ACT COURTS VOTES OF DOPE SMOKERS

Act, the party that stands for zero tolerance on crime, is seeking the
votes of cannabis smokers.

Under the headline Freedom is Choice, Act has taken an advertisement in the
pro-cannabis magazine Norml News saying the present cannabis laws restrict
personal freedoms and are not working.

It goes on to say that Act is committed to meaningful debate and a workable
solution to the cannabis issue.

The advertisement is contained in an election issue of Norml News, of which
50,000 free copies go into circulation on Thursday through alternative
networks such as cafes, bong shops and hydroponic suppliers.

It was authorised and paid for by Act party manager Graham Watson, who was
appointed last November to rekindle Act's liberal vision.

He is a former president of the Auckland University branch of Norml.

In the Norml News editorial, Norml Auckland co-ordinator Mike Harding said
the pro-cannabis lobby was recommending to the country's 400,000 cannabis
smokers that they give their party vote to the Greens.

"However, for those of you that couldn't possibly vote for the Green Party,
Act are currently teetering on the brink," he said.

Act justice spokesman Stephen Franks yesterday said there was nothing
contradictory about Act's policy of zero tolerance towards policing minor
infringements and campaigning for the votes of cannabis smokers.

Anyone caught smoking cannabis under the present law should be prosecuted,
he said.

But Act upheld the freedom of adults to do as they wanted without harming
others, and it was open-minded on decriminalising cannabis. The matter was
a conscience vote for Act MPs.

In an interview in Norml News, Mr Franks said his party treated the matter
of cannabis law reform seriously and had no ideological interest in
maintaining prohibition.

The interview referred to a discussion paper on cannabis law reform Mr
Franks released in June 2000.

The paper said that before MPs debated the issue an independent report
should look at a range of potential consequences, including the effects on
children, the effects in the workplace and driving under the influence, and
the cost to taxpayers of increased drug abuse.

The paper made no mention of considering the link between cannabis use and
crime.

Mr Franks said his draft discussion paper and a string of questions to the
Government had made the possibility of liberalising the cannabis laws look
fashionable.

Divided MPs inquiring into legalising cannabis failed to deliver a report
before the election was called last month.

Health select committee chairwoman Judy Keall, who is quitting politics at
this election, was unsure about the future of the inquiry into the legal
status of cannabis and how best to minimise its use and associated harm.

Mr Harding last month said MPs opposed to liberalising cannabis laws had
tried to "bury the subject" and he promised to resurrect it as an election
issue.

As well as recommending to cannabis smokers how to use their party vote,
Norml News has picked some electorate candidates for attention. In Auckland
Central "of course we recommend Nandor (Tanczos), but party vote only".

The editorial says a vote for the Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party, which
is standing candidates in six electorates, is a wasted vote.

Full news coverage: nzherald.co.nz/election

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