CARR RULES OUT "CANNABIS CAFE" PROPOSAL ON HEALTH GROUNDS

Sydney - NSW Premier Bob Carr today ruled out plans to set up a series of
"cannabis cafes" around the state, citing growing evidence of its negative
health effects.

The proposal was today launched by NSW Greens MLC Lee Rhiannon, who plans
to introduce a private member's bill when parliament resumes next week.

Patrons would be able buy and use cannabis at the cafes which would be set
up in Sydney, on the north coast and another regional area as part of a trial.

Ms Rhiannon said the cafes would allow young people to access information
about the health impacts of the drug.

But Mr Carr said the move would send the wrong message to those who smoke
the drug.

"I reject the idea ... the latest evidence is that cannabis is not a benign
drug," he told reporters.

"It's got links to schizophrenia and according to the most recent research,
it has got links to depression.

"The last thing you'd want to do in this context is give it the good
housekeeping seal of approval by permitting cannabis cafes, whatever they
are and whoever would run them".

Mr Carr denied a parallel could be drawn with the government's heroin
injecting room trial.

"You've got people who are killing themselves because they inject this
poisonous white powder into their veins," he said.

"That is the qualitative difference we face with heroin and the problem,
huge as it is, with marijuana."

Mr Carr also rejected aspects of the bill which proposed a relaxation of
cannabis laws to allow users to carry up to 30 grams for personal use and
to allow health professionals to be able to prescribe the drug.

Ms Rhiannon said she was aware that the World Health Organisation
discouraged cannabis use but said there was a shifting attitude among
health professionals towards the health benefits.

Ms Rhiannon said she herself did not use marijuana and that the world would
be a better place without it.

"All the Greens are saying (is) people shouldn't be locked up for it, they
shouldn't be fined and what they should be able to do is access information
about the health consequences and get access to counselling services," she
said.

"Prohibition doesn't work; it just makes life harder for people.

In Holland when marijuana was made legal the use decreased, she said.

She said 20 per cent of Australians used marijuana and they should not be
treated as criminals.

"In your industry, the media industry, you know that so many journalists
use marijuana," she told Ray Hadley on 2GB.