GREENS TAKE FRESH AIM AT CANNABIS LAW REFORM

The Greens are relaunching their campaign for cannabis law reform
ahead of a parliamentary report on the drug.

The health select committee has been considering the health effects of
cannabis since late 2000 and is expected to issue its findings in the
near future.

At the time of the committee hearings Green MP Nandor Tanczos was
hoping that the findings would stimulate a national debate leading
eventually to some form of decriminalisation.

However, his hopes were dashed when United Future signed an agreement
with Labour after last year's election to support the Government on
crucial votes and in exchange for no loosening of drug laws.

Mr Tanczos, who says he regularly smokes cannabis as part of his
Rastafarian religion, is still hoping that public opinion will swing
behind the need for reform.

"We need to control cannabis in an effective way. When you look at the
evidence it is clear that the current prohibition does not reduce
cannabis abuse, does not limit underage use and by criminalising
moderate adult users it creates significant problems of its own."

He said there was a great deal of misinformation about cannabis and
the report would lay out the facts.

"We need to treat personal use of cannabis as a health issue, not a
crime."

The long-running inquiry survived last year's election after
speculation the new health select committee might shelve it.

The inquiry was started in late 2000 into the most effective public
health and health promotion strategies to minimise the use of and harm
associated with cannabis, and decide the most appropriate legal status
for it.

The inquiry received more than 550 submissions.