These include ongoing funding of community action programmes and
integrating drug and alcohol education into the health curriculum.

The committee recommended that the government support the prescription
of clinically tested cannabis products for medicinal purposes.

"This drug should remain illegal," said National's associate health
spokesperson and Clevedon MP Judith Collins.

"The cannabis inquiry examined the most appropriate health strategies
and legal status.

"National believes the issue has been fully canvassed and there are no
grounds for considering the legal status, or the use of search without
warrant powers."

Ms Collins said cannabis has been shown to be harmful to the physical
and mental health of individuals, especially youth.

"The only legitimate use of the components that may relieve pain or
nausea would be in the form of a capsule or spray.

"These would have to go through all the usual processes used to
register a drug, for example in the way that the pain relief morphine
does."

No general practitioners or pharmacists would talk to the Times on the
matter.