CANNABIS NOT FOR YOUNGSTERS

Nelson- Young people and cannabis do not mix, Nelson coroner Ian Smith
says, and he is "emphatically" against any moves to legalise the drug.

Mr Smith made his remarks during an inquest in Takaka on Wednesday into the
death of a 13-year-old Takaka boy, Joss Locke Causer, on November 21, 2001.

Mr Smith ruled that the death was self-inflicted.

A pathologist's report said traces of cannabis had been found in a blood
sample taken from the boy's body.

Mr Smith told Joss' mother, Jonni Causer, that losing a young one was
traumatic but that sadly "it is not uncommon to see these things these days".

He was concerned at young people's use of cannabis and opposed legalisation
strongly. Mr Smith recently also condemned the lowering of the drinking age.

In a statement, Mrs Causer said the last time she saw her son alive, he
appeared to be in good health but was upset and angry.

Constable Stuart Chalmers, of Takaka, said Mrs Causer told him her son
tended to bottle up his emotions until it became too much for him and he
would explode. He at times suffered depression, which concerned friends and
family.

A friend and neighbour, Kyne Ritson, had noticed Joss' behaviour changed
when he started associating with a new group. He knew that Joss had been
caught smoking both tobacco and cannabis.

Mrs Causer had confirmed that Joss had been caught smoking, but it was more
often cannabis he used as it was less expensive and easier to obtain.

Joss' dean at Golden Bay High School, Richard Bayliff, told police the boy
was achieving good results until the end of 2000, but last year his work
and behaviour began to deteriorate dramatically.