CANNABIS 'COFFEE SHOPS' SAID TO BE COMING TO NZ

SECRET and illegal cannabis "coffee shops" seen overseas could be operating
in New Zealand within a few years, cannabis law reformers say.

National Organisation for Reform of Marijuana Laws (Norml) spokesman Chris
Fowlie said yesterday it was not a case of "if" cannabis coffee shops would
open in New Zealand but "when".

Typical drug cafes in Britain involve a "dealer" selling cannabis on the
shop floor, but the establishment itself does have drugs behind the counter
- - letting it off the hook if the outfit is busted.

He recently completed a "research tour" of the United States, Canada and
Europe, examining attitudes to cannabis. "Coffee shops" were springing up
in Britain, and had been part of Dutch culture for years.

"Discrete" coffee shops could be successful in New Zealand through word of
mouth, he said. "There's certainly the market here for it".

About 35 representatives of cannabis reform groups met in Wellington at the
weekend to plan strategies for the movement.

Traditionally focussed on law reform, Mr Fowlie said the movement was
switching direction till the next election. United Future's role in the
present Government had eliminated any chance of reform this political term,
he said.

He praised "medical marijuana clubs" he had seen in San Francisco and
Vancouver. Patients wanting cannabis for pain relief could obtain it from a
"club" on producing a doctor's "prescription" for it.

Similar clubs were unlikely in New Zealand under existing law.

The biggest remaining hurdle for cannabis law reform was the argument about
its effects on children, Mr Fowlie said. To counter this perceived
negative effect, Norml had distributed stickers to children, emblazoned
with the messages that cannabis was "not cool in school". "What we are
saying, is [cannabis] should be R18, but if you are going to use it at a
younger age don't do it at school".

The movement had supporters from "all walks of life", he said.