DRUG LAWS

Sir--Youth Trust chairman Jeff McIntyre is correct when he claims
that cannabis prohibition is not working (October 18), but he is
clearly mistaken if he thinks that the Swedish model of coercive care
would work here.

Far from being "intelligent", Swedish drugs laws are repressive and
not in keeping with protection of individual rights. Police have the
power to stop anyone on the street and submit them to compulsory
blood and urine tests. It has been documented that young people have
been subjected to this for no more than laughing and smiling too much
in a public place.

Furthermore, Mr McIntyre himself admits that the financial cost to
the Government in maintaining such a system is extraordinarily high.
Who in New Zealand is going to be prepared to pay higher taxes just
to give the police even greater powers to intrude into our private
lives?

STEPHEN McINTYRE media officer Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party