JUDY TURNER: ONLY PROBLEM WITH DOPE IS THOSE WHO WANT TO SMOKE IT

The article by Green Party drugs spokesman Nandor Tanczos expressed the hope
that justice and civil rights issues would be at the forefront of any
developments in our drug law. For the uninitiated, that is Green code for
legalise cannabis no matter what the devastation.

However, one might well ask Mr Tanczos, justice for whom precisely? And whose
civil rights is he so determined to protect?

Recreational drug-users, perhaps? Rastafarian MPs? Or the 6-year-olds selling
dope in Northland schools? Or the teenagers whose motivation is being drained
and opportunities for a fulfilling life stolen as they become the third
generation of cannabis-users in their families?

Or perhaps he's looking to the interests of the rural communities ravaged by
the social costs of the cannabis epidemic inflicted upon them, compounding the
other problems they face?

All of these tragic cases were put to Parliament's health select committee,
which delivered its report on cannabis last week. And, equally, all of those
cases were ignored by Mr Tanczos in his Pollyanna-like spin on the report.

The man from the party that can spot a genetically modified corn kernel from 50
paces apparently cannot see the devastation wreaked by this drug - even when it
was presented for his benefit by submission after submission.

There are none so blind ...

If the Greens' reading of the evidence in the select committee report was mired
in a fug of pro-cannabis prejudice, one can only look on in appalled amazement
at the consistency of their overall pro-drug advocacy.

And look at it we must, if there is to be any attempt to understand the flawed
logic that prevails because it poses a huge threat to the wellbeing of
individuals and families, and moves well beyond cannabis.

The Greens who want cannabis legalised are the same Greens who just three
months ago stood alone among the parties in Parliament in opposing P being
listed as a Class A drug. And in refusing to take action against the drug that
has quite literally fuelled murderous rampages in this country, Mr Tanczos and
the Greens forfeited the last vestiges of any credibility they might have had
on drug issues.

The simple truth is that the Greens run a pro-drugs agenda. They dress it up in
many ways - justice and civil rights, according to Mr Tanczos. They use words
such as "responsible" and "moderate" and "harm minimisation". And they blithely
ignore volumes of evidence that doesn't suit them.

It is as dangerous and irresponsible an agenda as one can find on the political
scene today because it damages human lives. It is as simple as that.

It is an agenda that allows Mr Tanczos to solemnly tell the nation that
cannabis is not a gateway to harder drugs, and that, in fact, prohibition is
the gateway. Never mind that research without fail tells us that the journey of
almost every user of hard drugs began with cannabis use. Never mind that
everyone who knows someone involved in hard drugs knows this to be true.

Cannabis being illegal is the root of the problem, he tells us. Well, it is not
the problem. Frankly, it is only a problem for Mr Tanczos and others like him
who wish to smoke it.

And long may it remain illegal, for the price that this country and so many of
its young citizens would pay for recreational drug-users to legally light up in
the comfort of their living rooms is simply too high.

It is for reasons such as these that United Future will continue to stand
against the legalisation of cannabis through this parliamentary term and
beyond. No party with an interest in the wellbeing of the family could do
otherwise.