HEMP CLAIMS COURT RULING WILL ENHANCE DISRESPECT FOR DRUGS

The Help End Marijuana Prohibition (HEMP) movement says the outcome of a
court case where students failed to overturn suspensions for using cannabis
is likely to engender more disrespect for the drug laws.

Four students from Maclean, on the New South Wales north coast, went to the
Supreme Court claiming a suspension handed down by the high school principal
would adversely affect their education.

But Justice Barry O'Keefe ruled the case needed to be dealt with seriously.
Michael Balderstone of the Nimbin HEMP Embassy says the penalty is
draconian.

"Fifty per cent of young people have smoked or certainly tried pot," he
said.

"I wish that we would bring it all out in the open, treat drugs as a health
issue and encourage people not to experiment until their bodies have grown.

"But while it's illegal, this forbidden fruit syndrome is really powerful I
think. Better we ban muesli bars."